How it works

The Government keeps a record of all registered births that take place in Alberta and can only issue documents for these births.

• Birth Certificate with Personal Information Only
• Birth Certificate with Personal Information and Parentage
• Photocopy of a Registration of Birth

What’s important to know

There is only one size of birth certificate; what varies is the amount of information it contains.

All certificates are certified extracts of the original Registration of Birth. Altering and/or laminating Vital Statistics documents makes them invalid.

The following must be applied for through the Provincial Archives of Alberta as they qualify as historical records (anyone may apply)

• copies of Registrations of Birth 120 years old and older (from the date of birth)
• copies of Registrations of Birth where the person (whose birth is registered) has been deceased for 50 years or more; proof of the death is required

Birth certificate with personal information only

This birth certificate includes:

• full name of the individual
• date of birth
• place of birth
• sex of the individual
• registration number
• registration date
• date issued

Birth certificate with personal information and parentage

This birth certificate includes:

• full name of the individual
• date of birth
• place of birth
• sex of the individual
• name of parent(s)
• place of birth of the parent(s)
• registration number
• registration date
• date issued

Photocopy of a Registration of Birth

This is a photocopy of the registration form completed at the time of birth, usually by the mother/person who gave birth to the child.

A photocopy of a Registration of Birth usually includes:

• full name of the individual
• date of birth
• place of birth
• sex of the individual
• name of parent(s)
• place of birth of the parent(s)
• registration number
• registration date

A photocopy of a Registration of Birth cannot be used for identification.

A photocopy is generally used for genealogical, court or consulate purposes.

There’s always an official raised seal and red stamp on the back of the photocopy stating it’s a certified true copy of the original registration.