Maritime Provinces Birth Certificate: How to Order from NB, NS, PEI, NL

If you're applying for Canadian citizenship by descent and your parent or grandparent was born in one of Canada's Atlantic provinces, you'll need to order a long-form birth certificate from the correct provincial vital statistics agency. Each of the four Maritime provinces—New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador—has its own ordering system, fees, and processing times.

This guide walks you through the process for each province, so you can get the documents IRCC requires for your CIT 0001 application.

Why You Need a Long-Form Birth Certificate

IRCC requires long-form (or "detailed") birth certificates for citizenship-by-descent applications. These show both parents' names, which is essential for proving your family chain back to a Canadian-born ancestor.

Short-form certificates—wallet-sized cards that only show the person's name and birth date—are not accepted. If you're tracing ancestry through a grandparent, you'll typically need their long-form Canadian birth certificate, plus your parent's birth certificate (which may be from another country).

For a detailed explanation of what makes a birth certificate acceptable, see our guide on long-form birth certificates in Canada.

New Brunswick Birth Certificates

Agency: Service New Brunswick – Vital Statistics
Website: https://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/services/services_renderer.201.Birth_Certificate.html
Fee: $75 CAD for a long-form birth certificate
Processing time: 10-15 business days for online orders; up to 6 weeks for mail-in requests

How to Order from New Brunswick

You can order online, by mail, or in person at any Service New Brunswick office.

Online ordering:

• Go to the Service New Brunswick website
• You'll need the full name at birth, date of birth, place of birth, and both parents' names
• Pay by credit card
• Certificate mailed to you; no digital option for long-form certificates

By mail:

• Download and complete the Application for Birth Certificate form
• Include a copy of your government-issued photo ID
• Mail to: Service New Brunswick, Vital Statistics, PO Box 1998, Fredericton NB E3B 5G4
• Include a cheque or money order payable to Minister of Finance

Eligibility to order:

• You can order your own certificate, or a certificate for a child, parent, or grandparent if you're a direct descendant or have legal authority
• You may need to provide proof of relationship (your own birth certificate showing the parent's name)

Pre-1920 New Brunswick Records

For births before 1920, provincial registration was inconsistent. You may need to contact:

• Provincial Archives of New Brunswick for church records or other historical documents
• Local parish churches (especially for Acadian families)
• Some pre-1888 records may not exist in provincial archives

Nova Scotia Birth Certificates

Agency: Service Nova Scotia – Vital Statistics
Website: https://beta.novascotia.ca/apply-nova-scotia-birth-certificate
Fee: $49.65 CAD for a long-form certificate
Processing time: 10-15 business days for online; 4-6 weeks for mail-in

How to Order from Nova Scotia

Online ordering:

• Use the Service Nova Scotia online portal
• Requires the person's full name, date and place of birth, parents' names
• Payment by credit card
• You'll receive a printed certificate by mail

By mail:

• Complete the Birth Certificate Application Form (available on the website)
• Include proof of ID
• Mail to: Vital Statistics, PO Box 157, Halifax NS B3J 2M9
• Cheque or money order payable to Minister of Finance

Eligibility:

• You can order for yourself, your child, or a parent/grandparent
• May require supporting documents to prove relationship

Pre-1900 Nova Scotia Records

Nova Scotia has reasonably good vital statistics records going back to the mid-1800s, especially in Halifax and other urban centres. For older records:

• Contact the Nova Scotia Archives (archives.novascotia.ca)
• Scottish and Irish immigration records often well-preserved
• Church records (Anglican, Presbyterian, Catholic) may fill gaps

Prince Edward Island Birth Certificates

Agency: Vital Statistics PEI
Website: https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/service/apply-birth-certificate
Fee: $60 CAD for a long-form birth certificate
Processing time: 2-3 weeks for online orders; up to 6 weeks by mail

How to Order from PEI

Online ordering:

• Available through the PEI government's online service portal
• Requires person's full name at birth, date and place of birth, parents' full names
• Credit card payment
• Certificate mailed to address on file

By mail or in person:

• Complete the Application for Birth Certificate form
• Include photocopy of government-issued ID
• Mail to: Vital Statistics, PO Box 2000, Charlottetown PE C1A 7N8
• Or visit the office at 16 Garfield Street, Charlottetown

Eligibility:

• Direct family member or legal representative
• Proof of relationship may be required

Pre-1906 PEI Records

PEI's vital statistics registration began in 1906. Before that:

• Check with the Public Archives and Records Office of PEI
• Church records (United Church, Catholic, Presbyterian) are key
• Many families have Scottish or Irish origins; census records can help

Newfoundland and Labrador Birth Certificates

Agency: Service NL – Vital Statistics Division
Website: https://www.gov.nl.ca/dgsnl/birth/
Fee: $40 CAD for a long-form birth certificate
Processing time: 10-15 business days online; up to 4 weeks by mail

How to Order from Newfoundland and Labrador

Online ordering:

• Use the Service NL online portal
• You'll need full name, date and place of birth, parents' names
• Credit card payment
• Certificate delivered by mail

By mail:

• Download and complete the Application for a Birth Certificate
• Include a photocopy of valid government-issued ID
• Mail to: Government Service Centre, Vital Statistics Division, PO Box 8700, St. John's NL A1B 4J6
• Payment by cheque or money order payable to the Minister of Finance

Important note: Newfoundland joined Canada in 1949. Births before that date are still registered provincially, but some older records may have unique formatting.

Pre-1892 Newfoundland Records

Vital statistics registration began in 1892. For earlier births:

• Contact The Rooms Provincial Archives in St. John's
• Church records are the main source (Anglican, Catholic, United Church)
• Many outport communities have gaps in records

Common Questions About Maritime Birth Certificates

Do I need a certified translation?

Only if the birth certificate is in French. This applies mainly to Acadian families in New Brunswick (especially northern and eastern regions). If your ancestor's birth certificate is in French, you'll need a certified translation by a member of a recognized translators' association. See our Quebec birth certificate guide for translation requirements—the same rules apply.

What if my grandparent was born before provincial registration started?

Many Bill C-3 applicants trace ancestry to the late 1800s or early 1900s, especially with historic out-migration to New England. If no provincial birth certificate exists:

• Request a "Certificate of No Record Available" from Vital Statistics
• Obtain baptismal or church records from the parish
• Census records, marriage certificates, and other contemporaneous documents can support your application
• IRCC accepts alternative documentation when birth certificates don't exist, but include an explanation letter

Can I order my grandparent's birth certificate if they've passed away?

Yes. As a direct descendant, you're generally allowed to order a grandparent's birth certificate. You may need to provide:

• Your own birth certificate showing your parent's name
• Your parent's birth certificate showing your grandparent's name
• A copy of your ID

Some provinces may ask for a statutory declaration or additional proof of relationship.

How long should I expect the whole process to take?

Plan for 4-8 weeks from ordering to receiving the certificate in hand, depending on the province and method (online vs. mail). If you're ordering multiple certificates from different provinces, you can submit requests in parallel.

Once you have all required documents, IRCC's processing time for the CIT 0001 is currently 9-12 months. See our post on Canadian citizenship processing times for current estimates.

After You Receive Your Birth Certificate

Once you have your long-form birth certificate (and any others required for your lineage), you're ready to complete your CIT 0001 application. Make sure you:

• Keep the original certificate in a safe place
• Include a clear photocopy with your application (IRCC does not require certified copies for birth certificates, just clear legible photocopies)
• Double-check that parents' names are clearly visible

If you're unsure whether you qualify under Bill C-3, or which documents you need based on where your ancestors were born, start with our Bill C-3 eligibility quiz. It takes two minutes and maps out exactly which birth certificates and documents you'll need for your citizenship claim.