What’s the difference between a true copy and a certified true copy?
In British Columbia, a certified true copy is a special copy of an original document made by a notary public, lawyer, or commissioner. The person making the copy compares it directly to the original document they have seen, then attaches a certificate confirming the copy is accurate — that certificate is what makes it a certified true copy.
A true copy, on the other hand, is simply a copy made from an original document, with no certification attached. It hasn’t been verified or endorsed by anyone, so most institutions won’t treat it as reliable on its own.
Certified true copies are an officially recognized notary service in British Columbia, as confirmed by the Society of Notaries Public of BC. For more on how to get one — including which documents qualify — see more information here: What is a Certified True Copy?
Technically, yes — but that doesn’t mean it will be accepted. Just because someone attaches a certificate to a copy doesn’t mean the person receiving it will rely on it. The whole point of a certified true copy is that it comes from a notary public, lawyer, or commissioner in British Columbia, so the recipient can trust the document is accurate and authentic.
Yes. All you need is a photocopier and the original document — a true copy is simply an unaltered photocopy of the original. It just doesn’t carry any certification, so it won’t carry the same weight as a certified true copy for institutions that require one.