Eligibility

• Parents receive a birth certificate after their child is born, but copies are often required. The person named on the certificate, as well as the named party's parents, may apply for a copy. If the named person has died, the executor of his estate, as well as his next of kin can apply.
  
  

Applying

• Canadian provinces support applications via fax and mail and also in person at specified government locations. As of 2010, some provinces offer a web-based and paper-free application service.
  
  

Time Frame

• The average turnaround time from submitting an application to receiving the birth certificate is two to three weeks. For a fee, faster options are available, ranging from a 10-day rush service to a two-day emergency service.