Get or Replace an Ontario Birth Certificate

ServiceOntario – the only government-authorized source for Ontario birth certificates. It’s safer, cheaper and faster.

A birth certificate is a record of a birth that happened in Ontario. It is a government document that can be used as proof of identity. The birth must be registered in Ontario to use this service.

Please use the 4-in-1 Newborn Bundle if you have not registered the birth of your child and the child is less than 1 year old.

You can Order a birth certificate online

You can check the status of your birth certificate application 1 business day after you submit it.

What you need to know

To order a short form or long form birth certificate you will need:

1. your first and last name, mailing address, and phone number
2. information of the person on the birth certificate:
   • first, middle, and last name, date of birth, sex and city of birth
   • previous legal names for the person named on the birth certificate (if applicable)
   • parents’ information
3. a guarantor if the applicant is 9 years and older
4. payment for the certificate

Some passport applications require a long form birth certificate. Check the Passport Canada list of acceptable documents to ensure you are ordering the correct version.

If you are unsure if you need a short form certificate or long form certificate, please check with the Ministry, government agency, or person requesting the document before you order.

Note: only 1 short form and 1 long form birth certificate of a person can be issued. For security reasons, if you order a replacement, any previously issued certificates will no longer be valid.

Replace a lost, stolen or damaged birth certificate

To replace a lost, stolen or damaged birth certificate you can use the online application to order a replacement birth certificate.

Who can apply

You can apply for a birth certificate for:

• yourself; if you are at least 13 years old
• your child; if you are named as a parent on your child’s original birth registration
• a child; if you are the legal guardian and can provide court documents proving that you have custody of the child. If applying online you will need to submit the supporting documentation together with a letter quoting the online order number, by fax or mail
• a deceased person; if you are the next of kin, executor or estate administrator. You will need to provide a death certificate or a funeral director’s statement of death, and any other documentation requested by ServiceOntario. You can only get a long form birth certificate for a deceased person. If applying online you will need to submit the supplementary documents together with a letter quoting the online order number, by fax or mail

Note: If you are the next of kin, executor, or estate administrator and have to provide one of the documents listed above, the document must be in French or English or translated by an accredited translator.

Short form birth certificate

A short form birth certificate includes basic information and can be used as identification. It includes this information:

• last name
• given name(s)
• date of birth
• certificate number
• birthplace
• sex
• date of registration
• registration number, and
• date issued

Cost, processing and delivery time

Long form birth certificate

A long form birth certificate is a certified copy of the birth registration. You might need it if you:

• move to another country
• want to obtain a child’s passport
• are applying for Native Status
• become an executor for a foreign estate
• are adopting a child abroad, or
• fill out certain citizenship or immigration documents

Cost, processing and delivery time

Emergency service: the ServiceOntario centre at 47 Sheppard Avenue East, unit 417, 4th Floor, Toronto, ON M2N 5N1 is the only location that accepts emergency service applications.

Births occurring before 1930 may take an additional 8 weeks to process.

Payment Options

• Online: VISA, MasterCard, American Express, Interac® Online
• In-person at 47 Sheppard Ave, Toronto: cash, money order, credit card, Interac®

Note: personal cheque payments are no longer accepted at our retail locations for any vital events transactions, including regular, emergency and expedited services.

Order a birth certificate online

You can check the status of your birth certificate application 1 business day after you submit it.

Service guarantee

Online orders have a service guarantee:

• Regular service: in the mail within 15 business days (or you get your money back).
• Premium service: delivered to you within 5 business days (or you get your money back).

Note: birth certificates issued prior to 1930 may not be eligible for the service guarantee. The 4-in-1 Newborn Bundle is not eligible for the service guarantee.

Apply by mail or fax

Complete the application form and mail to:

189 Red River Road, PO Box 4600

or fax it to: 1-807-343-7459

Short form birth certificate

Long form birth certificate

* Money orders must be in Canadian funds and issued from a Canadian financial institution.

Note: customers paying for birth, marriage and death certificates by personal cheque via mail can expect a delay in the 6-8 week processing time until the cheque has cleared for payment. An additional 10 business days (or 2 weeks) is required for cheques to clear.

Order a birth search

If you’re looking for a record for someone else, you can request a birth search. You will receive a letter in the mail confirming whether or not there is a registration that matches the criteria you provided for the years searched.

The search letter cannot be used as an identity document.

To request a search you can use the same online service as a certificate application but you will select the search option and indicate how many years you would like to search.

Note: birth searches do not have a service guarantee or emergency service.

• TAGS
• New Ontario Birth Certificates