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Preparing B.C. Vital Statistics Documents for Authentication

Last updated on January 11, 2024

These include original documents (not photocopies) issued by the B.C. Vital Statistics Agency:

  • Birth Certificate
  • Death Certificate
  • Marriage Certificate
  • Marriage Search Certificate
  • Certificate of Change of Name
  • Certified True Copies of Registration Documents

Only original B.C. Vital Statistics documents will be authenticated. You can order original B.C. Vital Statistics documents from the B.C. Vital Statistics Agency.

If your original B.C. Vital Statistics document was issued before 1985, is laminated or is wallet size, it will not be accepted for authentication and you must order an updated original B.C. Vital Statistics document from the B.C. Vital Statistics Agency.

Photocopies of a B.C. Vital Statistics document are not accepted for authentication, even if notarized.

Note that "Certified True Copies of Registration Documents" are not photocopies, but original documents issued by the B.C. Vital Statistics Agency.

After riveting with the authentication certificate, your original document will have a hole punched in it, and therefore may not be valid for other uses (e.g. use of an original birth certificate as identification). You may wish to order another original from the B.C. Vital Statistics Agency for your own use.

Exception

The only exception is when B.C. Vital Statistics documents are included as supporting documents within a notarized document (e.g. a notarized Statutory Declaration, an Affidavit or a notarized Translation). In this case, do not include the original B.C. Vital Statistics document, instead include a notarized photocopy.

Step-by-step instructions

  1. Contact the embassy or consulate to determine what is needed.
  2. All authentication requests sent to the B.C. Authentication Program at the Order in Council (OIC) Administration Office must include a signed and dated B.C. Document Authentication Request form and all applicable fees.
  3. See Submitting your Documents for Authentication for instructions on how to complete the B.C. Document Authentication Request form online. In the form, select "BC Vital Statistics Documents" as the document type you are submitting.
  4. If you would like documents returned by courier to your address or a different address, please follow all instructions for Return Mail Service.
  5. Mail or courier to the B.C. Authentication Program. *Reminder that there is no walk-in, drop off or while-you-wait service.

See below for sample images of B.C. Vital Statistics Documents:

Birth certificates

Example of a British Columbia birth certificate issued by Vital Statistics

Example of a British Columbia birth certificate issued by Vital Statistics

Death Certificate

Example of a certificate of death issued by Vital Statistics

Marriage Certificate

Example of a British Columbia marriage certificate issued by Vital Statistics

Marriage Search Certificate

Example of a British Columbia marriage search certificate issued by Vital Statistics

Certificate of Change of Name

Sample image of a British Columbia certificate of name change issued by Vital Statistics

Certified True Copies of Registration Documents

Sample image of a British Columbia certified true copy document issued by Vital Statistics

Useful Contacts

Email: BCAuthentication@gov.bc.ca

Mail/Courier Address:

Ministry of Attorney General
OIC Administration Office
Attention: BC Authentication Program
1001 Douglas Street
Victoria, BC V8W 2C5