---
title: "Legally change your name"
url: "https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/name-change"
description: "Legally change your name in Canada: run by each province and territory. Who handles it in all 13 provinces and territories. Checked 12 October 2026."
site: "Canada Service Map"
author: "Mahmoud Halat"
publisher: "Space & Story"
lastReviewed: "2026-10-12"
licence: "Built entirely from public data: open data and official government pages. Each record keeps the licence of its source, listed at https://canadaservicemap.ca/data."
---
# Legally change your name

Provincial or territorial service · Identity and documents

Compiled by Mahmoud Halat, checked 12 October 2026. Not a government website. The official page always has the final word.

## Short answer

A legal name change is made through the vital statistics office of your province or territory. Taking a spouse's name after marriage usually does not need one.

Each province and territory runs its own. Find yours in the table below.

## In every province and territory

Who handles it in each province and territory, with the official link.

| Province or territory | Who handles it | Official link | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| [British Columbia](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/name-change/british-columbia) | Vital Statistics Agency (Government of British Columbia) | [Apply to change your name](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/life-events/legal-changes-of-name/legal-change-of-name-application), checked 12 October 2026 | Applicants 12 and older need a criminal record check done within 30 days before applying. |
| [Alberta](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/name-change/alberta) | Alberta registry agents (Vital Statistics, Government of Alberta) | [How to apply](https://www.alberta.ca/legal-name-change), checked 12 October 2026 | Apply in person at a registry agent with electronic fingerprints and a criminal record check. |
| [Saskatchewan](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/name-change/saskatchewan) | eHealth Saskatchewan (Vital Statistics) | [Apply for a legal name change](https://www.ehealthsask.ca/residents/birth-marriage-death-certificates/change-your-name), checked 12 October 2026 | Taking a spouse's surname after marriage does not need a legal name change. |
| [Manitoba](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/name-change/manitoba) | Vital Statistics Branch (Government of Manitoba) | [Legal change of name](https://vitalstats.gov.mb.ca/change_of_name.html), checked 12 October 2026 | Apply by mail or in person by appointment; adults also need a certified criminal record check. |
| [Ontario](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/name-change/ontario) | ServiceOntario (Office of the Registrar General) | [Apply to change your name](https://www.ontario.ca/page/change-name), checked 12 October 2026 |  |
| [Quebec](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/name-change/quebec) | Directeur de l'état civil | [How to change your name](https://www.etatcivil.gouv.qc.ca/EN/change-name.html), checked 12 October 2026 | You must have lived in Québec for at least one year and show a serious reason. |
| [New Brunswick](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/name-change/new-brunswick) | Vital Statistics (Service New Brunswick) | [How to change your name](https://www.gnb.ca/en/topic/family-home-community/vital-statistics/change-of-name.html), checked 12 October 2026 | Apply by mail using the application booklet on this page; there is no online application. |
| [Nova Scotia](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/name-change/nova-scotia) | Vital Statistics (Service Nova Scotia) | [Change your legal name](https://www.novascotia.ca/change-your-name-or-name-your-spouse-or-child), checked 12 October 2026 |  |
| [Prince Edward Island](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/name-change/prince-edward-island) | Vital Statistics (Government of PEI) | None on record |  |
| [Newfoundland and Labrador](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/name-change/newfoundland-and-labrador) | Vital Statistics Division (Government Services, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador) | [How to change your name](https://www.gov.nl.ca/gs/birth/legal-name-change/), checked 12 October 2026 | Paper application with a criminal record check; no online option. |
| [Yukon](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/name-change/yukon) | Vital Statistics (Government of Yukon) | None on record | You must be a Yukon resident to change your name in the Yukon. |
| [Northwest Territories](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/name-change/northwest-territories) | Registrar General of Vital Statistics (Department of Health and Social Services) | [How to change your name](https://www.hss.gov.nt.ca/en/services/changing-name-adult), checked 12 October 2026 |  |
| [Nunavut](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/name-change/nunavut) | Nunavut Vital Statistics (Department of Health) | None on record | Contact Nunavut Vital Statistics at 1-800-661-0833 or nuvitalstatistics@gov.nu.ca for the application. |

## More

- [Get or renew a passport](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/passport)
- [Get a Social Insurance Number (SIN)](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/sin)
- [Get proof of Canadian citizenship](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/citizenship-certificate)
- [Apply for Indian status or a status card](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/status-card)
- [Order a birth certificate](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/birth-certificate)
- [Order a death certificate](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/death-certificate)

## Cite this page

Canada Service Map, "Legally change your name", checked 12 October 2026, https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/name-change