Birth Certificate

Ontario

You must fill out an application and submit it online or by mail.

A birth certificate is a legal document that establishes identity. It can be used as a piece of identification when you register your child for health services, a passport, or some other services.

Only children born in Ontario can get an Ontario birth certificate. If your child was born in Canada but not in Ontario, contact the Vital Statistics Office in the province or territory where your child was born.

How do I apply online?

The Newborn Registration Service lets you register your newborn's birth, apply for their birth certificate and their Social Insurance Number (SIN) at the same time. However, you cannot use this service if your child is older than 1 year.

How do I apply by mail?

You must register the birth of your child before you can apply for a birth certificate.

Register the Birth

Fill out and sign the Statement of Live Birth form that you get from the hospital or midwife when you give birth. Mail it to the municipality where you live. The address is on the form.

It can take up to 4 months to process your application. You will receive a Notice of Birth Registration in the mail.

If you must travel before your child's birth has been registered, visit the Ontario government website for information on what to do in this case.

Apply for the Birth Certificate

Once you have the Notice of Birth Registration, you can apply for your child's birth certificate at any time. Fill out and sign the Request for Birth Certificate form, and mail it with the required fee to the Office of the Registrar General.

You can also apply for a birth certificate online.

Visit the Ontario government website for detailed information about who can apply, the cost to apply and how long it will take.

For more information about your situation, contact the Office of the Registrar General at 1-800-461-2156.

Many community agencies can help you apply for a birth certificate. To find help in your area, go to Services Near Me and search for "settlement services" in your area.

What is the difference between a Birth Certificate, a Birth Certificate with Parental Information and a Certified copy of a Birth Registration?

A birth certificate is a legal document used to provide an identity. The birth must be registered before a birth certificate can be issued. There are three types of birth products available. Make sure you order the right certificate!

Sample birth certificate (SHORT FORM)

A Birth Certificate is an extract of information from the original birth registration and contains the following information:

Subject name
Subject date of birth
Certificate Number
Birthplace
Sex
Date of Registration
Registration number
Date issued

A Birth Certificate contains personal information of the subject only, and is recommended for those over the age of 16 and can be used to obtain other government documentation, such as:

Adult general passport
Social Insurance Number
Ontario driver's licence
Ontario Health Card

Sample birth certificate with parental information (LONG FORM)

A Birth Certificate with Parental Information is an extract of information from the original birth registration and contains the following information:

Subject name
Subject date of birth
Certificate Number
Birthplace
Sex
Date of Registration
Registration number
Date issued
Parent(s) name(s)
Parent(s) place(s) of birth

*Note: For older (pre-1970) registrations, parent(s)' place(s) of birth may not have been recorded and therefore will not appear on the certificate.

This certificate includes parental information, in addition to the subject's information and is recommended for newborns or children under 16 years of age where parental information is required and can be used for the same identification purposes as a birth certificate with only subject information.

Child general passport
Child health insurance
Certain immigration or citizenship applications

A Certified Copy of the Birth Registration contains the following information:

Subject name
Subject date of birth
Birthplace (city, town, village, municipality)
Sex
Location of birth (hospital, birthing centre, etc.,)
Parent(s) name(s)
Parent(s) date(s) of birth
Parent mailing address at the time of birth
Duration of the pregnancy
Number of children born to this mother
Parent(s) place(s) of birth
Weight of the child at birth
Type of birth (single, multiple, etc.,)
Attendant at the birth
Date of Registration
Registration number
Date issued

A certified copy of the detailed registration filed after birth, also known as the Statement of Live Birth, contains all registered information about a birth. The copy is endorsed as authentic, printed on legal sized paper, and contains a raised seal for security and verification purposes.

As a historical record of the birth, a certified copy contains any changes that have been made to the birth registration including any name changes and corrections to information contained on the birth registration. The certified copy of a birth registration can be used for identification purposes requiring more detailed information such as for:

Applying for Indian Status
Adopting a child abroad
Certain immigration or citizenship applications
Visa applications

Safeguarding your personal and sensitive information is important. Given the amount of information contained in a Certified Copy of a Birth Registration it is not recommended to share this document unless expressly required.

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