Register your child’s birth

Learn about how to register the birth of your child, apply for a birth certificate, get an Indian status card and any documents that you need.

Register a birth

Parents must register their child's birth with their province or territory.

Some provinces offer a newborn registration service. It allows parents to register their child's birth and apply for other services at the same time, such as a Social Insurance Number and other child benefits.

Click on your province or territory.

If the birth occurred in a province different from your place of residence, contact the vital statistics office in the province where the birth took place.

For more information, refer to Members of the Vital Statistics Council for Canada.

Get a birth certificate or copy of a birth record

Learn about the steps to apply for a birth certificate based on the requirements of each province and territory in Canada.

Health insurance cards

Health insurance cards are a provincial responsibility. For information on how to apply for a health card, click on your province or territory of residence below:

Social Insurance Number for your child

In all provinces, you can apply for your child's Social Insurance Number (SIN) when you register your child's birth.

If you live in the territories, you must apply for your child’s SIN directly through Service Canada.

Children 12 years of age or older may apply for their SIN. Parents, legal guardians or legal representatives can apply for a SIN for children under the age of majority in their province, and for adults in their care.

To apply for a SIN, consult Social Insurance Number – Apply, update or obtain a SIN confirmation.

Apply for a child passport

A Canadian passport is a travel document that Canadian citizens can apply for.

A child passport is valid for a maximum of 5 years. It’s valid until it reaches its expiry date, even after the child turns 16.

For more information, refer to How to apply for a child passport in Canada.

Travelling with children

Discover useful information and tools to guide you when flying with children, including what to pack in hand luggage, what to expect at security checkpoints, and the documents necessary.

Children born outside of Canada

Canadians who have a child born outside of Canada do not need to register the birth in Canada. Not all children born outside of Canada to Canadian citizens are entitled to Canadian citizenship. Apply for a certificate of Canadian citizenship to confirm whether your child is a Canadian citizen.

For more information, refer to Children born outside of Canada.

Member of an Indigenous community

Indian status

To find information about registration under the Indian Act and status card applications, the Indian Register and First Nations membership or citizenship, refer to Indian status.

Register under the Indian Act

For information on whether you are entitled to registration, how to apply and where to get help, refer to Register under the Indian Act.

Page details

2025-11-18

Language selection

Search