Annual Release Information

Annual releases of records and updates to the indexes take place in early January in accordance with the following criteria:

- birth events must be at least 120 years old*;
- marriage events must be at least 75 years old;
- death events must be at least 20 years old.

Status update as of 5 August 2010

Birth registrations and index: 1854-1903

On 4 June 2004, an amendment to the Vital Statistics Act (SBC 2004, c.55) was brought into force, extending future release dates for copies of birth records from 100 years to 120 years after the date of birth. The amendment enhances existing security around the release of birth information and ensures that the personal information and privacy of centenarians is protected. Currently, only birth registrations up to 1903 are available at the BC Archives.  The 1904 registrations will not be released until January 2025.  Those ordering birth registration microfilm reels after June 2004 are limited to reels with records older than120 years.  The reels for 1889 birth registrations will be available this year.

 Marriage registrations 1872-1933; index 1872-1934

The index entries for the 1934 marriage registrations have been added to the marriages index.  There will be no general release of the 1934 marriage registrations at this time.  Copies of individual marriage registrations for 1934 must be ordered directly from the BC Vital Statistics Agency.