There is no legal cutoff for how late you can get an abortion in BC. Canada has had no criminal law on abortion since 1988, and British Columbia treats it as standard healthcare. In practice, the latest surgical abortions in the province are performed through BC Women’s Hospital’s CARE Program, up to roughly the 24th to 25th week of pregnancy.1BC Women’s Hospital. Abortion and Contraception2BC Women’s Hospital. Abortion Services Past that point, options within Canada are very limited.
No Statutory Limit, but Facility Limits Apply
The Supreme Court of Canada struck down the country’s abortion restrictions in R v Morgentaler in 1988, and no replacement law has been passed at the federal or provincial level. The BC government describes a safe abortion as “a medical right in B.C.”3Government of British Columbia. Ending a Pregnancy
Because there’s no statutory cutoff, the limits you’ll actually run into are set clinic by clinic and hospital by hospital, based on the training and equipment each facility has. The number of providers shrinks as gestational age increases, so how late you can go depends heavily on which door you walk through.
Up to 9 Weeks: Medication Abortion
Medication abortion in Canada uses Mifegymiso, a combination of mifepristone and misoprostol. Health Canada approves it for pregnancies up to 9 weeks (63 days) counted from the first day of your last menstrual period.4Government of Canada. Health Canada Approves Updates to Mifegymiso Prescribing American sources sometimes quote a 10-week window; the Canadian approval is shorter.
You need a prescription from a doctor or nurse practitioner, but you don’t need a referral. Telemedicine consultations are offered by clinics such as Vancouver’s Willow Clinic and Elizabeth Bagshaw Clinic, which matters if you’re rural or can’t easily travel.5Abortion Access Tracker. British Columbia – Abortion Access Tracker
Roughly 9 to 14 Weeks: Community Surgical Abortion
After 9 weeks, surgical abortion (sometimes called procedural or aspiration abortion) is the available option. Many community-level clinics and hospitals across BC handle first-trimester procedures. Kelowna General Hospital, for example, performs surgical abortions up to 13 weeks and 6 days.6Interior Health. Kelowna General Hospital – Gynecology Services Clinic Similar limits are common at other facilities outside the Lower Mainland.
You can self-refer directly to a clinic; you don’t have to go through a family doctor first.7HealthLink BC. Abortion Skipping the referral step matters when time is short.
Up to About 24 to 25 Weeks: The CARE Program at BC Women’s
If you need a second-trimester procedure, options narrow quickly and most patients are directed to Vancouver. BC Women’s Hospital operates the CARE Program, the province’s most specialized abortion service, which provides surgical abortions up to approximately the 24th to 25th week of pregnancy.1BC Women’s Hospital. Abortion and Contraception2BC Women’s Hospital. Abortion Services That is effectively the latest point at which you can obtain an abortion in British Columbia. Decisions at this stage involve detailed consultation with medical professionals about your individual circumstances and health.
After 24 to 25 Weeks
Past the CARE Program’s limit, very few options exist anywhere in Canada. Later abortions are rare and typically involve serious fetal abnormalities or significant health risks. Patients in this situation are sometimes referred to specialized clinics in the United States, and some provincial governments may fund all or part of the cost of out-of-country care in these circumstances.
What to Do If You’re Already in the Second Trimester
The available window closes faster than people expect, and appointments still have to be scheduled. If you’re approaching or past the first trimester, contact BC Women’s Hospital or the Pregnancy Options Line directly rather than starting with a walk-in clinic or waiting on a family doctor.
- Pregnancy Options Line: 1-888-875-3163 (BC-wide) or 604-875-3163 (Lower Mainland). Information, counseling, and referrals for all abortion services.7HealthLink BC. Abortion
- BC Women’s Hospital Pregnancy Options Service: free, confidential support, and the right first call for second-trimester care.3Government of British Columbia. Ending a Pregnancy
The earlier you make contact, the more of the province’s care network is still open to you.