Need an Ontario birth certificate for a passport, government ID or another application? Before ordering one, check which birth document you actually need.
Ontario offers a regular birth certificate, a birth certificate with parental information and a certified copy of birth registration. They contain different information, and the cost also changes if you’re replacing a certificate you’ve already had.
For most regular online orders, ServiceOntario currently lists processing at 15 business days plus Canada Post delivery. A first birth certificate costs $25, while a replacement costs $35.
Here’s how the process works.
Ontario Birth Certificate Cost and Processing Time
For a regular online application:
| Document | First certificate | Replacement | Regular online processing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birth certificate | $25 | $35 | 15 business days + Canada Post delivery |
| Birth certificate with parental information | $25 | $35 | 15 business days + Canada Post delivery |
| Certified copy of birth registration | $35 | $45 | 15 business days + Canada Post delivery |
ServiceOntario notes that regular online processing does not necessarily include Canada Post delivery time, and some applications can take longer. If you’re registering a newborn and ordering the certificate through Ontario’s newborn registration service, the province currently lists a longer processing period of 6 to 8 weeks plus Canada Post delivery.
What Is an Ontario Birth Certificate?
An Ontario birth certificate is an official government document containing information from a birth registered in Ontario.A regular certificate includes details such as:
- name
- date of birth
- sex
- place of birth
- date of registration
- registration number
- date of issue
- certificate number
It can be used as proof of identity for various government services.ServiceOntario lists examples including applying for an adult Canadian passport, Social Insurance Number (SIN), Ontario driver’s licence and Ontario health card.Ontario can only issue the certificate if the birth was registered in Ontario. If you were born in another Canadian province or territory, you need to request your certificate from that jurisdiction.
Which Ontario Birth Certificate Do You Need?
Ontario offers three different birth documents.The easiest way to compare them is:
| Document | What’s included | Common use |
|---|---|---|
| Birth certificate | Basic birth and registration information | General identification and adult applications |
| Birth certificate with parental information | Birth information plus parents’ names and places of birth | Children, passports and applications requiring parent information |
| Certified copy of birth registration | Detailed copy of the original birth registration | Certain immigration, citizenship, visa and other specialized applications |
The most detailed document isn’t automatically the best one to order.If an organization has asked for your birth record, check exactly which version it requires before paying for the application.
Regular Birth Certificate
This is the standard Ontario birth certificate.ServiceOntario recommends it for people 16 years of age and older. It contains the person’s basic birth and registration information without the additional parental details contained in the parental-information version.
For many adults who simply need proof of birth, this is the document they’ll be looking for.
A first certificate costs $25. If you’re replacing a previously issued certificate, the regular online replacement costs $35.
Birth Certificate With Parental Information
This certificate contains the regular birth information plus information about the person’s parents, including their names and places of birth.ServiceOntario recommends this version for newborns and children under 16 where parental information is required.
It can be used for purposes such as a child’s passport and applications that require proof of parentage.
The regular online cost is currently $25 for the first certificate and $35 for a replacement.
One important difference: premium and emergency service are currently not available for birth certificates with parental information.
Certified Copy of Birth Registration
A certified copy of birth registration contains considerably more information than a regular certificate.It is a copy of the original registration and is authenticated by the Office of the Registrar General. It may also show certain amendments or corrections made to the registration.You might be asked for one for certain:
- immigration applicationscitizenship applicationsvisa applicationsinternational adoption matterslegal or government processes
The regular online cost is $35 for the first copy and $45 for a replacement.Because this document contains more personal information, there’s usually no reason to order it unless the organization you’re dealing with specifically requests it.
Who Can Order an Ontario Birth Certificate?
According to ServiceOntario, you can apply for a birth certificate for:
- yourself if you’re at least 13 years oldyour child if you’re named as a parent on the birth registrationa child for whom you’re the legal guardian, provided you can supply the required court documents
Legal guardians applying online may still have to mail supporting documents and include the online order number.Different rules apply when requesting records for someone who has died.
How to Order an Ontario Birth Certificate Online
For most people with an already registered Ontario birth, ordering online is the simplest option.Be ready to provide information such as:
- applicant’s name and contact informationfull name of the person on the birth recorddate of birthplace of birthsexparents’ informationprevious legal names, where applicable
ServiceOntario says a guarantor is required if the person named on the certificate is 9 years old or older.Online payment options include Visa, Visa Debit, Mastercard and Debit Mastercard.
Watch Out for Third-Party Birth Certificate Websites
This is worth checking before entering your personal or payment information.ServiceOntario specifically warns that private companies also offer certificate-ordering services online. These companies are not the Ontario government and may charge different fees.
Ontario says ServiceOntario offers the government’s certificate prices and lets you check your application status after submitting an order.
Look for an official Ontario.ca or ServiceOntario website before paying.
A private website may include wording stating that it is not a government agency or isn’t affiliated with the government.
If you’re unsure, start from Ontario’s official government ID and certificate page rather than searching for a certificate-ordering company.
How Long Does an Ontario Birth Certificate Take?
This depends on how you’re applying and what service you’re using.
Regular online order
ServiceOntario currently lists:15 business days + Canada Post deliveryfor regular online birth certificate orders.
Premium online service
For a regular birth certificate, premium online service is available with:5 business days including courier deliveryThe current cost is:
- $55 for a first birth certificate$65 for a replacement
Premium online service isn’t currently available for a birth certificate with parental information.
Newborn birth registration
If you’re registering a newborn and ordering the certificate as part of that process, Ontario currently lists approximately:6 to 8 weeks + Canada Post deliveryThis is why you may see both “15 business days” and “6–8 weeks” quoted online. They can refer to different application circumstances.
What If You Need Your Birth Certificate Urgently?
Ontario offers emergency service for eligible applications. The province currently lists emergency processing at: 5 business days including courier delivery
Proof showing why the certificate is urgently required is necessary. Acceptable proof may include documents relating to:
- a medical emergency
- new employment
- an embassy or consulate appointment
- confirmed travel
- an immigration hearing
- a wedding where the applicant is getting married
- certain RESP-related requirements
For a regular birth certificate, emergency service currently costs $55 for a first certificate or $65 for a replacement.
Applying in person for emergency service
Don’t assume that your nearest ServiceOntario location handles emergency birth certificate requests.The province says the only ServiceOntario centre accepting emergency-service applications in person is:
ServiceOntario – Sheppard and Doris
47 Sheppard Avenue East
Toronto, ON M2N 5N1
Bring the required proof of urgency with your application.
Emergency service isn’t available for every birth record. ServiceOntario currently excludes birth certificates with parental information, births within the first 16 weeks and births before 1930 from this service.
Already Applied but Now Need It Urgently?
You may not need to start another application. If you already submitted a regular online or mailed application and your situation has become urgent, ServiceOntario allows eligible applicants to request expedited processing. You’ll need to provide proof of urgency and pay an additional $30 per certificate.
This can be useful if, for example, you ordered your certificate normally and later realized you need it sooner for travel or an appointment.
How to Replace a Lost, Stolen or Damaged Ontario Birth Certificate
You can order a replacement online through ServiceOntario.For regular online service, a replacement birth certificate currently costs $35, compared with $25 for the first certificate.
There’s also an important security rule to know.
Ontario allows only one valid certificate of each type for a person at a time. If an authorized person orders a replacement, the previously issued certificate becomes invalid.
That means if you later find the certificate you thought you’d lost, you shouldn’t continue using the old one.
Can You Apply by Mail?
Yes.Birth certificate applications and supporting documents can also be submitted by mail.
The mailing address listed by ServiceOntario is:
ServiceOntario
Office of the Registrar General
P.O. Box 4600
189 Red River Road
Thunder Bay, ON P7B 6L8
Use the current ServiceOntario application form and instructions, especially if supporting documents are required.
Mail applications or applications requiring additional documentation can take longer than straightforward online orders.
Can You Apply in Person?
Ontario lists two locations where birth certificate applications can be submitted in person:- 47 Sheppard Avenue East in Toronto
- 110 Laurier Avenue West in Ottawa
However, the Toronto Sheppard and Doris location is the only location accepting emergency-service applications in person.
So don’t make a trip to a regular ServiceOntario centre assuming it can provide the same birth certificate services.
How to Get a Birth Certificate for a Newborn
A newborn’s birth must first be registered with the Government of Ontario.Ontario says parents should register their baby’s birth within 30 days.
The province’s 5-in-1 Newborn Bundle lets eligible parents complete several tasks together:
- Register the birth
- Apply for a birth certificate
- Apply for the baby’s Social Insurance Number (SIN)
- Apply for Canada child benefits
- Request an Education Savings Referral
Registering a birth through this process is free.
The birth certificate itself still has a fee.
For certificates ordered through the newborn process, Ontario currently lists approximately 6 to 8 weeks plus Canada Post delivery.
What If a Baby’s Birth Wasn’t Registered Within 30 Days?
Ontario allows eligible parents to register a birth online for free while the child is under 12 months old.Once a child is one year old or older, the process changes. A delayed registration fee of $50 applies.
ServiceOntario may first need to determine whether a birth registration already exists before completing a delayed registration.
Birth Registration vs. Birth Certificate: What’s the Difference?
These two terms refer to different things.A birth registration creates the official government record of the birth.
A birth certificate is a document issued using information from that registered birth.
For a newborn, therefore, the birth needs to be registered before Ontario can issue the certificate.
For most adults born in Ontario, that registration happened shortly after birth, so they can simply order or replace their certificate.
Do You Need a Birth Certificate With Parental Information for a Passport?
For children, parental information can be important because passport applications may require proof of parentage.ServiceOntario identifies the birth certificate with parental information as appropriate for many child-related purposes, including passports.
However, Canadian passport requirements are federal and can change. If you’re ordering a certificate specifically for a passport application, check the current passport document requirements before choosing which certificate to buy.
For adults, ServiceOntario lists the regular birth certificate as a document that can be used when obtaining an adult Canadian passport.
Can You Remove the Sex Designation From an Ontario Birth Certificate?
Ontario allows a person whose birth is registered in the province to request a certificate that doesn’t display the sex designation field.This doesn’t automatically change the sex designation recorded on the underlying birth registration.
Ontario also has a separate process for changing the sex designation on a birth registration.
Can You Correct Information on an Ontario Birth Record?
Yes.The Office of the Registrar General handles requests involving corrections or amendments to Ontario vital-event registrations.
The forms and supporting documents required depend on what information needs to be changed.
A legal name change is a separate process. Ontario says that when a person born in Ontario completes an Ontario legal name change, they receive a new birth certificate showing the new name.
How to Check Your Ontario Birth Certificate Application Status
You don’t necessarily have to wait without knowing what’s happening with your application.ServiceOntario says the status of an online birth certificate application becomes available one business day after you submit it.
You’ll need identifying information about the application, and an order or file number can help if you have one.
Check a ServiceOntario certificate application
Ontario Birth Certificate FAQs
How much does an Ontario birth certificate cost?
A first regular birth certificate currently costs $25. A replacement costs $35.
A certified copy of birth registration costs $35 for the first copy and $45 for a replacement.
How long does an Ontario birth certificate take online?
ServiceOntario currently lists regular online processing at 15 business days plus Canada Post delivery.
Newborn certificates ordered as part of the birth-registration process can take approximately 6 to 8 weeks plus delivery.
Can I get an Ontario birth certificate in 5 days?
For eligible applications, yes. Premium online and emergency services for regular birth certificates currently offer 5-business-day service including courier delivery.
Emergency in-person applications require proof of urgency.
How much does an urgent Ontario birth certificate cost?
A first regular birth certificate using premium or emergency service currently costs $55. A replacement costs $65.
If you’ve already submitted a regular application and subsequently need to expedite it, an additional $30 fee per certificate applies to eligible urgent requests.
Where can I get an emergency birth certificate in person?
The only ServiceOntario centre currently accepting in-person emergency birth certificate applications is the Sheppard and Doris location at 47 Sheppard Avenue East in Toronto.
What happens if I lose my birth certificate?
You can order a replacement through ServiceOntario. Once an authorized replacement is issued, the previous certificate becomes invalid.
Can I order my child’s birth certificate?
Yes. A parent named on the child’s Ontario birth registration can apply. A legal guardian may also apply but must provide the required court documentation.
Can I order an Ontario birth certificate if I was born outside Ontario?
No. Ontario birth certificates are issued for births registered in Ontario. If you were born elsewhere, request your birth record from the province, territory or country where the birth was registered.
Before You Submit Your Application
A few checks can prevent unnecessary delays or paying for the wrong document.
Confirm which certificate the organization wants, especially if you’re applying for a passport, immigration document or another government service.
Check whether you’re ordering a first certificate or a replacement, because the fees are different.
If time matters, don’t rely on the newborn 6–8 week estimate or assume every application follows the same timeline. Regular online applications, newborn registrations and urgent applications have different processing periods.
And finally, make sure you’re ordering directly through ServiceOntario rather than accidentally paying a third-party certificate service.
