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British Columbia · Identity and documents

Order or replace a birth certificate in British Columbia

Compiled by Mahmoud Halat, checked

Short answer

In British Columbia, Vital Statistics Agency (Government of British Columbia) handles it.

Who handles it

Vital Statistics Agency (Government of British Columbia)

Handles it in British Columbia.

Canada Service Map is independent and not a government website. The official page always has the final word.

Who can apply

  • The person named on the certificate can order it, as can a parent if that person is under 19, a guardian in some cases, or someone with written permission from an eligible applicant.

    Source: gov.bc.cachecked #

Steps

  1. If it is your own certificate, or your child's and the child is 18 or younger, you can order online. Everyone else must order in person or by mail.

    Source: gov.bc.cachecked #

  2. Online orders go through the Vital Statistics Agency's secure ordering service and need a credit card.

    Source: gov.bc.cachecked #

  3. If a certificate is lost or stolen, file the free Declaration of Lost or Stolen Birth Certificate (form VSA 410B) so it is cancelled, and report it to local police.

    Source: gov.bc.cachecked #

What you need

  • To order by mail, send the Application for Birth Certificate or Registration Photocopy (form VSA 430B) with payment to the Vital Statistics Agency in Victoria.

    Source: gov.bc.cachecked #

How long it takes

  • Courier delivery costs $60 per certificate. It prints the next business day once all information is in, but it will not arrive the same day.

    Source: gov.bc.cachecked #

Where to go

  • At a Service BC counter you do not fill out a form, but you give the same birth details the form asks for and pay there.

    Source: gov.bc.cachecked #

Good to know

  • There are two versions. The one with parental information is needed for many applications, such as a passport for a child up to age 16.

    Source: gov.bc.cachecked #

  • A newborn's certificate cannot be issued until the birth is registered and Vital Statistics gets the Notice of Birth from the hospital.

    Source: gov.bc.cachecked #

Questions people ask

How long does it take to get a B.C. birth certificate?

Allow four to six weeks for processing with regular mail. With courier delivery, the certificate prints the next business day once everything is received, then ships from Victoria.

Source: gov.bc.cachecked #

Can I order a B.C. birth certificate online?

Yes, if it is your own certificate or your child's and the child is 18 or younger. You need a credit card. Other applicants must apply in person or by mail.

Source: gov.bc.cachecked #

Can I get a B.C. birth certificate without the sex shown?

Yes. Choose that option on form VSA 430B and mail it with payment or order at a Service BC counter. It cannot be ordered online.

Source: gov.bc.cachecked #

Do I need to replace my old paper B.C. birth certificate?

No. Certificates printed before 2008 are still valid for most uses, but some agencies may ask for the newer polymer one, and a replacement is not free.

Source: gov.bc.cachecked #

In every province and territory

The same service across Canada: who handles it and the official link. British Columbia is marked.

Province or territoryWho handles itOfficial linkGood to know
British ColumbiaThis pageVital Statistics Agency (Government of British Columbia)How to orderchecked
AlbertaAlberta registry agents (Vital Statistics, Government of Alberta)Order a certificatechecked Order through a registry agent; applications mailed directly to Vital Statistics are not processed.
SaskatchewaneHealth Saskatchewan (Vital Statistics)Order a birth certificatechecked
ManitobaVital Statistics Branch (Government of Manitoba)Order a certificate onlinechecked
OntarioServiceOntario (Office of the Registrar General)Order a birth certificatechecked Order directly from ServiceOntario; third-party sites charge extra.
QuebecDirecteur de l'état civilOrder a certificate onlinechecked Only the person named in the act, or someone who can show an interest, can order it.
New BrunswickVital Statistics (Service New Brunswick)Order a birth certificatechecked
Nova ScotiaVital Statistics (Service Nova Scotia)Order a birth certificatechecked
Prince Edward IslandVital Statistics (Government of PEI)None on record
Newfoundland and LabradorVital Statistics Division (Government Services, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador)Order a birth certificatechecked
YukonVital Statistics (Government of Yukon)None on recordOnly for births that happened in the Yukon.
Northwest TerritoriesVital Statistics, Health Services Administration Office (Department of Health and Social Services)Order a birth certificatechecked
NunavutNunavut Vital Statistics (Department of Health)Order a certificatechecked Births before April 1, 1999 are held by the Northwest Territories; order those from the NWT.

Where to go in person

Places in the biggest cities, from open data. Check the official link for hours and what each office offers before you go.

Cite this page

Canada Service Map, "Order or replace a birth certificate in British Columbia", checked 13 October 2026, https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/birth-certificate/british-columbia