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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 and Service BC office or by contacting the Vital Statistics Enquiry Line at 250 952-2681.
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 Declaration 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 record or birth certificate. Fathers or third parties applying to register a birth should contact a Vital Statistics 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 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 birth, 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.
When including accent marks as part of the child's or parent's name, you may only use French character accents.
The information on the birth registration form is collected under the Vital Statistics Act to register a birth, apply for a Social Insurance Number, Canada Child Benefits, and produce a birth certificate. It also provides statistical information for British Columbia. If you have any question, contact Vital Statistics at 250 952-2681.
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