Open ProvincesDocuments and ID in Alberta: birth certificate and change of name
Who issues birth certificates in Alberta, how to order one, how a legal change of name works and what to update afterwards.
Who issues your documents
Birth, marriage and death certificates and legal changes of name in Alberta are handled by Vital Statistics through registry agents. It can only issue documents for events registered in Alberta: for a birth, marriage or death elsewhere, order from the province or territory where it happened.
Order a birth certificate
In Alberta you apply through a registry agent: applications sent directly to Vital Statistics are not processed. A legal change of name is also filed in person at a registry agent and needs a certified criminal record check for adults.
- Ask for the long form (it shows your parents) if the certificate is for a passport, immigration or citizenship file: the short form is often not enough.
- Order well before you travel or apply: processing times vary and can be long. Rush options exist in some provinces.
- Have the person's full name, date and place of birth, and their parents' names ready, exactly as they were registered.
- You will need to prove who you are; only certain people can apply (the person, a parent, a guardian or an authorized representative).
Official page: birth certificates ↗
Change your name
- Marriage or divorce: in most provinces you can start using your spouse's surname, or go back to your birth surname, without a legal change of name: you show the marriage certificate or divorce papers. Check your province's page.
- Any other change is a legal change of name made through the province's vital statistics office. Many provinces now require a criminal record check, often with fingerprints, and some publish the change in a government gazette.
- Residency rules, minimum ages, consent for children and fees are set by each province: use the official page and plan for several weeks or months.
Official page: change of name ↗
After a name change: update the rest
- Social insurance number record, then the CRA and Service Canada (see our SIN guide).
- Passport (see our passport guide), health card and driver's licence.
- Bank, employer, insurers, landlord and online accounts (see government online accounts).
Moving to Alberta from another province? See our moving checklist and the moving page for Alberta.
Procedures only: fees, forms and waiting times change, so each official page above is the authority. Quebec has its own rules: see AtlasQuébec.
Guides for this province
- Renting in Alberta: rights, rent increases and average rents
- Working in Alberta: minimum wage, standards and wages
- Moving to Alberta: health card, driver's licence and taxes
- Cost of living in Alberta: prices, rent, wages and taxes
- Buying a home in Alberta: land transfer tax, rebates and first-time buyer help
- Health care in Alberta: health card, drug plans and dental help
- Studying in Alberta: tuition, student aid and grants
- Seniors in Alberta: pensions, supplements and programs
- Taxes in Alberta: income tax rates, sales tax and take-home pay (2026)
- Families in Alberta: child benefits and family programs
- Documents and ID in Alberta: birth certificate and change of name
- Starting a business in Alberta: register a name, GST/HST and licences
- Problems and disputes in Alberta: consumer complaints, small claims, workplace injury and legal aid
- Driving and vehicles in Alberta: switching your licence and what is required
- Photo ID card in Alberta without a driver's licence: who can apply, documents and fee
- Getting married in Alberta: marriage licence, fees and documents
- Health card in Alberta: who qualifies, waiting period and how to register
- When someone dies in Alberta: death certificate, estate and probate
- Registering a child for school in Alberta: age, documents and where to sign up
- Child care in Alberta: fees, finding a space and subsidies
- Immigrating to Alberta: nominee program, steps and processing times
- Accessible parking permit in Alberta: how to apply
- Alcohol rules in Alberta: legal age and where to buy
- Car insurance in Alberta: what is compulsory and where to buy it
- Cannabis rules in Alberta: legal age, where to buy and where to use
- Disability income and supports in Alberta: how to apply
- Prescription drug coverage in Alberta: public plans and how to enrol
- Emergency preparedness in Alberta: alerts, evacuation and your 72-hour kit
- Separation, parenting and child support in Alberta: free help and enforcement
- Help for family violence and victims of crime in Alberta
- Fishing and hunting licences in Alberta: where to buy and what you need
- Health advice line (811) in Alberta: speak to a nurse any time
- Indigenous relations and services in Alberta: who does what
- Marriage licence fee in Alberta
- New drivers in Alberta: graduated licensing stages and minimum ages
- Provincial parks and camping reservations in Alberta
- Probate fees in Alberta: what an estate pays
- Social assistance in Alberta: how to apply for income support
- Social housing and rent help in Alberta: how to apply
- Student loans and grants in Alberta: where to apply
- Voting in Alberta: register, check your status and find your election office
- Wills, powers of attorney and health care directives in Alberta