Ontario Birth, Marriage and Death Records for Canadian Citizenship by Descent
For citizenship by descent, you order your Ontario ancestor’s records from one of two offices. The Archives of Ontario holds births to 1919, marriages to 1944 and deaths to 1954. ServiceOntario’s Office of the Registrar General holds the newer ones. Ask for a certified copy, because IRCC wants documents from the original authority for every generation.
since 1991
Where do I order Ontario records for citizenship by descent?
You order them from the Archives of Ontario if the event is old enough, and from ServiceOntario’s Office of the Registrar General if it is newer. The Archives holds original Ontario registrations for births from 1869 to 1919, marriages from 1869 to 1944 and deaths from 1869 to 1954 (Archives of Ontario, checked October 2026).
Ontario has registered births, marriages and deaths since 1869, so most ancestors who lived in Ontario after that year left a record.
Why a certified copy?
A certified copy is a true copy of the original registration, and the Archives of Ontario notes it is often required for legal purposes. IRCC asks for documents from the original authority that created or keeps the record, for every generation in your chain.
What you need to order
- Name: the full name of the person on the record
- Event date: the date of the birth, marriage or death
- Registration number: the Archives of Ontario asks for it with every order
Which office holds your record?
The year of the event decides the office.
Archives of Ontario
- Births from 1869 to 1919
- Marriages from 1869 to 1944
- Deaths from 1869 to 1954
ServiceOntario
- Births after 1919
- Marriages after 1944
- Deaths after 1954
Not sure your claim works? Take the citizenship eligibility quiz before you order records.
Your Ontario records, in five parts
Each Ontario event sits with one office. Source: IRCC.
Older births, marriages and deaths, with certified copies by order.
Newer records come from the Office of the Registrar General.
Take the quiz before you spend money on records.
Each province keeps its own vital records.
See what IRCC accepts when an Ontario record cannot be found.
Records scattered across provinces?
We find the right office for each ancestor and prepare your file.
What to know before you order
Births: 1869 to 1919
The Archives of Ontario holds original birth registrations from 1869 to 1919.
Marriages: 1869 to 1944
The Archives of Ontario holds original marriage registrations from 1869 to 1944.
Deaths: 1869 to 1954
The Archives of Ontario holds original death registrations from 1869 to 1954.
Certified copy of birth registration
Ontario offers a certified copy of birth registration, the full historical record with a raised seal. A standard certificate is only a basic extract.
Certificate with parental information
This version shows the parents’ names and birthplaces, which helps prove the parent and child link.
Records of someone who has died
ServiceOntario gives certified copies of a deceased person’s record only to next of kin, executors or estate administrators.
Related pages
These guides cover the wider claim.
How to avoid problems with Ontario records
Five habits save time and money.
Match the year to the office
Check the event year first, so you do not order from the wrong office.
Order the right certificate
Choose a certified copy of birth registration or one with parental information, not a basic extract.
Find the registration number
The Archives of Ontario asks for it, so find it before you order.
Skip genealogy printouts
IRCC wants records from the original authority, not copies from genealogy websites.
Get advice early
If a record is missing or restricted, ask before you apply.
Want your records checked?
We tell you which Ontario records you need and who can order them.
Ordering Ontario records, step by step
Six steps from the first year to the finished file.
List the event years
Write down the year of each birth, marriage and death in your chain.
Pick the office
Use the Archives for older events and ServiceOntario for newer ones.
Find the registration number
Look it up before you order from the Archives of Ontario.
Order a certified copy
Ask for the certified copy, not a basic extract.
Check names and dates
Make sure they match your other records.
Add it to your file
Include it in your citizenship certificate application.
Five mistakes with Ontario records
These mistakes cost time and money.
Ordering from the wrong office
The event year decides whether the Archives or ServiceOntario holds the record.
Ordering a basic extract
A standard certificate may not show the parents.
Relying on printouts
Genealogy site copies do not come from the original authority.
Missing registration numbers
The Archives needs the number, so orders without it stall.
Mixing up the years
A wrong year sends you to the wrong office.
Want a second set of eyes?
We check your Ontario records before you apply.
Ontario records facts at a glance
Key facts from the Archives of Ontario (February 2026) and ontario.ca (September 2026). Last updated: October 2026.
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Ontario records FAQs
Where do I get Ontario birth records for citizenship by descent?
Order a certified copy from the Archives of Ontario if the birth was in 1919 or earlier, and from ServiceOntario’s Office of the Registrar General if it was later. Choose a certified copy of birth registration or a certificate with parental information (ontario.ca, checked October 2026). See the ServiceOntario birth certificate page.
Which Ontario records does the Archives of Ontario hold?
It holds original Ontario registrations for births from 1869 to 1919, marriages from 1869 to 1944 and deaths from 1869 to 1954. For newer records, ServiceOntario’s Office of the Registrar General handles the request (Archives of Ontario, checked October 2026).
What information do I need to order from the Archives of Ontario?
You provide the person’s name, the event date and the registration number. Find the registration number before you order, because orders without it are hard to process. Start at the Archives of Ontario ordering page.
What is a certified copy of birth registration?
It is the complete historical birth record on legal-sized paper with a raised seal, and it shows any amendments (ontario.ca, checked October 2026). It is a true copy of the original registration, so it fits IRCC’s request for documents from the original authority.
Can I order the record of a relative who has died?
ServiceOntario gives certified copies of a deceased person’s record only to next of kin, executors or estate administrators. Older records held by the Archives of Ontario are ordered with the name, event date and registration number.
How much do Ontario certified copies cost and how long do they take?
A certified copy of birth registration costs $35, or $45 for a replacement copy. A marriage certificate costs $15, a death certificate $15, and a certified copy of a marriage registration $22 (Ontario Regulation 511/01, checked October 2026). Check ServiceOntario for the current fee of a certified copy of a death registration. Regular service takes 15 business days plus mailing, and premium courier takes 5 business days.
What if the Ontario record is missing?
Ask for a search result or no-record letter and look at other records from the original authority. Read our guide on what IRCC accepts when a birth record is missing.
Do I need records from other provinces too?
Possibly. Each province keeps its own records, so you order each event from the province where it happened. See our guide to vital records offices in every province.
Does an Ontario record alone prove my citizenship?
No. It proves one link in your family chain. You need documents for every generation, and then you apply to IRCC for a citizenship certificate. See our citizenship by descent guide for the full process.