Document Authentication Fee

Last updated on November 22, 2024

As of November 18, 2024, Canada Post mail delivery to and from our office is delayed. Consider using a courier service during this delay. Processed documents to be returned by Canada Post will be held until the mail is running again.

Due to increased volume since the implementation of Apostille, our current processing time is 2 to 3 weeks, not including mail time.

For daily updates, please email us and read in the automatic reply: “Now processing documents received on: [Date]”.

Apostille Convention

The Apostille Convention came into effect in Canada on January 11, 2024. An authentication certificate called an "apostille" is attached to all documents that have been authenticated in B.C. on or after January 11, 2024. See Apostille Convention for details.

There is a standard $20 fee for each document authentication.

Documents sent to the B.C. Authentication Program at the Order in Council (OIC) Administration Office without payment will not be processed and will be immediately returned to the sender.

The fee includes return mail service delivery by regular Canada Post mail (no tracking). If you would like documents returned by courier to your address or a different address, please follow all instructions for Return Mail Service.

Receipt of payment will be included with the authenticated documents. If you pay online, your credit card statement will include the text "Province of BC."

Accepted payment types

Online payment with Mastercard, Debit Mastercard, Visa, Visa Debit or American Express
Money order, bank draft, personal cheque or business cheque (either in CAD or USD), made payable to the "Minister of Finance"

Fee for multiple documents


Authentication Fee = Number of Documents x $20

If submitting multiple documents for authentication, you must follow these instructions when filling out your request form and preparing your documents for submission (see Submitting your Documents for Authentication).

If you send a payment of $20, that means that you are requesting that the set of pages be authenticated once as a single, multi-page document with an authentication certificate riveted (physically attached) to the entire, multi-page document.

The certificate riveted to the multi-page document must not be removed, or the authentication is considered null and void (see After Document Submission).

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

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The B.C. Public Service acknowledges the territories of First Nations around B.C. and is grateful to carry out our work on these lands. We acknowledge the rights, interests, priorities, and concerns of all Indigenous Peoples - First Nations, Métis, and Inuit - respecting and acknowledging their distinct cultures, histories, rights, laws, and governments.