Frequently Asked Questions
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What is a birth registration?
A birth registration is a legal document that must be completed and submitted for every birth in the province of BC.
It is the legal document that names your child and identifies you as the parent(s).
Naming a child and registering the birth are important responsibilities because registration is the only way of creating a permanent legal record of a person's birth.
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When should I complete my child's birth registration?
By law, you must register the birth and legal name of your child within 30 days of the birth. If you do not register the birth within 30 days you may be charged a $27 fee.
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How many children can I register at one time?
One - complete a single Electronic Birth Registration for each child. In the case of multiple births, you must complete a separate birth registration for each child.
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Who can register a child's birth?
The mother and the father/parent (if a father/parent is being included on the birth registration) must register their child's birth. Each parent must be present during
the completion of the online birth registration, as each parent must certify the registration separately. If a parent is not able to certify because they are incapable
or not present in the country, please contact Vital Statistics to discuss options.
If the father/parent is not being included on the birth registration, then the mother must declare this by selecting the "Declaration" checkbox
on the "Registrant" page. The addition of the father/parent to the birth record is a permanent part of the record. The father/parent's details will
appear on the Parental Birth Certificate. This information can only be changed under the BC Vital Statistics legislation or policy and, in some instances, by court order.
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Are there any restrictions to what I name my child?
A child must have a given name (first name) and a surname (family name/last name), and may have one or more middle names.
A child's surname can be:
- one of the parents' surnames;
- hyphenated or a combination of both parents' surnames; or
- different from both parents' surnames.
A child's surname cannot be more than two surnames combined together.
Acceptable Characters for Names
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Acute Á,É,Í,Ó,Ú
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Grave À,È,Ì,Ò,Ù
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Circumflex Â,Ê,Î,Ô,Û
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Umlaut Ä,Ë,Ï,Ö,Ü
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Cedilla Ç
Brackets (), slashes / or other symbols are not accepted.
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Is there a limit to how many characters my child's given names can have?
No, but there is a limit to how many we can fit on a parental birth certificate.
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What happens if I order a parental birth certificate but my child's name is too long?
We will provide you with two documents in place of the parental birth certificate.
- An individual birth certificate listing your child's name but not the name of the parent(s).
- A birth extract which provides parental information.
You would need to present both of these documents for any applications that require a parental birth certificate. For example, Passport Canada would require both documents.
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What is the mother's maiden surname?
- If mother was born in Canada, the maiden name is the name on their birth certificate or legal name change certificate.
- If mother was born outside of Canada, the maiden name is the name on their birth certificate from their country of origin.
- If they do not have an original birth certificate, it is the name on their citizenship / Permanent Resident card or legal name change certificate.
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How much does a certificate cost?
$27.
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How long will it take to receive my birth certificate order?
For a new birth, birth certificates cannot be issued until both the electronic birth registration has been submitted, and the Notice of Live Birth form has been received from the hospital. This is an approximate 4-6 week process.
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How do I pay online when I order a birth certificate?
Pay for your birth certificate online with a VISA, MasterCard, American Express, VISA Debit or Debit Mastercard. A secure BC Government authorization system approves
your payment, and then returns you to our web page to confirm your order. We do not store any credit card information.
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How do I order a birth certificate or commemorative birth certificate?
After you have completed the electronic birth registration and certification, you will have the option to order birth certificates and commemorative birth
certificates for the child you have just registered. Alternatively, you can order additional certificates using the Electronic Certificate Ordering System:
https://ecos.vs.gov.bc.ca/
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What is an official birth certificate?
A birth certificate is the foundation identity document and is required to obtain all other forms of official identification such as passport
(the parental birth certificate is required for passport). There are two styles of certificates: one that includes parental information and one
with individual information only. The certificates are one size, similar to a passport. As a fraud prevention measure, birth certificates in Canada
are printed on special certificate paper with unique security features.
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What are commemorative certificates?
Commemorative certificates are a beautiful keepsake to mark a child's birth. Each commemorative birth certificate includes the child's name, date of birth,
time of birth, birth weight, place of birth, and sex within one of many attractive styles. Commemorative certificates fit into a standard 11'' x 14'' (28 cm x 35.5 cm)
frame and are printed in full colour on premium quality paper. The complete collection of commemorative birth certificates can be viewed at our website:
Commemorative Birth Certificates
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Can commemorative certificates be used for official identification?
No. They are decorative keepsakes only.
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Is online registration a secure way to register a baby and order a birth certificate?
Yes. When you complete an online application for a birth, the personal information you enter is encrypted before it is sent over secure networks
to the BC Vital Statistics Agency. Credit card payments are made through a secure British Columbia government approved credit card authorization system.
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How do I protect my personal information?
You share responsibility for protecting your personal information. If you are using the online application in a public place
(i.e. Government Information Centre, library, educational facility or internet café), please ensure that you:
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Do not leave the computer unattended while completing the application.
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End the session by selecting the Finish or Exit buttons.
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Clear the browser's cache and close down the browser when finished.
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Be certain to collect all copies from the printer and shred any copies that you do not need.
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What additional services can you apply for when registering your child's birth?
At the same time a child's birth is registered, parents have the option to apply for the following newborn services: British Columbia Medical Services Plan,
Canada Child Benefits, and a Social Insurance Number.
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How do I apply for Canada Child Benefits for my child?
When you register your newborn's birth, you have the option of applying for Canada Child Benefits for your newborn at the same time. The mother provides her
consent by selecting "Yes" when asked if she would like to register her child for Canada Child Benefits. She must provide her Social Insurance Number and select
the certify statement on the Canada Child Benefits application page. The BC Vital Statistics Agency then releases the necessary information needed to register the
child for Canada Child Benefits to the Canada Revenue Agency. For further information, including information relating to your privacy rights, see the enclosed
Canada Revenue Agency information sheet RC4476-BC. There is no fee to apply.
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How do I apply for a Social Insurance Number for my child?
When you register your newborn's birth, you can apply for his/her Social Insurance Number (SIN). You can use your child's SIN to open a registered education
savings plan (RESP) and to apply for benefits from the Government of Canada for your child, such as the Canada Education Savings grant and the Canada Learning Bond.
To apply for your newborn's Social Insurance Number, provide your consent by selecting "Yes" when asked if would like to apply for a SIN, and selecting the certify
statement on the Social Insurance Number application page. The BC Vital Statistics Agency will then release the information needed to apply for a Social Insurance
Number for your child to Service Canada. For further information, including information relating to your privacy rights, see the enclosed
Service Canada information sheet SC325-08-11. There is no fee to apply.
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How do I enrol my child for Medical Services Plan coverage (MSP)?
When you register your newborn's birth, you have the option of enrolling your child for Medical Services Plan coverage at the same time. If you have MSP coverage,
you can apply to enrol your baby in MSP when you register your newborn's birth. To apply, the mother gives her consent by selecting "Yes" when asked if she would
like to register her child for the Medical Services Plan and selecting the certify statement on the Medical Services Plan application page. The BC Vital Statistics Agency
will then release the information needed to determine if your newborn is eligible for MSP to Health Insurance BC (HIBC), which administers MSP. If eligible,
HIBC will enroll your baby and send you your baby's BC Services Card If your newborn is not eligible, HIBC will send you a letter to let you know. There is no fee to apply.
Important Notes:
The law requires BC residents to enrol in MSP. Although the hospital may have assigned a Personal Health Number to your newborn, you must still enrol
your baby for MSP coverage. Under the Medicare Protection Act, a resident is defined as a person who is:
- a citizen of Canada or is lawfully admitted to Canada for permanent residence
- makes his or her home in British Columbia
- physically present in British Columbia at least six months in a calendar year. This includes a person who is deemed under the regulations to be a resident but does not include a tourist or visitor to British Columbia.
Fathers/parents wishing to enrol a newborn on an MSP account other than the one that also covers the baby's mother should
contact HIBC directly. If you have MSP
coverage through your employer, another group plan or the Ministry of Social Development, advise your Group Administrator or Worker that you have applied to enrol
your baby in MSP using the Electronic Birth Registration process. Depending on the length of your baby's name, it may not be possible to include the full name on
the baby's BC Services Card.
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How do I register my newborn for Medical Services Plan coverage other
than using the Electronic Birth Registration process?
Health Insurance BC provides a
Medical Services Plan (MSP) Baby Enrolment form. For more information, contact
Health Insurance BC.
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How do I find more information regarding Medical Services Plan coverage
for my newborn?
Visit Medical Services Plan website for more information.
Contact Health Insurance BC at (604) 683-7151 from the Lower Mainland or
1-800-663-7100 from the rest of BC.
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Who must certify the application?
Any person that is party to this birth registration must be present during the Electronic Birth Registration process. Each parent whose information
is to appear on the birth registration is required to certify the registration separately and must be present when the online birth registration is completed.