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Birth Registration
The vast majority of people born in Canada are Canadian citizens. But if you were born outside Canada or if you have any questions about your citizenship, the Citizenship and Immigration Canada Web site can provide you with important information.
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Child Born Outside Canada to a Canadian Parent
If you were born outside Canada to a Canadian parent, you may also be a Canadian citizen. Since February 15, 1977 there is no requirement to register new births abroad. However, if you or your child were born outside Canada and require proof of citizenship, you must apply for a citizenship certificate (see next section).
If you were born after February 14, 1977 outside Canada to a Canadian parent who was also born outside Canada to a Canadian parent you may need to take steps to keep (retain) your citizenship. You need to take these steps before you turn 28 years old. If you do not take these steps you could lose your Canadian citizenship. This is true even if you are living in Canada. Further information is available on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada Web site.
See Canadian Citizenship and Dual Nationality for additional details.
Application for Citizenship Certificates
Any Canadian citizen can apply for a citizenship certificate. New Canadians get a certificate when they become citizens. If you automatically acquired citizenship because you were born outside Canada to a Canadian parent, you can apply for a citizenship certificate. If you automatically acquired citizenship in another way (e.g., born in Canada or you are a woman who was landed in Canada before 1947 as a war bride) you can apply for a citizenship certificate.
The Canadian citizenship certificate is not a travel document. The most widely accepted travel document remains the Canadian passport. You may use your Canadian citizenship certificate as proof of citizenship when applying for a passport.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada provides an on-line Application for Citizenship Certificate. Information on the procedures to be followed can be obtained from the nearest Canadian government office abroad. For authoritative information on Canadian citizenship, consult Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
Provincial Vital Statistics Offices
To obtain a copy of a birth certificate, contact the Vital Statistics Office of the province in which you were born. There is no central registry for births in Canada.
