Provincial or territorial service · Family and children
Get a marriage licence
Compiled by Mahmoud Halat, checked
Short answer
You need a marriage licence before the ceremony. Depending on the province, it comes from a municipal office, an issuer or a government office. In Québec, a notice of marriage is published instead.
Who handles it
Each province and territory runs its own. Find yours in the table below.
Canada Service Map is independent and not a government website. The official page always has the final word.
In every province and territory
Who handles it in each province and territory, with the official link.
| Province or territory | Who handles it | Official link | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | Vital Statistics Agency (Government of British Columbia), through local marriage licence issuers | Get a marriage licencechecked | Buy the licence in person from a marriage licence issuer in your area. |
| Alberta | Alberta registry agents (Government of Alberta) | Get a marriage licencechecked | Buy at any registry agent office. |
| Saskatchewan | Marriage licence issuers (Government of Saskatchewan) | How to get a marriage licencechecked | Buy from a marriage licence issuer, often a jewellery store or town office; out-of-province licences are not valid. |
| Manitoba | Vital Statistics Branch (Government of Manitoba), through registered marriage licence issuers | How to get a licencechecked | Both partners buy the licence in person from a registered issuer at least 24 hours before the wedding. |
| Ontario | Your municipal office (city or town hall) | Get a marriage licencechecked | Apply at your city or town hall; some municipalities also take applications online. |
| Quebec | Gouvernement du Québec | None on record | Québec has no marriage licence; your officiant publishes a notice of the marriage before the ceremony. |
| New Brunswick | Vital Statistics (Service New Brunswick) | Apply for a marriage licencechecked | Fill in the application, then both partners go together to a Service New Brunswick centre with ID. |
| Nova Scotia | Vital Statistics (Service Nova Scotia) | How to get a licencechecked | Buy in person at Access Nova Scotia or from a Deputy Issuer of Marriage Licences. |
| Prince Edward Island | Vital Statistics (Government of PEI), issued at Access PEI | None on record | Licences are issued by appointment at Access PEI offices. |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Vital Statistics Division (Government Services), through local marriage licence issuers | How to get a licencechecked | Apply in person to a marriage licence issuer; only one partner needs to attend. |
| Yukon | Vital Statistics (Government of Yukon) | None on record | Both partners apply in person: by appointment at Vital Statistics in Whitehorse, or from a Territorial Agent elsewhere. |
| Northwest Territories | Registrar General of Vital Statistics and community Marriage License Issuers (Department of Health and Social Services) | Get a marriage licencechecked | Both people must attend, usually by appointment with an issuer. |
| Nunavut | Nunavut Vital Statistics (Department of Health) | Get a marriage licencechecked |
Cite this page
Canada Service Map, "Get a marriage licence", checked 12 October 2026, https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/marriage-licence