In British Columbia, the birth of every newborn in the province must be registered with the Vital Statistics Agency.

Either parent is responsible for registering the birth of the child. Another individual standing in place of the parents may register the birth, if the parents are incapable.

To register a child's birth, complete and return the Registration of Live Birth form to the Vital Statistics Agency within 30 days of the date of birth. This form is contained in the birth package given to parents during their stay in the hospital. It is also available at any Vital Statistics Office.

If only one parent is being named on the registration, different rules apply. A mother applying on her own must complete the form and check the statement section indicating the father is not being registered. If the father is incapable, the mother must provide proof of the father's incapacity in the form of a Statutory Declaration. Supporting documentation may be required. In instances where the father does not sign the registration form, there will be no information about the father on the birth registration or birth certificate. Fathers or third parties applying to register a birth should contact a service representative at 250 952-2681 for further information.

A co-parent may be included on the registration, if the father is unknown by the mother, if the father is unacknowledged by the mother, or if the father has refused to acknowledge the child. A co-parent is defined as a person, who is in a spousal relationship with the mother of the child, is not the father of the child and the mother and co-parent have agreed to be the parents of the child. A spouse is defined as married to another person or living with another person in a marriage like relationship. The addition of a father / co-parent, to the birth record, is a permanent part of the record. The father / co-parent can only be changed under the Vital Statistics Act or in some instances by court order.

When you register your newborn’s birth, you can also apply for your child’s Social Insurance Number (SIN) at the same time. A SIN is required to access various Canadian government benefits and programs such as the Registered Education Savings Plan, the Canada Learning Bond and the Canada Education Savings Grant, information on these programs can be obtained at www.servicecanada.gc.ca

To apply for your child’s SIN, simply check the SIN application box and add your signature in the Release of Information section found at the bottom of the Registration of Live Birth form. When completed, this is considered the SIN application for your child. The information will be sent to Service Canada after the birth registration is completed. Your child's SIN card will be delivered within five business days of the birth being completely registered. There is no fee to apply.

To use this service to apply for your child's SIN, you must be a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident. If you are not a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident, you may still be eligible to apply for your child's SIN, but will need to apply directly to Service Canada.

Further information about the Social Insurance Number program can be obtained at www.servicecanada.gc.ca This service is only available when registering a child's birth under the age of one.

When registering the child's name, be sure to follow the guidelines given here. If only one parent completes the registration, the surname must be the one chosen by the parent. If both parents register, the child's surname may be any surname chosen by the parents. If the parents do not agree on the name, the Agency will register the child's birth using both parents surnames.

If the parents do not have the capacity another individual may register the birth for them. This individual should call the Agency for instructions on how to register the birth.

The information on the birth registration form is collected under the Vital Statistics Act to register a birth, apply for a Social Insurance Number and produce a birth certificate. It also provides statistical information for British Columbia. If you have any questions, contact Vital Statistics at 250 952-2681.