Ontario · Identity and documents
Order or replace a birth certificate in Ontario
Compiled by Mahmoud Halat, checked
Short answer
In Ontario, ServiceOntario (Office of the Registrar General) handles it. Order directly from ServiceOntario; third-party sites charge extra.
Canada Service Map is independent and not a government website. The official page always has the final word.
Who can apply
You can order a birth certificate for yourself if you are at least 13, for your child if you are named as a parent on the birth registration, or for a child in your legal custody with court documents.
Source: ontario.cachecked #
What you need
Ontario offers three types, a birth certificate, a birth certificate with parental information, and a certified copy of birth registration. Check which one the agency asking for it needs before you order.
Source: ontario.cachecked #
To order online you need details about the person named on the certificate, their parents' names and birthplaces, a guarantor if the person is 9 or older, and a Visa or Mastercard credit or debit card.
Source: ontario.cachecked #
How long it takes
Regular service takes 15 business days plus delivery by Canada Post. Premium online service takes 5 business days including courier delivery.
Source: ontario.cachecked #
Where to go
Order online, by mail to the Office of the Registrar General in Thunder Bay, or in person at the Toronto or Ottawa ServiceOntario locations named on the page.
Source: ontario.cachecked #
Good to know
Ontario issues only one of each type of certificate per person, so ordering a replacement cancels the one issued before it.
Source: ontario.cachecked #
For urgent needs, bring printed proof of urgency to the in-person emergency service at Sheppard and Doris in Toronto, the only location that accepts it. Emergency service is not offered for the version with parental information.
Source: ontario.cachecked #
Questions people ask
How long does it take to get an Ontario birth certificate?
About 15 business days plus Canada Post delivery for regular service, or 5 business days including courier delivery for premium or emergency service. Volumes can cause delays.
Source: ontario.cachecked #
Which birth certificate does my child need for a passport?
For a child under 16, the birth certificate with parental information is what you need for most purposes, including a passport. Confirm with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
Source: ontario.cachecked #
Can I get a birth certificate for someone who has died in Ontario?
Only a certified copy of birth registration, and only if you are next of kin, executor or estate administrator. You must include a death certificate or funeral director's proof of death.
Source: ontario.cachecked #
In every province and territory
The same service across Canada: who handles it and the official link. Ontario is marked.
| Province or territory | Who handles it | Official link | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | Vital Statistics Agency (Government of British Columbia) | How to orderchecked | |
| Alberta | Alberta registry agents (Vital Statistics, Government of Alberta) | Order a certificatechecked | Order through a registry agent; applications mailed directly to Vital Statistics are not processed. |
| Saskatchewan | eHealth Saskatchewan (Vital Statistics) | Order a birth certificatechecked | |
| Manitoba | Vital Statistics Branch (Government of Manitoba) | Order a certificate onlinechecked | |
| OntarioThis page | ServiceOntario (Office of the Registrar General) | Order a birth certificatechecked | Order directly from ServiceOntario; third-party sites charge extra. |
| Quebec | Directeur de l'état civil | Order a certificate onlinechecked | Only the person named in the act, or someone who can show an interest, can order it. |
| New Brunswick | Vital Statistics (Service New Brunswick) | Order a birth certificatechecked | |
| Nova Scotia | Vital Statistics (Service Nova Scotia) | Order a birth certificatechecked | |
| Prince Edward Island | Vital Statistics (Government of PEI) | None on record | |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Vital Statistics Division (Government Services, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador) | Order a birth certificatechecked | |
| Yukon | Vital Statistics (Government of Yukon) | None on record | Only for births that happened in the Yukon. |
| Northwest Territories | Vital Statistics, Health Services Administration Office (Department of Health and Social Services) | Order a birth certificatechecked | |
| Nunavut | Nunavut Vital Statistics (Department of Health) | Order a certificatechecked | Births before April 1, 1999 are held by the Northwest Territories; order those from the NWT. |
Cite this page
Canada Service Map, "Order or replace a birth certificate in Ontario", checked 13 October 2026, https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/birth-certificate/ontario