Why pension plans ask
If you receive a pension from another country — a state pension, an employer plan or a social-security payment — the paying authority will periodically send you a 'life certificate', 'proof of life' or 'attestation de vie' form. Until a qualified official confirms you are alive and signed the form, payments can be suspended.
Who can complete it
Most foreign pension forms accept a notary public as the certifying official, and many also accept a commissioner of oaths, a lawyer or a physician. Check the form's own list — it controls. Where the form specifies a notary, an Ontario notary public can complete and seal it.
What happens at the appointment
You appear in person or, where the receiving authority permits it, by video. The notary checks your government-issued photo ID against the form, watches you sign, completes the official section and applies their seal and signature. Some forms also ask the notary to record the date and the ID relied on.
What to bring
Bring the unsigned form, valid government photo ID, and any letter from the pension authority that came with it. If the form is not in English or French, bring a translation if you have one — the notary must understand what they are certifying.
A caution about video
Some foreign authorities insist on physical presence for life certificates, precisely because the point is to confirm you are alive. If the form or covering letter requires an in-person attestation, book an office or mobile appointment rather than a video session.
General information only — not legal advice. Requirements depend on your document and the institution receiving it; we confirm what applies before you book.