4. Register your child’s birth

It is free to register your child's birth if they are less than a year old. You can do this online or by mail using the paper Statement of Live Birth form.

Whether you're registering online or by mail, don't forget to send the other documents and forms mentioned in Step 3 if you're registering a child:

• with a single name
• born to a surrogate

Register online

You can register your child's birth online if your child:

• was born in Ontario,
• is less than one year old, and
• has not been registered before.

Everyone who is listed as a parent on the birth registration must be at the computer when registering.

You can choose the title of “mother”, “father”, or “parent” for each parent.

The Ontario government's 5-in-1 Newborn Bundle lets you do 5 important things online at one time:

• register your child's birth
• apply for a birth certificate for your child, for a fee
• get a social insurance number (SIN) for your child
• sign up for the Canada Child Benefit, which also signs you up for Ontario's child benefits
• choose to get more information about Registered Education Savings Plans (RESPs)

It takes about 25 minutes to fill out the online form. It is sent directly to the Office of the Registrar General.

Register by mail

You can also register your child's birth by filling out a paper Statement of Live Birth form.

The form you fill out depends on the number of parents you want to register. For up to 2 parents, fill out the Statement of Live Birth Form 2.  For 3 or 4 parents, fill out the Statement of Live Birth Form 2 (With Three or Four Parents).

On each of these forms, you can choose the title of “mother”, “father”, or “parent” for each parent. The form must be signed by everyone listed as a parent.

Mail your completed form to the Office of the Registrar General. The address is at the top of the form.

It takes about 4 months to process a paper Statement of Live Birth form. To check the status of your application, you can call ServiceOntario at 416-325-8305 or toll-free at 1-800-461-2156.

If your child is one year old or older

It takes longer to register your child's birth if they are one year or older, and you have to a pay a $50 fee.

You need to order a birth certificate online. After you order it, ServiceOntario confirms that your child's birth has not been registered and sends you a delayed registration of birth package. You have to fill out the forms and send the package back by mail.

If you have any questions, you can contact the Office of the Registrar General.