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Apostille for a birth certificate

Citizenship by descent, immigration, enrolling a child in school abroad, marrying overseas — all usually need an apostilled Canadian birth certificate. Here is the format that gets accepted and how it's apostilled.

Document typeCivil vital record (provincial)
FormatLong-form is widely required abroad (it lists parents); the short-form / wallet card is often refused
Government fee$0 (Global Affairs Canada) up to $66.50 (Québec), at cost
What gets apostilledThe government-issued certificate, or a notarized certified true copy of it

Long-form, not the wallet card

Most foreign authorities want the long-form birth certificate — the one that names both parents — for citizenship, immigration and family files. The short-form or plastic wallet card is a frequent rejection. If you only hold the short version, the long-form has to be ordered from the province first.

Usually required

Long-form certificate

Issued by the provincial registrar (in Québec, the Directeur de l'état civil). Shows parentage and carries the registrar's signature and seal.

Often refused

Short-form / wallet card

Compact and convenient, but missing the detail many destinations require. We confirm which format your destination needs before anything is submitted.

Protect your original. Where the apostille can go on a copy, a notarized certified true copy keeps your sealed original certificate safe. We confirm the accepted form at pre-check.

Which Canadian authority handles it

The authority is decided by where the document was issued or notarized — never by where you live now.

  • Québec records and notarizations → Québec's designated authority. Québec notarizations are verified by the Chambre des notaires first, so build in lead time.
  • Ontario → Official Document Services; British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan → each province's own authority, usually on a notarized certified true copy.
  • All other provinces and territories, plus federal documents → Global Affairs Canada (no government fee, roughly 20 business days).
See each authority's fee and timeline on the by-province overview, or start the free pre-check and we'll confirm the exact routing for your document and destination.
A certified translation of the apostilled certificate is often required for non-English/French destinations. The receiving authority sets the rule; we flag it at pre-check.
Common questions
Long-form or short-form?
Long-form, in most cases — it names the parents, which citizenship and immigration files abroad usually require. We confirm what your destination accepts before submitting.
Does it need notarization first?
Often not. A recent government-issued certified copy can frequently be apostilled directly; a notarized certified true copy is used to protect the original or when the signature can't be verified.
Which authority apostilles it?
The one covering the issuing or notarizing province: Québec, Ontario, BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan each have their own; all others go to Global Affairs Canada.
Do I need a translation?
Frequently, for non-English/French destinations. The receiving authority sets the requirement; we flag it at pre-check.

Apostille your birth certificate

Upload a scan and tell us the destination — we'll confirm the format, the routing, and a fixed all-in quote within one business day.

Free pre-check