Getting married in British Columbia: marriage licence, fees and documents

How to get a marriage licence in British Columbia: age, where to apply, documents, fee and how long it is valid, from the official pages.

Getting a marriage licence

Buy the licence within three months before the wedding; only one of you needs to apply, in person, with primary ID for both. There is no waiting period once you have it. You must be 19 to marry without consent; 16 to 18 need written parental consent; under 16 needs a court order. A licensed marriage commissioner or religious official performs the ceremony, with two witnesses over 19.

Official page: getting married ↗

After the ceremony

The officiant registers the marriage with the province; you then order a marriage certificate separately, and can change your name on your documents using it (see our documents and ID page).

Fees and rules change and were read on 2026-11-14; confirm with the issuer. General information, not legal advice. Quebec weddings follow Quebec rules: see atlasquebec.ca.

Guides for this province