Birth Certificates

Parents must register the birth of a baby born in Canada before they can apply for a birth certificate. Registration ensures there is a permanent record of the child's birth. To register a child:

• Parents must complete the Statement of Live Birth they received from the hospital or midwife and send it to Kingston City Hall. The municipality will forward the statement to the Office of the Registrar General.

Once a birth is registered, parents can apply for a birth certificate. This is a legal document that can be used to prove identity. There are two types of birth certificate forms:

• A short form birth certificate includes the name, date and place of birth, certificate number, gender, date of registration and issue.
• A long form birth certificate is a certified copy of the birth registration. It includes the name, date and place of birth, gender, parents' names and birthdates, details about the birth and other children born to the mother.

The Long Form Birth Certificate is needed to apply for certain official documents.

There is no charge to register a birth in Ontario. Birth certificate applications include a fee and can be made online. It takes about two weeks to obtain a certificate.