Registration Rules

Please take a moment to read the Convention Rules and Policies. By registering, you agree to comply with Otakuthon’s rules and policies. Failure to follow these rules may result in the confiscation of your badge and expulsion from the convention grounds without a refund.

***For information about paid concert tickets for performances in the Wilfrid-Pelletier Hall, please refer to section 3.2.***

You can also find more information about the badges in the Registration FAQ.

1. Refund Policy

Registrations—including badges as well as any paid extras such as T-shirts—are non-refundable. Badge mailing is non-refundable, even if the badges fail to arrive (see section 5).

2. Updating, Correcting or Amending Registrations

Badges may not be resold. However, the account owner may update badge information and add paid extras until the mailing deadline for mailed badges on July 6, 2025 (or August 1, 2025, if the mailing was not selected).

3. Price and Payment

3.1 Otakuthon Badge

• Registrations must be paid in full before a given registration deadline to benefit from its reduced rate, if applicable.
• Any registration not paid or postmarked after the end of the respective registration period will lose the reduced rate or be cancelled.
• Mail-in payments must be postmarked on or before the given deadline and must be received no later than July 6, 2025.
• Otakuthon will not be responsible for any payments lost through mail.
• Please do not send cash through the mail. We ONLY accept cheques and money orders via mail.

3.2 Place des Arts Concert Tickets

Concerts taking place in the Wilfrid-Pelletier Hall need to be purchased on the official Place des Arts website. These are subject to the Place des Arts conditions of sale (the conditions may be viewed here.)

Two rates are offered to purchase your tickets:

• Reduced rate for Otakuthon badge holders, and
• Regular rate for those who are NOT Otakuthon badge holders.

To purchase a ticket at the reduced rate, you must own a valid 3-day type badge (such as the 3-day badge or the Exhibitor badge) or for the same day as the concert you wish to attend. For example, a Sunday concert would require a 3-Day badge or a Sunday badge. Tickets are issued and distributed by Place des Arts.

Anyone who purchased their ticket at the Otakuthon badge holder reduced rate must present their badge during ticket verification.

4. Badge Pickup

Unless the mailing option is chosen, badges must be picked up during Otakuthon 2025 registration hours at the Palais des congrès de Montréal in the designated area. Badges will not be issued at any other time or location.

Concert tickets for the Wilfrid-Pelletier Hall are issued and distributed by Place des Arts. Your concert tickets will therefore not be mailed alongside your Otakuthon badge.

4.1. Individual Registration

• To pick up your badge in person, you must bring a printed or digital copy of your registration confirmation with a valid photo ID (such as a driver’s licence, health insurance card, student ID, or reduced-fare OPUS card) containing ALL the following information:
  • Complete last name,
  • Complete first name,
  • Date of birth,
  • Picture.
• Please make sure that the information provided in the registration system is an exact match to the one on the valid photo ID presented for badge pickup.
• Staff reserves the right to withhold badges from individuals whose provided information does not match the provided valid photo ID.
• Adult badges may be picked up onsite by a proxy. All three of the following MUST be presented:
  • Registration confirmation for the badge (either printed or digital copy),
  • Valid government-issued photo ID matching the registration, and
  • Valid government-issued photo ID of the proxy.
• The proxy is responsible for ensuring the correct badge is given to its proper owner.
• At the convention, a badge that does not match its bearer will be confiscated.

4.2. Group Registration

• Only the account owner can pick up the badges for all group members (excluding child badges; see section 6).
• They must present a copy of all registration confirmations (either printed or a mobile copy) and their valid photo ID (such as a driver’s licence, health insurance card, student card, or reduced-fare OPUS card) containing ALL the following information:
• Complete last name,
• Complete first name,
• Date of birth,
• Picture.
• Please make sure that the information provided in the registration system matches the information on the valid photo ID provided during badge pickup.
• Staff reserves the right to withhold badges from individuals whose provided information does not match the provided valid photo ID.
• The account owner is responsible for distributing each badge to the correct group member.
• At the convention, a badge that does not match its bearer will be confiscated.
• Should the account owner fail to pick up all badges, group members will have to pick up their badges individually (see section 4.1).

5. Badge Mailing

Adult badges and their lanyards may be mailed to a Canadian address for a fee.

This fee will vary based on the number of badges and destination.

All attendee badges associated with an account will be mailed to the indicated address, except for child badges (see section 6).

The account owner is responsible for distributing each badge to the correct group member. A printout provided in each mailing will indicate which badge belongs to whom.

A badge that does not match its bearer will be confiscated.

Mailed badges will be considered issued and thus will not be available for in-person pickup. Mailed badges that are lost, damaged, or delayed will not be resent. No refunds will be granted.

Badges may be reissued onsite should Customer Services (registration@otakuthon.com) be notified no later than August 1, 2025. You will be granted access to the express registration line and your badge will be reissued free of charge.

Otherwise, you will have to go through the Customer Service line and be charged replacement fees. Standard onsite badge pickup rules apply.

In the event of force majeure, Otakuthon reserves the right to unilaterally cancel the mailing option and refund the cost of mailing.

6. Child Registration

6.1 Children Aged 6 and Under

Children aged 6 and under (born on or after August 1, 2018) are eligible for free entry. An optional (Chibi-Chibi) badge is available at the family counter in the registration area.

Important rules:

• Children must be accompanied at all times by a parent or guardian who is at least 18 years old.
• A valid government-issued ID (such as a health insurance card or passport) may be required as proof of age.

6.2 Children Aged 7 to 13

Children aged 7 to 13 (born between August 1, 2012, and July 31, 2018) must be registered by a parent, a legal guardian or a guardian who was the consent of the parent or legal guardian.

For these children, a Child (Chibi) badge is required.

Important rules:

• The child must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who is at least 18 years old.
• If registration is done on-site during the festival and the child will not be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, please bring the Parental Consent Form for On-Site Registration (link) in order to complete the registration. Without this, we will not be able to complete the child's registration.
• They must be registered in the same group as their accompanying adult.
• Child badges cannot be mailed and must be picked up in person at the registration area, with the child present. A valid government-issued ID (such as a health insurance card or passport) is required as proof of age.

Otakuthon staff and volunteers are not responsible for taking care of children. The legal guardian is responsible for keeping the child under supervision at all times.

A dedicated family line is available for parents attending the convention with a child aged 13 or under.

7. Onsite Registration

• Prospective onsite registrants must present themselves in person with a valid photo ID using the onsite registration line to register for the convention. This valid photo ID must contain ALL the following information:
  • Complete last name,
  • Complete first name,
  • Date of birth,
  • Picture.
• Adult badges may also be purchased by a proxy ONLY if both of the following are presented:
  • a valid government-issued photo ID of the badge’s owner, and
  • a valid government-issued photo ID of the proxy.
• The proxy is responsible for ensuring that the badge will be used by its proper owner.
• At the convention, a badge that does not match its bearer will be confiscated.
• Those who have created an online account, entered their information and selected their extras must ensure that their badge has been paid for in full before the preregistration deadline (August 1, 2025). Otherwise, they will not be granted access to the badge pickup line.
• They will have to take the necessary steps to register through the onsite registration line, at the onsite rate, and obtain extras (like T-shirts).

8. Badge Policy

• Badges must be visible and accessible at all times, positioned forward-facing around chest height.
• If the badge cannot be displayed at chest height due to costume restrictions or other issues, please make sure to display it as prominently and visibly as possible.
• Attendees may temporarily conceal their badges to take pictures but must otherwise keep their badges visible at all times.
• Attendees who do not properly display their badges may be refused access to Otakuthon activities or be escorted off-site.
• All participants must carry a valid photo ID including their full name and date of birth and must provide it when requested by Otakuthon staff or venue security.
• Participants who have lost their badge must report the loss as soon as possible to the registration customer service desk.
• Lost badges are to be returned to the customer service desk.
• Should your lost badge be recovered before a replacement is issued, you may pick it up at the customer service desk upon presenting a valid photo ID.

9. Lost and Found Badges

• Found badges may be claimed upon presenting a valid photo ID at the customer service desk.
• Lost badges may be replaced ONCE ONLY, at a nominal fee of $15.
• When replaced, the lost badge will be permanently invalidated.

10. Information Accuracy

• Attendees must provide complete and accurate registration information.
• Registration information must match the information on the valid photo ID used to pick up or replace the badge.
• Staff reserves the right to withhold badges from individuals whose information provided does not match the valid photo ID provided.
• Otakuthon will not be held responsible in the event that an attendee cannot be contacted using the information provided during the registration process.