On November 10, 2008, Prince Edward Island introduced a new, more secure and durable Birth Certificate. The new Birth Certificate is made from a strong polymer material and has more than 20 visible and concealed security features to help prevent identity theft.

Experts in identity theft discourage carrying a Birth Certificate in a purse or wallet. The size of the new certificate is 12.5 cm wide x 17.6 cm high, which makes carrying it in a wallet or purse prohibitive. The wallet size Birth Certificate is no longer available.

Individuals may choose to include or exclude parents' information on their Birth Certificate

Those born in Prince Edward Island are not required to obtain a new Birth Certificate as the old ones remain valid. However, in some instances, where identity security is of utmost importance, citizens may be asked by other agencies to provide the new more secure document as proof of identity or citizenship. Prince Edward Island Vital Statistics will not exchange previous certificates free of charge.

Before applying, find out the type and format of the document required by contacting the organization to which you must submit it.

Short Form Birth Certificate:

The Short Form Birth Certificate is required when applying for an adult Canadian passport. It contains basic information: full name of individual, date of birth, place of birth, sex, registration date, registration number and date issued.

Long Form Birth Certificate:

The Long Form Birth Certificate contains all the information as stated above, plus the names of parents and birthplaces of parents (province/country only).

When submitting an application concerning the birth of a minor, we recommend requesting the Long Form Birth Certificate, as it includes the parents' names. Please note that effective December 1, 2011, all passport applications for children under 16 years of age must be accompanied by a Long Form Birth Certificate.

Regular Service (15-25 business days)

Rush Service (5-7 business days)

Please Note: Fees listed above are inclusive of taxes and shipping costs. Delivery times are approximate and cannot be guaranteed. Applications may be delayed or rejected if inadequate information is provided or if there is a discrepancy between information provided and the government records. If no record of the birth is found by Prince Edward Island Vital Statistics, fees will be applied to the search cost and will not be refunded.

If you have not received your Birth Certificate within the expected timeframe, you may contact the Prince Edward Island Vital Statistics Agency to check the status of your application.

Toll Free: 1-877-320-1253 (PEI only)
Telephone: 902-838-0880