Get or Replace an Ontario Birth Certificate
Order a new or replacement birth certificate for anyone whose birth was registered in Ontario. You can order online, by mail, or in person.
Which Certificate Do You Need?
Answer a few quick questions and we will recommend the right type and show you the cost.
Three Types of Birth Certificates
Birth Certificate
A standard extract from the original birth registration. Shows name, date of birth, sex, birthplace, and registration details.
Birth Certificate with Parental Info
Includes everything in the standard certificate plus the names and birthplaces of the parents listed on the registration.
Certified Copy of Birth Registration
A full copy of the original registration, printed on legal-sized paper with a raised seal. Includes all historical changes such as name corrections.
How to Order
The quickest way to get a birth certificate is through the online application. You can order new certificates, replacements, and birth search letters.
You will need:
You can check the status of your application 1 business day after submitting it.
Download and complete the application form, then mail it to the Office of the Registrar General.
Office of the Registrar General
P.O. Box 4600
189 Red River Road
Thunder Bay, Ontario P7B 6L8
You can apply in person at two ServiceOntario locations. Emergency (5-day) service is only available at the Toronto location.
📍 Toronto
47 Sheppard Avenue East
Emergency service available📍 Ottawa
110 Laurier Avenue West (Ottawa City Hall)
Accepted payment methods in person:
Cash, money order, Visa, Visa Debit, Mastercard, Debit Mastercard, and Interac. Personal cheques are not accepted in person.
Cost and Delivery Times
Who Can Apply
You can apply for a birth certificate for:
Special Situations
For children under 16, the birth certificate with parental information is the recommended choice for most purposes, including passport applications. If you already have a certified copy of birth registration, it may also be accepted. Check with the requesting agency before ordering.
When completing the application, enter the names of the adoptive parents and the adopted person's current legal name. You cannot apply for a birth certificate with parental information or a certified copy unless the original registration has been replaced by a substituted registration on adoption.
If you need a birth certificate for a person who has died, only a certified copy of birth registration can be issued. You must be the next of kin (parent, spouse, child, or sibling), executor, or estate administrator.
You will need to provide:
If all immediate next of kin are also deceased, extended family members (aunts, uncles, first cousins, grandchildren, grandparents, nephews, or nieces) or their authorized representative may apply.
If you need a birth certificate within 5 business days, you can use the premium online service or apply for emergency service in person at the Toronto location (47 Sheppard Avenue East). You must provide printed proof of urgency with your application.
Accepted proof of urgency includes:
You can update the sex designation on your birth registration to male (M), female (F), or non-binary (X). You can also request a birth certificate that does not display the sex designation field at all. Choosing not to display it does not change the underlying registration.
Learn more about sex designation changes →To change or correct information on a birth registration, you need to request a registration amendment form from the Office of the Registrar General. The birth must be currently registered in Ontario. Once the amendment is processed, any new certificate you order in the future will reflect the updated information.
Request an amendment form →If you need to confirm whether a birth is registered in Ontario, you can request a birth search letter. You provide a specific year or a range of years to search. The letter confirms whether a matching registration exists, but it cannot be used as an identity document.
The fee is $15 for every 5-year period searched. If you provide a specific year, the search covers 2 years before and 2 years after that year. Processing takes 15 business days for online orders, or 6 to 8 weeks by mail.
Order a birth search letter →