The Government of Québec expressly allows a person to be sworn in either in person or remotely. For a remote oath, the videoconference must in particular allow the commissioner and the declarant to see and hear each other simultaneously, and to view the document being sworn.
Here's what you need to know before your appointment.
What is an oath commissioning?
Taking an oath means solemnly declaring that everything written or stated is true.
In certain administrative or legal proceedings, a form, statement, or other document must be signed under oath before a person authorized to receive that oath.
A Commissioner for Oaths can perform this role when authorized to receive the specific oath required.
Can you really be sworn in online in Québec?
Yes.
The Government of Québec expressly provides for remote oath-taking by technological means such as videoconference.
The process remains a genuine oath commissioning. Simply emailing a document or briefly speaking with a commissioner over the phone is not enough.
During the meeting, participants must in particular be able to:
- see each other;
- hear each other simultaneously;
- view the document being sworn;
- preserve the integrity and confidentiality of the documents exchanged.
An oath administered by phone alone is not considered valid.
How does an online oath session work?
The process can be summarized in a few steps.
1. Prepare your document
Before the meeting, the declarant must read the document and check the information it contains.
The commissioner's role is not to draft your statement for you, nor to determine whether its content is legally appropriate for your situation.
If you're unsure which document is required, it's best to check directly with the organization, business, ministry, or professional who requested it.
2. Send the document
In a remote oath-commissioning service, the document can be sent electronically before the meeting.
With Assermentation Express, the process is designed to let you upload your PDF document in a structured way before the session.
3. Join the videoconference
At the scheduled time, the client and the commissioner meet by videoconference. Video and audio allow the oath to be administered in real time.
4. Make the declaration or take the oath
The client declares before the commissioner that the information in the document is truthful, according to the declaration required.
This step is essential: an oath commissioning is not simply about adding a signature or a stamp to a PDF.
5. Sign the document
Depending on the process used, a signature can be applied electronically, or the document can be signed by hand and then scanned.
The Government of Québec recognizes that various technological means can be used for an electronic signature, provided they establish the signer's identity and the expression of their consent.
6. The commissioner's part
The commissioner then completes the required elements for the oath and indicates that it was administered remotely. The document can then be returned electronically.
What devices can you use?
In practice, a remote oath requires a device capable of adequate audiovisual communication:
- a computer;
- a tablet;
- a smartphone with a camera.
A sufficiently stable Internet connection is recommended so the commissioner and client can see and hear each other clearly throughout the necessary part of the session.
Is an online oath different from an in-person one?
The means of communication changes, but the Government of Québec states that the remote process remains essentially the same as the in-person process.
In both cases, the oath or declaration must be received by the commissioner in the declarant's presence — that presence can be physical or technological when the required conditions are met.
Important: an oath is not the same as a certification
A Commissioner for Oaths does not generally have the function of certifying that a document is authentic, or that a photocopy is a true certified copy.
Nor does the commissioner automatically validate the truthfulness of every fact contained in your document.
Their role is primarily to receive your oath or declaration.
This distinction matters before you book: make sure the receiving organization actually requires an oath commissioning, and not a certification, notarization, authentication, or apostille. Our article on the differences between these procedures can help you sort this out.
Getting an online oath with Assermentation Express
Assermentation Express is a private Québec-based service that lets you book a remote oath-commissioning session with a Commissioner for Oaths.
The service is not a Government of Québec website and is not affiliated with the government.
The process is designed to simplify each step: booking your appointment, submitting your PDF, meeting by videoconference, and processing the document.