If you receive a pension or social security benefit from another country, the paying agency will usually ask you, often once a year, to confirm that you are still living. This confirmation goes by several names: life certificate, proof of life, certificate of existence or pension verification form. If the form is not returned on time, payments can be delayed or paused, so it is worth getting it right the first time.
There is no single Canadian life certificate. Each pension provider sends its own form, and that form lists who is allowed to sign it as a witness. Many agencies accept a notary public or a commissioner for taking affidavits. At Crown Seal Notary, we check your identification, watch you sign in person, and complete the certifier section with our signature and official seal.
Please note: Crown Seal Notary is an independent notary public and commissioner of oaths, not a government agency. We do not decide pension eligibility and we do not deal with the pension agency on your behalf. Your pension provider sets the rules for its own form.
WHAT A LIFE CERTIFICATE USUALLY INCLUDES
Forms differ from one agency to another, but most of them ask for:
- Your personal details: full name, date of birth, current address and your pension or reference number.
- Your signature: signed in front of the witness on the day of your appointment, never in advance.
- The witness section: the certifier’s name, title, signature, the date and, often, an official stamp or seal.
- Occasional extras: some agencies also ask for a recent photo, a copy of your ID, or a statement about your marital status or address.
HOW THE APPOINTMENT WORKS
Check the instructions: Read the list of acceptable witnesses and any deadline on your form. If a notary public or commissioner is on the list, we can help.
Identity check: We compare your valid government-issued photo ID with the name and details on the form.
Signing and certification: You sign in front of us, and we complete, date, sign and seal the witness section. You then return the form to your pension provider exactly as its instructions describe.
CHECKLIST BEFORE YOUR APPOINTMENT
- The original form: Bring the printed form your pension provider sent you. Many agencies only accept an original, wet-ink signature.
- Valid photo ID: An unexpired passport, driver’s licence or permanent resident card with a name that matches the form.
- Name-change documents: If the name on the form differs from your ID, bring your marriage certificate or change-of-name certificate.
- The agency’s letter: Keep the cover letter and your reference number handy in case they include extra instructions.
- The right timing: Some forms must be signed within a set period before they are sent back, and a form certified too early can be refused. Check the dates before booking.
- Language: If your form is written only in another language, bring a translation of the instructions so we can confirm which sections we complete.
NEED A LIFE CERTIFICATE WITNESSED IN HAMILTON?
Don’t let a missed form hold up your pension payments. Crown Seal Notary offers in-office appointments 7 days a week at 21 King St West (5th Floor), and mobile visits across the Greater Hamilton Area. We can also visit homes, retirement residences and long-term care homes for clients who cannot travel.
Click Here to Schedule Your Appointment Online
Pre-Appointment Reminder: Do not sign or date the form before your appointment. For home visits, the person signing needs valid photo ID and must be able to understand the form. If the pension agency also asks for an apostille, confirm this with the agency first; we can notarize your document and, if you wish, forward it to the official authority that issues apostilles.
ADDITIONAL INQUIRIES & QUESTIONS
Have questions about a life certificate form, which sections a notary completes, or a home visit for a parent who cannot travel? Send us a message below and our team will get back to you promptly.
