Documents and ID in Northwest Territories: birth certificate and change of name

Who issues birth certificates in Northwest Territories, 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 Northwest Territories are handled by Vital Statistics (Health and Social Services). It can only issue documents for events registered in Northwest Territories: for a birth, marriage or death elsewhere, order from the province or territory where it happened.

Order a birth certificate

Certificates are issued only for births in the Northwest Territories. You can order online, by email, by fax or by mail. The name-change pages for adults and for children are separate, and fees can be waived for Indigenous residents (see the official page).

• 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

1. Social insurance number record, then the CRA and Service Canada (see our SIN guide).
2. Passport (see our passport guide), health card and driver's licence.
3. Bank, employer, insurers, landlord and online accounts (see government online accounts).

Moving to Northwest Territories from another province? See our moving checklist and the moving page for Northwest Territories.

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 Northwest Territories: rights, rent increases and average rents
• Working in Northwest Territories: minimum wage, standards and wages
• Moving to Northwest Territories: health card, driver's licence and taxes
• Cost of living in Northwest Territories: prices, rent, wages and taxes
• Buying a home in Northwest Territories: land transfer tax, rebates and first-time buyer help
• Health care in Northwest Territories: health card, drug plans and dental help
• Studying in Northwest Territories: tuition, student aid and grants
• Seniors in Northwest Territories: pensions, supplements and programs
• Taxes in Northwest Territories: income tax rates, sales tax and take-home pay (2026)
• Families in Northwest Territories: child benefits and family programs
• Documents and ID in Northwest Territories: birth certificate and change of name
• Starting a business in Northwest Territories: register a name, GST/HST and licences
• Problems and disputes in Northwest Territories: consumer complaints, small claims, workplace injury and legal aid
• Driving and vehicles in Northwest Territories: switching your licence and what is required
• Photo ID card in Northwest Territories without a driver's licence: who can apply, documents and fee
• Getting married in Northwest Territories: marriage licence, fees and documents
• Health card in Northwest Territories: who qualifies, waiting period and how to register
• When someone dies in Northwest Territories: death certificate, estate and probate
• Registering a child for school in Northwest Territories: age, documents and where to sign up
• Child care in Northwest Territories: fees, finding a space and subsidies
• Immigrating to Northwest Territories: nominee program, steps and processing times
• Accessible parking permit in Northwest Territories: how to apply
• Alcohol rules in Northwest Territories: legal age and where to buy
• Car insurance in Northwest Territories: what is compulsory and where to buy it
• Cannabis rules in Northwest Territories: legal age, where to buy and where to use
• Disability income and supports in Northwest Territories: how to apply
• Prescription drug coverage in Northwest Territories: public plans and how to enrol
• Emergency preparedness in Northwest Territories: alerts, evacuation and your 72-hour kit
• Separation, parenting and child support in Northwest Territories: free help and enforcement
• Help for family violence and victims of crime in Northwest Territories
• Fishing and hunting licences in Northwest Territories: where to buy and what you need
• Health advice line (811) in Northwest Territories: speak to a nurse any time
• Indigenous relations and services in Northwest Territories: who does what
• Marriage licence fee in Northwest Territories
• New drivers in Northwest Territories: graduated licensing stages and minimum ages
• Provincial parks and camping reservations in Northwest Territories
• Probate fees in Northwest Territories: what an estate pays
• Social assistance in Northwest Territories: how to apply for income support
• Social housing and rent help in Northwest Territories: how to apply
• Student loans and grants in Northwest Territories: where to apply
• Voting in Northwest Territories: register, check your status and find your election office
• Wills, powers of attorney and health care directives in Northwest Territories