Open ProvincesDocuments and ID in British Columbia: birth certificate and change of name
Who issues birth certificates in British Columbia, 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 British Columbia are handled by Vital Statistics Agency. It can only issue documents for events registered in British Columbia: for a birth, marriage or death elsewhere, order from the province or territory where it happened.
Order a birth certificate
Order online, by mail or at a Service BC counter. A legal change of name requires a criminal record check with electronic fingerprints, and the rules differ for adults and for children.
- 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 British Columbia from another province? See our moving checklist and the moving page for British Columbia.
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 British Columbia: rights, rent increases and average rents
- Working in British Columbia: minimum wage, standards and wages
- Moving to British Columbia: health card, driver's licence and taxes
- Cost of living in British Columbia: prices, rent, wages and taxes
- Buying a home in British Columbia: land transfer tax, rebates and first-time buyer help
- Health care in British Columbia: health card, drug plans and dental help
- Studying in British Columbia: tuition, student aid and grants
- Seniors in British Columbia: pensions, supplements and programs
- Taxes in British Columbia: income tax rates, sales tax and take-home pay (2026)
- Families in British Columbia: child benefits and family programs
- Documents and ID in British Columbia: birth certificate and change of name
- Starting a business in British Columbia: register a name, GST/HST and licences
- Problems and disputes in British Columbia: consumer complaints, small claims, workplace injury and legal aid
- Driving and vehicles in British Columbia: switching your licence and what is required
- Photo ID card in British Columbia without a driver's licence: who can apply, documents and fee
- Getting married in British Columbia: marriage licence, fees and documents
- Health card in British Columbia: who qualifies, waiting period and how to register
- When someone dies in British Columbia: death certificate, estate and probate
- Registering a child for school in British Columbia: age, documents and where to sign up
- Child care in British Columbia: fees, finding a space and subsidies
- Immigrating to British Columbia: nominee program, steps and processing times
- Accessible parking permit in British Columbia: how to apply
- Alcohol rules in British Columbia: legal age and where to buy
- Car insurance in British Columbia: what is compulsory and where to buy it
- Cannabis rules in British Columbia: legal age, where to buy and where to use
- Disability income and supports in British Columbia: how to apply
- Prescription drug coverage in British Columbia: public plans and how to enrol
- Emergency preparedness in British Columbia: alerts, evacuation and your 72-hour kit
- Separation, parenting and child support in British Columbia: free help and enforcement
- Help for family violence and victims of crime in British Columbia
- Fishing and hunting licences in British Columbia: where to buy and what you need
- Health advice line (811) in British Columbia: speak to a nurse any time
- Indigenous relations and services in British Columbia: who does what
- Marriage licence fee in British Columbia
- New drivers in British Columbia: graduated licensing stages and minimum ages
- Provincial parks and camping reservations in British Columbia
- Probate fees in British Columbia: what an estate pays
- Social assistance in British Columbia: how to apply for income support
- Social housing and rent help in British Columbia: how to apply
- Student loans and grants in British Columbia: where to apply
- Voting in British Columbia: register, check your status and find your election office
- Wills, powers of attorney and health care directives in British Columbia