WHAT IS ONLINE COMMISSIONING?
Online commissioning, also called remote commissioning, lets you swear an affidavit or make a statutory declaration before a commissioner over a live video call, without travelling to an office.
In Ontario, commissioners can administer oaths and declarations remotely under Ontario Regulation 431/20 (Administering Oath or Declaration Remotely), made under the Commissioners for Taking Affidavits Act. When the regulation’s identity and procedural requirements are followed, remote commissioning is a recognized way to complete many Ontario affidavits and declarations.
Crown Seal Notary provides remote online commissioning for clients across Hamilton, the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and beyond.
Please note: Remote commissioning is different from notarization. In Ontario, notarization must be done in person, and documents notarized remotely will not be authenticated or apostilled by Ontario’s Official Documents Services. Some organizations also require in-person signing, so check with the organization that will receive your document.
HOW ONLINE COMMISSIONING WORKS
Step 1 — Instant Online Booking:
Select our "Remote Online Commissioning" option through our digital booking portal. You will receive an instant email confirmation outlining how to securely upload your unsigned documents (PDF format preferred) ahead of your session.
Step 2 — Secure Identity Verification:
Before the video call begins or during the live session, you must present a valid, unexpired piece of government-issued photo identification. Acceptable primary documents include:
Canadian or International Passport
Ontario Driver’s Licence
Ontario Photo Card
Permanent Resident (PR) Card
Step 3 — The Live Video Appointment:
You will join our commissioner on a secure live video session. Our official will review the paperwork with you, visually confirm your identity matches your uploaded credentials, and witness your digital signature live on screen.
Step 4 — Electronic Commissioning & Delivery:
Once you apply your electronic signature, our commissioner completes the commissioning section and signs the document electronically. The completed document is emailed back to you as a PDF, ready to send to the organization that requested it.
WHAT DOCUMENTS QUALIFY FOR VIRTUAL SIGNINGS?
Many standard administrative, financial and provincial forms can be commissioned remotely, as long as the organization receiving them accepts it. Common examples include:
OSAP Affidavits: Statements of sole-support status, common-law status or foreign income.
Insurance Claim Forms: Sworn statements of loss and property inventory declarations.
Statutory Declarations: Declarations requested by federal departments such as IRCC or CRA, or by Ontario ministries.
Court Affidavits: Affidavits for Ontario family, civil or Small Claims Court matters, where the court’s rules allow remote commissioning.
Other Affidavits & Declarations: Many documents requested by employers, schools, banks and landlords.
WHEN IN-PERSON SIGNING IS STILL REQUIRED
While online commissioning is very convenient, some documents and organizations still require an in-person signing. In these cases, Crown Seal Notary can meet you in our office or at your home or workplace.
An in-person appointment is usually needed for:
Passport Guarantor Declarations: The Statutory Declaration in Lieu of Guarantor (Form PPTC 132) is submitted on paper with an original signature.
Certified True Copies: The notary must examine the original paper document (for example a degree, birth certificate or passport) alongside its copy.
Apostilles & International Documents: Documents for use outside Canada must be notarized in person. Ontario does not authenticate or apostille documents that were notarized remotely.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is online commissioning permanently legal in Ontario?
Can you notarize my document online if it is going outside of Canada?
Can my spouse and I join the video call from different locations?
What happens if the receiving institution rejects my digital document?
NEED ONLINE COMMISSIONING SERVICES IN ONTARIO?
Don’t let administrative roadblocks slow down your progress. Whether you need a secure, fast 15-minute remote online video appointment or an in-person mobile notary house call at your location, Crown Seal Notary provides professional support across Hamilton and the GTA.
