Is my FamilySearch copy enough, or do I need a certified one?
Free images on FamilySearch, Ancestry and BAnQ are not certified copies. Use them to find the record and its number, then order the certified copy from the office that holds it.
IRCC asks for authentic, verifiable documents for every generation. A printout from a family-tree website is not accepted as proof, and neither is an uncertified image.
The free image is still useful. For Ontario births from 1869 to about 1919, the Archives of Ontario need the registration number to fill an order, and you can usually read it on the register image.
Ontario birth, 1869 to about 1919
- Who has it
- Archives of Ontario
- What to ask for
- Certified copy of the birth registration
- What it costs
- About CA$33 plus printing and delivery (about CA$11 to CA$19 plus HST).
- How long
- About 14 business days. No rush option.
The full guides
More questions
- BAnQ or DEC: which one has my ancestor’s birth record?
- Do I ask the DEC for a certificate or a copy of an act?
- My ancestor was born before civil registration. Where is the birth record?
- Born in Ontario in 1919 or 1920: which office has the birth record?
- My order is taking months. Did I order the right thing?
- What if my ancestor’s birth record does not exist or was never archived?
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.