How long to get birth certificate replacement

You can order a birth certificate by mailing your request. It’s the least expensive option, but it takes longer to receive your order.

Identification Requirements

You must prove your identity by completing an application and submitting the required documents.

If you are applying for your birth certificate or your child's birth certificate, you must provide a copy of a valid photo identification with signature.

Examples:

• Driver license
• Employee ID with most recent pay stub
• Government ID
• IDNYC Card
• Social services or public benefit ID
• Student ID and transcript from an accredited and verifiable institution
• Passport
• MTA Reduced-Fare MetroCard

If you don’t have a valid photo ID, you must give two proofs of your current address, such as a recent utility bill, telephone bill, or letter from a government agency. These must be originals, not copies.

If you need a copy of a birth certificate for a deceased relative, you must provide your own valid photo ID and prove you are a blood relative. You must also provide a photocopy of the person's death certificate if he or she died in New York City, or the original death certificate if the person died outside of New York City.

Cost

The cost of each certified copy is $15. There is no mailing fee.

Payment Methods

You must pay by check or money order payable to the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

Processing and Shipping

It takes about 4 to 6 weeks to process and deliver the order.

Mailing Address

Mail your completed, notarized application, proof of identity, and a self-addressed stamped envelope to:

Department of Health
Office of Vital Records
125 Worth Street
New York, NY 10013

Application

Online

Download a Birth Certificate Application.

By Mail

Request by phone that a paper copy be mailed to you.

If you are outside the United States and need an application mailed to you, email your request, your name, and your mailing address to [email protected]. The form will be sent to you within five business days.

Complete your order online with our partner VitalChek and choose between receiving records by mail or pick-up at Will Call within two (2) business days. Online orders will receive 2 emails: Order Received and Order Processed. If all correct information is received upon the order and no additional service is required e.g. amendment, adoption; it takes about two (2) business days to get the order processed.

The Oklahoma State Department of Health does not accept online or phone orders directly; however, for your convenience, you can process on-line requests through our partners. An additional fee is charged for using these services and all major credit cards are accepted including American Express®, Discover®, MasterCard® or Visa®.

If you have not registered the birth of your child and they are less than 1 year old, please use the Newborn Bundle.

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Overview

When a child is born in Ontario, their birth must be registered with the Government of Ontario.

Once a child’s birth is registered, the parent(s) or guardian(s) may request a birth certificate for that child.

A birth certificate is a record of a birth that happened in Ontario. It is a government document that can be used as proof of identity.

You can order an Ontario birth certificate online, in-person (at the 47 Sheppard Avenue East, Toronto or the 110 Laurier Avenue West, Ottawa locations) or by mail.

Ontario birth certificates can only be issued for people whose births are/were registered in Ontario.

Types of birth certificates

There are 3 types of birth certificates you can order:

1. a birth certificate
2. birth certificate with parental information
3. certified copy of birth registration

Note:
We can only issue one of each type of birth certificate for a person. For security reasons, this means that if you or anyone who is authorized (e.g. a parent/guardian) orders a replacement certificate, the previously issued certificate is no longer valid.

If you don’t know which kind of birth certificate you need, please check with the government agency or person requesting the document before you order.

Who can apply

You can apply for a birth certificate for:

• yourself, if you are at least 13 years old
• your child, if you are named as a parent on your child’s birth registration
• a child, if you are the legal guardian and can provide court documents proving that you have custody of the child. If you are applying online, you will need to submit the supporting documentation together with a letter quoting the online order number by mail

If you require a birth certificate urgently, you can submit an urgent request.

If you are applying for a birth certificate for a person who is deceased, you can only get a certified copy of birth registration if you are the next of kin, executor or estate administrator (supporting documents are required).

Next of kin are:

• parents
• spouse or common-law partner
• children, and
• siblings

If all the next of kin are deceased, extended next of kin or their authorized representative may apply.

Extended next of kin are:

• aunts
• uncles
• first cousins
• grandchildren
• grandparents
• nephews, and
• nieces

Birth certificate

A birth certificate is an extract of information from the original birth registration and includes:

• name
• date of birth
• sex
• birthplace
• date of registration
• registration number
• date of issue
• certificate number

This certificate is recommended for those 16 years of age and older and can be used to get other government documentation, such as:

• adult’s passport in Canada
• Social Insurance Number (SIN)
• Ontario driver’s licence
• Ontario health card

Find out how much it costs and how long it takes to get a birth certificate.

Birth certificate with parental information

A birth certificate with parental information is an extract of information from the original birth registration and includes:

• all of the information included in the birth certificate
• the name(s) and place(s) of birth of the subject’s parent(s)

This certificate is recommended for newborns and children under 16 years of age where parental information is required. It can be used for the same identification purposes as a birth certificate with only subject information, but also for:

• a child’s passport in Canada
• child health insurance
• Indian Status
• certain immigration or citizenship applications

Find out how much it costs and how long it takes to get a birth certificate with parental information.

Certified copy of birth registration

When a child is born in Ontario, their parent(s) or guardian(s) must register their birth with the Government of Ontario. A certified copy of birth registration is a copy of the original registration and:

• includes all details of the registration
• is endorsed as authentic by the Office of the Registrar General
• is printed on legal sized paper
• contains a raised seal for security and verification purposes
• contains any changes that have been made to the birth registration including any name changes and corrections of information (as a historical record)

You can use a certified copy of birth registration to apply for ID that requires more detailed information, such as:

• adopting a child abroad
• certain immigration or citizenship applications
• visa applications

Find out how much it costs and how long it takes to get a certified copy of birth registration.

Cost and delivery

Payment options

Online

We accept Visa, Visa Debit, Mastercard, Debit Mastercard and Interac® Online

In-person at 47 Sheppard Avenue East in Toronto

Cash, money order, Visa, Visa Debit, Mastercard, Debit Mastercard and Interac® (personal cheques will not be accepted in-person).

Mail

Visa and Mastercard, personal cheques, money orders in Canadian dollars issued from a Canadian financial institution

Birth Certificate with parental information

15 business days plus delivery by Canada Post

No service guarantee applies

15 business days plus delivery by Canada Post

No service guarantee applies

Birth Certificate

15 business days plus delivery by Canada Post

No service guarantees apply

5 business days including delivery by courier

No service guarantees apply

5 business days including delivery by courier
(proof of urgency is required)

No Service guarantees apply

15 business days plus delivery by Canada Post

No service guarantees apply

5 business days including delivery by courier

No service guarantees apply

Certified copy of birth registration

15 business days plus delivery by Canada Post

No service guarantee apply

Replacement premium (online): birth certificate

5 business days including delivery by courier

No Service guarantees apply

$75

Replacement emergency: birth certificate

5 business days including delivery by courier (proof of urgency is required)

$75

Order online

To order online you will need:

1. your first and last name or single name, mailing address, and phone number
2. information about the person named on the birth certificate:
   • all given names, last name or single name, date of birth, sex, city of birth and other birth information
   • any previous legal names for the person named on the birth certificate (if applicable)
   • parents’ information (first names, last names or single names, dates of birth and places of birth)
3. guarantor if the subject is 9 years and older
4. a Visa, Visa Debit, Mastercard, Debit Mastercard or Interac® Online card

Order a birth certificate online

If you’re having troubling applying online, check to see if your browser supports TLS 1.2.

If you have not registered the birth of your child and they are less than 1 year old, please use our Newborn Bundle.

Note: The status of your online application becomes available 1 business day after you submit it. If you did not receive a payment receipt, please contact ServiceOntario after 1 full business day. If you’ve had trouble applying online and have not entered any payment information you will need to start the application process again.

Order by mail or in-person

Apply by mail

1. Download and complete the application form
2. Send it by mail to:
   • ServiceOntario
     Office of the Registrar General
     189 Red River Road, PO Box 4600
     Thunder Bay, Ontario
     P7B 6L8

Apply in-person

At the following ServiceOntario centres:

• Sheppard and Doris (Toronto)
  Note: this is the only location that accepts emergency service applications
• Ottawa City Hall (Ottawa)

Children under the age of 16

If you are the parent/guardian of a child under the age of 16, you only need the child’s birth certificate with parental information for most purposes, including a passport.

If you are applying for a passport, make sure to check with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada for a list of acceptable documents.

If you already have a certified copy of birth registration, it may be accepted. Please check with the ministry, government agency or the person requesting the document before you order.

Adoptive parents

When completing the application for a birth certificate, provide the names of the adoptive parents' and the current legal name of the adopted person.

You cannot apply for a birth certificate with parental information or a certified copy of birth registration unless the original birth registration has been replaced by a substituted birth registration.  Please contact the Office of the Registrar General at807-475-1171or807-475-1180for information about an application for substituted registration on adoption.

Deceased persons

If you’re ordering a birth certificate for a person who is deceased, you can only get a certified copy of birth registration.

When you order the certified copy of birth registration for a deceased person, you need to:

• be the next of kin, executor or estate administrator
• include a death certificate or a funeral director’s statement of death, and any other documentation requested by ServiceOntario

You may submit the application form with the supplementary documents to ServiceOntario:

• by mail (all documents must be submitted together)
• in-person (all documents must be submitted together)

You may also submit the application form online and mail the supplementary documents to ServiceOntario separately:

• complete the online application
• write down your online order number  
• submit the documents by mail including the online order number

Please note: all of the documents you provide must be in French or English or translated by an accredited translator.

For more information, contact us

Change or don’t display sex designation

You can now change your sex designation on your birth registration to:

• male (M)
• female (F), or
• non-binary (X)

You also have the option to request a birth certificate that does not display the sex designation field. This option does not change your birth registration.

Learn more about changing or not displaying sex designation.

Replace a lost, stolen or damaged birth certificate

To replace a lost, stolen or damaged birth certificate you can use the online application to order a replacement birth certificate.

Emergency service (5 business days including delivery by courier)

If you need the birth certificate within 5 business days, you can apply for either the:

• 5 day premium service online
• emergency service in person

Note: You must provide a printed proof of urgency to qualify for an emergency or expedited birth certificate.

The only location that accepts emergency service applications in person is the ServiceOntario location at Sheppard and Doris (Toronto).

Emergency service is not available for:

• birth certificates with parental information
• births under 16 weeks
• births before 1930 (this may take up to 8 weeks to process)

Order a birth search

If you’re looking for a birth record of yourself or of someone else, you can request a birth search.
When ordering a birth search you will need to provide either:

• a range of years to be searched
• a specific year

If you give us a specific year, we will conduct a five-year search two years prior and two years after the year you specified. You can request searches for longer periods of time for an additional fee of $15 for every five-year interval searched.

You will receive a letter in the mail confirming whether or not a birth is registered that matches the criteria you provided, for the years searched. This letter:

• confirms whether or not a birth is registered
• cannot be used as an identity document

To request a search

1. Use the online service
2. Select the search option and indicate how many years you would like to search

Cost and delivery

Type of service

Processing and delivery

Cost

Online - Regular service

15 business days plus delivery by Canada Post. No service guarantees apply.

$15 for every 5-year period searched (example: year 2000 to 2004)

Online - Premium service

Not available at this time

N/A

In-person emergency service (at 47 Sheppard Avenue East in Toronto only)

Not available at this time

N/A

Mail

6-8 weeks, mailed to you by Canada Post

$15 for every 5 year period searched (example: year 2000 to 2004)

Check the status of your application

You can check the status of your birth certificate application 1 business day after you submit it.

Long form birth certificate

You may be asked by a government agency or person to submit a long form birth certificate.

The term "long form" may refer to a birth certificate with parental information or a certified copy of birth registration.

These are two separate products, used for different purposes, with different information. Always check with the government agency or person requesting the document to confirm what information they need before ordering a birth certificate.

Proof of urgency

To qualify for an emergency or expedited birth certificate, the birth must be registered in Ontario and you must provide proof of urgency along with your complete and correct application and fee.

Proof of urgency may include:

• documentation of a medical emergency
• a letter confirming new employment
• a letter from a consulate or embassy confirming an appointment
• travel reservations including airline tickets, reservations or travel itinerary
• a letter confirming an appointment for an immigration hearing
• a wedding invitation, where the applicant is a party to the marriage
• a letter from a Registered Education Savings Plan dealer
• other situations subject to review

To submit an urgent request for a birth certificate, you can:

1. Download and complete a Request for birth certificate form 
2. Complete and submit a Request for certificate services with payment (Download as PDF)

• attach your completed Request for birth certificate form to this request
• attach your proof of urgency documents
• attach your supporting documents (for example, court documents) if applicable
• submit your payment

Note: Do not include credit card information in your application form. Once you have completed your form, you will be directed to a payment page where you can submit your payment information and complete your request. 

This service is only available for urgent requests.

If your request is not urgent, you may order a birth certificate through the online certificate application or submit your application by mail.  

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