Nova Scotia Long-Form Birth Certificate, 1924 and Later, for Citizenship by Descent
For Nova Scotia births from 1924 onward, Nova Scotia Vital Statistics issues the record. Order the long-form birth certificate, which shows the parents. That is the version that links one generation to the next.
This is the Canadian-side record for one ancestor. Citizenship by descent needs a record for every generation in your line, from you back to that ancestor.
The short answer
- Who has it
- Nova Scotia Vital Statistics
- What to ask for
- Long-form birth certificate (shows parents)
- What it costs
- About CA$40.
- How long
- About 4 to 6 weeks.
How to order it
Order online or by mail from Vital Statistics.
What IRCC wants for every document
- IRCC asks for authentic, verifiable documents for every generation, from you back to the Canadian-born ancestor. Repeat this lookup for each link in the chain.
- If an official birth certificate does not exist, IRCC may accept a baptismal, hospital, census or boat-manifest record, with a written explanation of why the certificate is unavailable.
- Records not in English or French need a translation with the translator’s sworn statement.
- Family-tree website printouts are not accepted as proof.
More
- Québec Baptism Record for Canadian Citizenship by Descent (BAnQ)
- Québec Birth Record for Canadian Citizenship by Descent (Births in the Last 100 Years)
- Ontario Birth Registration, 1869 to 1919, for Citizenship by Descent (Archives of Ontario)
- Ontario Birth Certificate, 1920 and Later, for Citizenship by Descent (ServiceOntario)
- Nova Scotia Birth Registrations from the Archives (1864 to 1877 and 1908 to 1923)
- New Brunswick Birth Certificate, 1888 and Later, for Citizenship by Descent
- Newfoundland and Labrador Birth Certificate, 1949 and Later, for Citizenship by Descent
- Newfoundland Birth Records Before Confederation (1891 to 1948) and Citizenship by Descent
- Manitoba Birth Record, Births Over 100 Years Old, for Citizenship by Descent
- Manitoba Birth Record, Births in the Last 100 Years, for Citizenship by Descent
- Saskatchewan Birth Record, Births Over 100 Years Old, for Citizenship by Descent
- Saskatchewan Birth Certificate, Births in the Last 100 Years, for Citizenship by Descent
- Alberta Birth Registration, Births Over 120 Years Old, for Citizenship by Descent
- Alberta Birth Document, Births in the Last 120 Years, for Citizenship by Descent
Fees and times are approximate, checked against official pages on 2026-10-01. Confirm with each office before ordering. Legal questions go to a licensed Canadian lawyer or consultant.