FAQ - British Columbia Certificates
Birth Certificate Questions
What is the difference between a short-form and a long-form birth certificate?
Can anyone obtain a birth certificate?
Marriage Certificate Questions
How old must I be to get married in British Columbia?
If I was married outside B.C. can I still register my marriage?
How do I register a marriage in the province?
Can I submit an application for a marriage certificate that is not my own?
Death Certificate Questions
Can I apply for a death certificate of any person?
Can’t I just get confirmation on whether a person is deceased or not?
What is the difference between a short-form and a long-form birth certificate?
The difference between the two is the amount of information they contain. A long-form birth certificate will contain more information than a short-form. Also, as is indicated by their name, the long-form is larger than a short-form. Most government agencies (including international governments) prefer the long-form birth certificate.
Can anyone obtain a birth certificate?
No. You need be the person whose name will appear on the certificate, that person’s parent or have the authorization of that person in order to obtain a birth certificate. If none these apply, you will have to satisfy the Vital Statistics officer of your good faith for applying for a birth certificate.
How old must I be to get married in British Columbia?
In order to be married in B.C. without parental consent, you must under the age of 19. Anyone under the age of 19 must present written parental consent from both parents. Anyone under the age of 16 must get approval from the Supreme or County Court.
If I was married outside B.C. can I still register my marriage?
No. Only marriages performed in B.C. can be registered in B.C. However, if you require proof of your marriage, you need to get a marriage certificate from the jurisdiction where you were married. That certificate will be valid proof.
How do I register a marriage in the province?
After your marriage is performed, the officer or person who conducted the marriage will submit the registration papers.
Can I submit an application for a marriage certificate that is not my own?
If you are not a party to a marriage, you must have the written authorization from one party to obtain their marriage certificate.
Can I apply for a death certificate of any person?
In B.C. there are no restrictions on who can apply for a death certificate. However, you must give a valid reason for your request.
Can’t I just get confirmation on whether a person is deceased or not?
No. Under B.C. law, you must submit an application and a fee to conduct a search for a death certificate. If no record was found, the Vital Statistics office will send you letter saying so.