Civil status documents pertaining to birth serve as proof of a person’s birth. Among other things, they are necessary to obtain a health insurance card or to register a child in a day care centre. It is important to check with the organization concerned as to what type of document it accepts as proof of birth.
The Directeur de l'état civil issues the following civil status documents related to the birth of an individual:
- birth certificate
- copy of an act of birth
- attestation of birth
The only documents that prove a person’s birth are a birth certificate or a copy of the act of birth. Purposes for which they are used include:
- Applying for a passport
- Obtaining a health insurance card or your first driver’s licence
- Registering a child for primary or secondary school
- Applying for benefits from the Québec Pension Plan or for pension benefits from the Government of Canada
Some organizations accept an attestation as proof of birth. Others require a birth certificate or a copy of the act of birth. Therefore, when proof of birth is required you should check with the organization concerned as to what type of document it accepts.
The Directeur can only issue a birth certificate or a copy of the act of birth if the birth is recorded in the Québec register of civil status. The certificate or copy of the act will be issued in the same language as that in which the birth was recorded in the register. A birth certificate can be issued in either long form or short form.
Long-form Birth Certificate
A long-form birth certificate contains the following information about the person concerned:
- family name, given name(s) and gender
- date, time and location of birth
- family and given names of the person’s mother and father
- other information on the certificate includes the registration number of the birth in the Québec register of civil status and the number and date of issue of the certificate.
Short-form Birth Certificate
A short-form birth certificate contains the same information as the long-form certificate, less the family and given names of the mother and father.
Copy of an Act of Birth
A copy of an act of birth reproduces all of the information on the act of birth. However, certain information may be missing if the birth took place before 1994. Also on the copy of the act are the number and date of issue of the copy.
Note that following an adoption, the Directeur draws up a new act of birth once it receives the adoption judgment from a court or the Aboriginal customary adoption certificate from a competent Aboriginal authority. If either the adoption judgment or the Aboriginal customary adoption certificate recognizes a pre-existing filial bond between the adopted child and a birth parent or the Aboriginal customary adoption certificate states that certain rights and obligations are to remain with the parent of origin, the new act will include this information. Anyone who wants a document indicating the existence of one of these connections between the adopted child and the birth parent must therefore apply for a copy of an act of birth from the Directeur (a birth certificate does not show this information). The copy of the act will include a second page, on which these details will appear. This second page cannot be used alone; it must always be presented with the first page of the act (Page 1, however, may still be used alone.).
Attestation of Birth
An attestation of birth is a letter bearing the seal of the Directeur de l'état civil. It certifies the presence or absence of:
- an act of birth for a person in the Québec register of civil status
- any information that, by law, must be shown on that act
Act of Birth Issued Outside of Québec
The Directeur de l'état civil can insert an act of birth issued outside of Québec by a competent authority into the Québec register of civil status. The act must concern a person domiciled in Québec. After inserting such an act, the Directeur can only issue a long-form birth certificate or an attestation of birth. A copy of the act cannot be issued.
Note that despite its insertion into the register, an act of birth issued outside of Québec is a semi-authentic document (see Definitions), unless its validity has been recognized by a Québec court. Certificates and attestations related to such an act that are issued by the Directeur will bear a statement as to the semi-authentic nature of the act.
Copy of an Aboriginal Customary Adoption Certificate, of an Aboriginal Suppletive Tutorship Certificate or of an Act of Recognition of an Aboriginal Customary Adoption Outside of Québec
A copy of any of these documents shows all of the information that appears on the original version issued by a competent Aboriginal authority. This competent authority must be listed in the Register of competent authorities in matters of Aboriginal customary adoption, Aboriginal suppletive tutorship and recognition of Aboriginal customary adoption outside of Québec.
Semi-authentic Document
A document issued by the Directeur de l'état civil certifying that an event took place outside of Québec and that the act concerning it was drawn up by a public officer in the other province, territory or country.
Since the clientele and conditions vary according to the service, the information is provided under each service.
