Ontario birth certificate: choose the format and order it
For a birth registered in Ontario, confirm the required certificate type and order through ServiceOntario. A standard certificate, a certificate with parental information and a certified copy of birth registration contain different information; ordering a replacement invalidates the previous certificate of that type.
Start with ServiceOntario’s certificate guidance. It applies to births registered in Ontario. It is not a Canada-wide ordering route for births in other provinces.
Choose before you order
| Certificate | What distinguishes it |
|---|---|
| Birth certificate | An extract of the holder’s birth-registration details |
| Birth certificate with parental information | Adds parents' names and places of birth |
| Certified copy of birth registration | Detailed certified registration record, including recorded amendments |
Ask the receiving organisation which type it needs. A detailed record is not automatically preferable, and a scan does not become a certified copy because it reproduces the whole page.
Prepare the online request
- Check your eligibility to apply. The service lists applications for yourself from age 13, named parents and qualifying legal guardians.
- Collect the applicant’s contact information and the birth and parental details requested by the form.
- Prepare a guarantor if the subject is at least nine years old.
- Select the required certificate type, review the details and use the official payment step.
- Keep the order number and any instructions for separately submitted supporting evidence.
Protect the issued record
ServiceOntario issues only one current certificate of each type for a person. A replacement invalidates the previously issued certificate of that type. Mark an old personal scan clearly so you do not later supply it as a copy of the current record.
Keep any legal-guardianship or deceased-person evidence distinct from a routine application. Those circumstances have additional requirements. Follow the official branch rather than assuming the ordinary adult route applies.
A stored reference copy helps you locate details, but it does not replace the issued certificate where an original is requested. For the separate passport workflow, read Canadian passport renewal. Use the document-storage guide to organise personal scans without sending them automatically to every requester.
Questions about Ontario certificates
Can I use this route for a birth in another province?
This service covers births registered in Ontario. Find the responsible province or territory for another birth record.
Is a certified copy the same as a phone scan?
No. The certified registration copy is issued by the authority. A personal scan is a reproduction for reference.
What happens when I order a replacement?
The previously issued certificate of the same type becomes invalid. Keep old scans distinguishable from the current record.