Solicitations that have the general appearance of a bill, invoice, or statement of account must clearly indicate that there’s no obligation to make a payment in relation to the solicitation unless expressly agreed to by the recipient in exchange for clearly specified goods or services. Specific wording and format requirements are detailed in the Solicitations by Mail Regulations made under the Canada Post Corporation Act and Regulations.

For convenience, we summarize those requirements below.  But you must make sure that you’re complying with the most current requirements by checking the Department of Justice Canada website.

Where a letter or other mailable matter that’s not a bill, invoice or statement of account due is in such a form that it has the general appearance of a bill, invoice or statement of account due, it will have endorsed on its face the following notice:

“THIS IS A SOLICITATION FOR THE ORDER OF GOODS AND/OR SERVICES AND NOT A BILL, INVOICE OR STATEMENT OF ACCOUNT DUE. YOU ARE UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO MAKE ANY PAYMENTS ON ACCOUNT OF THIS OFFER UNLESS YOU ACCEPT THIS OFFER.”

You'll print the notice referred to above in boldface capital letters in such a manner that:

• The print of such notice is no less conspicuous than the print of any other word on the letter or other mailable matter
• The size of the print of such notice isn’t smaller than the larger of the print of any other word on the letter or other mailable matter or 12-point type.

There must be a clear space of not less than 6 mm immediately surrounding the notice referred to above that’s printed on a letter or other mailable matter.

You must print the notice referred to above on a letter or other mailable matter in such a manner that the contrast between the background and the print of that notice isn’t less than the contrast between the background and the print of any other word on the face of the letter or other mailable matter.

No letter or other mailable matter referred to above will state that Canada Post has approved it or that it conforms to any federal statute or regulation.