Register your newborn baby

newborn baby's handYou can use the newborn registration service to apply online for important government documents for your baby. 

To register the birth of your newborn baby, you need:

You can register your baby online only if:

  • your baby is under one year of age, and
  • has not been registered before

Some of this information is on the hospital release form given to you after your baby’s birth.

Register your newborn online

Costs

Birth registration: Free

Birth certificate

  • Short form birth certificate: $25
  • Long form birth certificate: $35

Social insurance number: Free

Canada Child Benefits, including the Ontario Child Benefit: Free

Payment

VISA, MasterCard, American Express or Interac® Online

Delivery

6 to 8 weeks.

Online completion time

Average 30 minutes.

What you need to know

You can use the newborn registration service to apply online for four important government documents for your baby:

  1. Birth registration
  2. Birth certificate
  3. Social insurance number
  4. Canada Child Benefits, including the Ontario Child Benefit

A short form birth certificate includes basic information and can be used as identification. It includes this information:

  • Last name
  • Given name(s)
  • Date of birth
  • Certificate number
  • Birthplace
  • Sex
  • Date of registration
  • Registration number
  • Date issued

A long form birth certificate is a certified copy of the birth registration. You might need it if you:

  • move to another country
  • become an executor for a foreign estate
  • are adopting a child abroad
  • fill out certain citizenship or immigration documents

How do I

Apply for these documents and benefits if my baby is over one year of age or the birth is already registered?

Updated: April 2, 2013