Thanks for your interest in the Bank of Canada Valet API. On this page, you can learn more about the Valet API before getting started with finding available data, making API calls and accessing exchange rates.
For questions or concerns not covered in this documentation, .
Important: Terms of use
When using the Valet API, be sure to read and follow our terms of use and disclaimers.
About the Valet API
The Bank of Canada Valet Web Services offers programmatic access to global financial data.
You can use the Valet API to retrieve financial data and information from the Bank of Canada, such as:
- exchange rates
- economic statistics (including those associated with research, forecasting and analysis)
- other financial statistics and reports
Registration
No registration is required to use the Valet API. You do not need an access key.
Cost
There is no cost associated with using the Valet API.
Request limits
For information on acceptable use of the Bank’s website and its Valet interface, please see our terms of use.
To avoid hitting request limits or overwhelming the system, try the following:
- Start slow during peak times: Gradually increase your request rate to prevent timeouts or failed responses.
- Retry with care: If a request fails, wait before trying again. Adding a random or increasing delay (called “back-off”) can help reduce repeated failures.
- Use caching when possible: For data that updates only once a day, such as exchange rates, store the response instead of calling the API again.
These steps help you use the Valet API more efficiently — and keep it running smoothly for everyone.
Timing of updates
Although we aim for timely updates, there may be a brief processing delay before data appears in the Valet API. If you do not see the data immediately, checking back later is recommended.
Certificates
To keep our web sites and services running smoothly, the Bank reserves the right to modify or update certificates at any time and without notice.
We do not supply (nor provide technical support for) certificates for bankofcanada.ca — nor banqueducanada.ca, depending on which you use with the Valet API. Instead, because they are public, these certificates can be found by using third-party websites.
Terms of use
Be sure to read and follow our terms of use and disclaimers.
Finding available data
To find a Valet API data series or group, try using the “Lists > Get” feature of the endpoint documentation.
You can also use the Bank of Canada website to search for available series and groups. Generally speaking, data that’s available for download is also available through the Valet API; often, these download pages also offer supporting information (such as publishing times) about their data.
Making API calls
When making an API call, you must ensure the following.
Prefix all routes
Each API route that you use must begin with the following base URL:
https://www.bankofcanada.ca/valet/https://www.banqueducanada.ca/valet/
Use query parameters
Although the route format and parameters are flexible, every API call must have at least one of the following:
seriesName— See the endpoint documentation for “Lists”.groupName— See the endpoint documentation for “Lists”.format— Choose from JSON, CSV, and XML output formats.
Other query parameters are optional but may be used to help refine the request. For details, see the endpoint documentation.
Accessing exchange rates
You can use the Valet API to access daily, monthly and annual exchange rates. For details on available currencies and calculation methodology, see this backgrounder.
Because exchange rates are published only once per day, you can keep within acceptable request limits by caching the results that you obtain from the Bank.