Obtaining Birth Certificates In New Brunswick, Canada

Obtaining a birth certificate in New Brunswick, Canada, is a straightforward process. The document is a foundational identity record that serves as proof of citizenship and is required for various official purposes, such as obtaining a passport, driver's licence, or social insurance number. The process can be completed online through the Vital Statistics Society of New Brunswick's website, with applications typically processed within 15 to 25 business days. The cost of a birth certificate varies depending on the type, with short-form certificates priced at $70-$75 and long-form certificates ranging from $70-$80.

Who can apply for a birth certificate in New Brunswick?

To obtain a birth certificate in New Brunswick, you must meet the following requirements:

• You must have a valid email address.
• You must know your full name, date of birth, year of birth, and country of birth.

In addition, there are specific criteria outlining who can apply for a birth certificate in New Brunswick. The following individuals can apply:

• The person whose name appears on the certificate.
• A parent whose name is on the record of the child if the child is 18 years of age or younger (some sources state under 19 years of age).
• A legal guardian if the person is 18 years or younger (guardianship papers are required).
• If the person is deceased, the next of kin may apply (proof of death is required).

The birth certificate can be obtained online through the Vital Statistics Society of New Brunswick's website. The process is straightforward and should not take more than a few minutes to complete.

What are the types of birth certificates available?

There are two types of birth certificates available in New Brunswick, Canada: the Individual Information Birth Certificate and the Family Information Birth Certificate.

The Individual Information Birth Certificate contains the individual's full name, date of birth, place of birth, sex, registration number and registration date, and the date issued. This certificate is not ideal for children 16 years of age and under, as many government agencies require the additional information contained on the Family Information Birth Certificate.

The Family Information Birth Certificate is the document of choice for children 16 years of age and under, as it is generally required by government agencies such as Passport Canada, SGI, and Aboriginal Affairs. It includes the individual's full name, date of birth, place of birth, sex, registration number, registration date, date issued, as well as the parents' full names and their province/state and country of birth.

Both the Individual and Family Information Birth Certificates cost $95.00 each. There is also an option to select a Short Form Birth Certificate, which costs $75.00 per certificate, or a Long Form Birth Certificate, which costs $80.00 per certificate. The Long Form Birth Certificate includes the names and places of birth of the individual's parents, while the Short Form does not.

How to apply for a birth certificate online

How to Apply for a Birth Certificate in New Brunswick, Canada

Who Can Apply?

The person whose name appears on the certificate;

• Parents of the person named on the certificate (if the child is under 18 or 19 years of age);
• A legal guardian of the person named on the certificate (must submit guardianship papers);
• Someone applying for a subject that is deceased (must submit proof of death).

Types of Birth Certificates

There are two types of birth certificates:

• Short Form Birth Certificate: Required for an adult Canadian passport. It contains basic information: full name, date of birth, place of birth, sex, registration date, registration number, and date issued. The short-form certificate does not include the names of the parents. The cost of this certificate is $70 with the Regular Service option (15-25 business days) or $160 with the Rush Service option (5-7 business days).
• Long Form Birth Certificate: Contains all the information as the short form, plus the names and birthplaces of the parents (province/country only). The long-form certificate is generally preferred by government agencies as a form of identification. The cost of this certificate is $70 with the Regular Service option (15-25 business days) or $160 with the Rush Service option (5-7 business days).

How to Apply Online

• Go to the Vital Statistics Society of New Brunswick's website and click on "Order Services".
• Four different documents will be displayed, including the information relating to a birth certificate. Insert your name and date of birth into the empty fields and proceed.
• Click on "Continue". You will be presented with four choices of documents that you can order. Select "Certificate of Registration of Birth" from the drop-down menu, then click "Continue".
• You will be asked for your country of origin, as well as the sex of the individual. Provide your country of birth and select your sex. After that, click on "Continue".
• Proceed as directed by Vital Statistics NB, including completing a name and date of birth verification form. In order to comply with provincial regulations, you must also include your full legal name and date of birth in the registration form. After completing this step, click on "Continue".
• Review the information you have entered online. If you find any errors, click on "Back" and make the necessary corrections. Once you are satisfied with the accuracy of the data, click on "Continue".
• Enter your payment details into the online form. You can select either a one-time or monthly payment option. Once you are done, click on "Submit Payment" and proceed as directed by Vital Statistics NB. If your payment is successful, you will receive a copy of your New Brunswick birth certificate via email within approximately 5 business days.

How much does a birth certificate cost?

The cost of a birth certificate in New Brunswick, Canada, depends on the type of certificate and the delivery method selected.

Types of Birth Certificates

There are two types of birth certificates available in New Brunswick: the Individual Information Birth Certificate (Short Form) and the Family Information Birth Certificate (Long Form).

The Short Form certificate costs $75.00 per certificate and includes the individual's name, date and place of birth, sex, date of issue, registration date, and registration number.

The Long Form certificate costs $80.00 per certificate and includes all the information from the Short Form, plus the names and places of birth of the individual's parents.

Delivery Options

Regular service for processing and delivering birth certificates typically takes 15 to 20 business days and is included in the cost of the certificate.

However, if you require expedited service, you can opt for the Rush Service option, which reduces the processing and delivery time to 5 to 7 business days. This option comes with an additional surcharge of $70.00, bringing the total cost to $160.00 for either type of birth certificate.

Additionally, if you need the certificate even faster, you can choose the Courier Service option for an additional cost. This option reduces the waiting time to 10 to 15 business days for a fee of $16.50 to NB, NS, or PE, $33.00 to other Canadian destinations, $45.00 to the USA, and $85.00 to international destinations.

Combining the Rush Service and Courier Service options further reduces the waiting time to 3 to 5 business days, but the fees are higher. This combination costs $66.50 to NB, NS, or PE, $83.00 to other Canadian destinations, $95.00 to the USA, and $135.00 to international destinations.

It is important to note that the fees mentioned above do not include the cost of the certificate itself, so you need to add the price of the Short Form or Long Form certificate to the delivery fee when calculating the total cost.

Payment Methods

Payment for birth certificates can be made using Visa, MasterCard, American Express, cheque, or money order. When paying by cheque or money order, make it payable to 'Vital Certificate Processing Services'.

How long does it take to receive a birth certificate?

The processing time for a birth certificate in New Brunswick, Canada, depends on the service you opt for. Certificates ordered with regular service average 15 to 20 business days to be processed and delivered. However, if you need the certificate sooner, you can opt for expedited processing and delivery services.

The website vitalcertificates.ca offers expedited services with different pricing tiers. The Courier Service reduces the wait time to 10 to 15 business days, while the Expedited and Courier Service reduces the wait time to 3 to 5 business days. It is important to note that these services come with additional charges, and the processing times listed are approximations and not guaranteed.

Additionally, due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19), processing times may be impacted, and customers are urged to order certificates as soon as possible to avoid exponential increases in wait times.

Frequently asked questions