Under 19 and travelling to Canada? Age of majority and legal age 101

With 10 provinces and 3 territories, Canada has both federal laws (covering the entire country) as well as provincial or territorial legislation. And guess what, you can be a minor in one province but an adult in another!

Age of majority vs. legal age

The age of majority is the age when you are legally considered to be an adult. At this age, determined by the federal government and provincial/territorial legislation, you’re old enough to vote, receive full minimum wage for adult workers, drink alcohol in a bar, etc.

For federal laws—which apply to every Canadian regardless of the province or territory—the age of majority is 18.

For other matters, it depends on the province or territory.

It’s also important to understand the difference between “legal age”—which depends on the activity in question—and the age of majority. There’s a legal age to drink, to consent to sexual activity, to purchase and use cannabis, to gamble, to smoke, etc.

For instance, a person turning 18 in Ontario is now an adult with the right to vote. However, this person hasn’t reached the legal age to drink alcohol, which is 19 in Ontario. But they may have been driving a car since the age of 16, the minimum legal age to hold a driver’s licence.

It’s important to know what you can or cannot do if you’re under 19 and travelling to Canada. Note that you will be asked for your ID, legal age is taken seriously!

Age of majority and legal age for various activities in each province and territory

Alberta

• Age of majority: 18
• Legal age to vote (federal laws): 18
• Legal drinking age (1): 18
• Legal age to buy cigarettes: 18
• Legal age to purchase and use cannabis (2): 18
• Legal age to drive (3): 16

British Columbia

• Age of majority: 19
• Legal age to vote (federal laws): 18
• Legal drinking age (1): 19
• Legal age to buy cigarettes: 19
• Legal age to purchase and use cannabis (2): 19
• Legal age to drive (3): 16

Manitoba

• Age of majority: 18
• Legal age to vote (federal laws): 18
• Legal drinking age (1): 18
• Legal age to buy cigarettes: 18
• Legal age to purchase and use cannabis (2): 19
• Legal age to drive (3): 16

New Brunswick

• Age of majority: 19
• Legal age to vote (federal laws): 18
• Legal drinking age (1): 19
• Legal age to buy cigarettes: 19
• Legal age to purchase and use cannabis (2): 19
• Legal age to drive (3): 16

Newfoundland and Labrador

• Age of majority: 19
• Legal age to vote (federal laws): 18
• Legal drinking age (1): 19
• Legal age to buy cigarettes: 19
• Legal age to purchase and use cannabis (2): 19
• Legal age to drive (3): 16

Northwest Territories

• Age of majority: 19
• Legal age to vote (federal laws): 18
• Legal drinking age (1): 19
• Legal age to buy cigarettes: 19
• Legal age to purchase and use cannabis (2): 19
• Legal age to drive (3): 16

Nova Scotia

• Age of majority: 19
• Legal age to vote (federal laws): 18
• Legal drinking age (1): 19
• Legal age to buy cigarettes: 19
• Legal age to purchase and use cannabis (2): 19
• Legal age to drive (3): 16

Nunavut

• Age of majority: 19
• Legal age to vote (federal laws): 18
• Legal drinking age (1): 19
• Legal age to buy cigarettes: 19
• Legal age to purchase and use cannabis (2): 19
• Legal age to drive (3): 16

Ontario

• Age of majority: 18
• Legal age to vote (federal laws): 18
• Legal drinking age (1): 19
• Legal age to buy cigarettes: 19
• Legal age to purchase and use cannabis (2): 19
• Legal age to drive (3): 16

Prince Edward Island

• Age of majority: 18
• Legal age to vote (federal laws): 18
• Legal drinking age (1): 19
• Legal age to buy cigarettes: 19
• Legal age to purchase and use cannabis (2): 19
• Legal age to drive (3): 16

Quebec

• Age of majority: 18
• Legal age to vote (federal laws): 18
• Legal drinking age (1): 18
• Legal age to buy cigarettes: 18
• Legal age to purchase and use cannabis (2): 21
• Legal age to drive (3): 16

Saskatchewan

• Age of majority: 18
• Legal age to vote (federal laws): 18
• Legal drinking age (1): 19
• Legal age to buy cigarettes: 18
• Legal age to purchase and use cannabis (2): 19
• Legal age to drive (3): 16

Yukon

• Age of majority: 19
• Legal age to vote (federal laws): 18
• Legal drinking age (1): 19
• Legal age to buy cigarettes: 19
• Legal age to purchase and use cannabis (2): 19
• Legal age to drive (3): 16

(1) Legal drinking age applies to consuming alcohol in a bar or restaurant as well as purchasing alcohol.
(2) Parental consent is required to get a driver’s licence before the age of majority.
(3) It’s worth remembering that consuming cannabis has both short-term and long-term health effects. The Government of Canada created a strict legal framework for controlling the production, distribution, sale and possession of cannabis.

Travelling to Canada at 18? Check legal age and age of majority!

If you’re 18 and travelling to Canada, make sure to know the legal age(s) and age of majority in the province or territory you’ll explore. Know your rights as well—some bars refuse to serve customers under 21 or 25, and it’s illegal!