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