*As we have a very small staff and thousands of clients, like you, it can take 20-30 business days to process your order and/permissions request, depending on the volume of requests.

Please note: 

Prepayment is required for all copy orders, but we make it easy! You can pay by cash, credit card, certified cheque or money order, or by secure online payment link – let us know what works for you.

The world changes fast and so do we, so all fees are subject to change without notice. For security reasons, please do not send credit card information by email (including in any attachments).

See our detailed price list here

This price list includes prices for textual, photo, map, audio and film reproductions, as well as delivery options. 

Did you know that the museum and archives are not fully funded?
All licensing and permissions fees go toward the costs of caring for and conserving the collections.

Learn more about our processing and licensing fees, as well as our waiver request process here

​Thank you for your support of the BC Archives.

Purchase of reproductions from the BC Archives does not grant or imply the right to publish, duplicate or otherwise use those reproductions.

Any use beyond academic research, private study or genealogy research must be approved in advance by staff. In this case you are required to fill out a permission form for the type of record you are using either before or at the time you pay for your reproductions.

The Royal BC Museum and Archives has shifted to a permissions-based approach that takes into consideration Article 31 of the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP) and the Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA). As such, requests to license materials that have Indigenous content, for use outside of the community represented, may not be granted permission for use due to cultural sensitivities, and/or restrictions from community or family.

The applicant shall comply with the Copyright Act with respect to the reproduction and use of the still images, records and documents from the Royal BC Museum Corporation. It is the sole responsibility of the applicant to determine the copyright holder and to obtain permission to copy and/or publish.

Please note: Use fees are subject to change without notice and processing fees are always applicable.

Licensing Fee Schedule

Please submit your Permissions Forms to:

Permissions and Licensing Office
Phone: 250-356-0138 or Toll Free: 1-866-356-0138
Mail: BC Archives, 675 Belleville Street, Victoria BC, V8W 9W2, CANADA
Fax: 250-387-2072
Email: access@royalbcmuseum.bc.ca

During your visit to the BC Archives, you may make copies of records, excluding sound recordings and moving images. Copies may only be used for research or litigation purposes. If you wish to use copies for any other purpose, a reproduction order form must be submitted

You have three options for self-serve copying

• Take still images of records with your camera
• Scan microform records to a flash drive*
• Print copies of microform records**

*Only flash drives purchased from the BC Archives are guaranteed to work on our kiosks.

**Only available during staff-assisted hours. See hours for details.

The BC Archives permits the photographic copying of archival material for personal/research purposes only, and as allowed by the British Columbia Archives, based on the physical condition of the materials, copyright law, donor restrictions, and reference room rules. Digital, film, phone, computer, and tablet cameras may be used.

• Camera sounds must be muted and flash must be disabled.
• Copy stands are available for use in a designated area on a first-come basis. No tripods, camera flashes, special lighting or handheld scanners are permitted.
• Standing on chairs, tables, or other furniture is not permitted.
• Taking photographs of the staff, reference room or other researchers is not permitted.
• Please cite the record being photographed. Requests for orders of high resolution images cannot be processed without this information. Archives staff will not check the accuracy of citations.
• Documents must be kept flat on the table. If pages are fastened together, please see archives staff before proceeding. If fasteners are not removed, fastened pages must under no circumstance be flattened. Appropriate weights and/or cradles are available in the reference room to be used with fragile bound volumes.