How to Order a Canadian Birth Certificate
- 1). Determine whether you are eligible to order a birth certificate. The following people are eligible in all provinces and territories: the subject, a parent or guardian if the subject is a minor (under 18 or 19, varies by jurisdiction), a legal representative of the subject or his parent or guardian, a government official, or someone with a court order granting access to birth records. In addition, Alberta, Ontario and Newfoundland grant access to next-of-kin or estate executors when the subject is deceased. Alberta grants access to everyone when the subject has been deceased for longer than 100 years. British Columbia grants access to anyone who "satisfies the Chief Executive Officer of the good faith of the person's cause for requiring the certificate"; Quebec also considers such applications in good faith. The Northwest Territories grants access to the subject's spouse; Saskatchewan does so only with written authorization from the subject, or when the subject is deceased.
- 2). Complete an application form. These forms are available in government offices in the appropriate province or territory, or on that jurisdiction's website. The form queries the personal information of you and the subject, and your relationship to the subject (and reason for application, if applicable). Indicate what type of certificate you want: original or certified copy, and short- or long-form (long-form includes information on parentage). Ontario also requires that a guarantor certify the application.
- 3). Pay the applicable fee. These costs vary by jurisdiction and service requested.
- 4). Submit your application, including one or two pieces of identification (as required by the relevant jurisdiction). All provinces and territories allow applications to be submitted by mail or in person at a local Vital Statistics office. In addition, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Prince Edward Island allow submissions by fax. British Columbia, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia allow submissions online. Ontario allows submissions both by fax and online.
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