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Immigration & passport
Use this notarized affidavit when an official birth certificate cannot be obtained. It serves as acceptable proof of birth throughout Ontario for immigration applications, passport requests, and legal proceedings.
Also known as
Sworn Statement Replacing a Birth Certificate
REGARDING attesting to the birth of a biological child, ______, in the absence of a Birth Certificate.
I, ______, residing at ______, do solemnly swear and state the following:
I am the ______ of the applicant, ______, and as such, have knowledge of the matters herein.
The purpose of this affidavit is to confirm my relationship to my child. I am the biological ______ of ______.
______ was born on ______ in ______ and is a ______ citizen by birth. The applicant was born to me and my partner, ______, who is the applicant's other biological parent.
A birth certificate was issued for ______; however, it has been misplaced. While our family is making every effort to locate the original document, the applicant must apply for restoration of temporary status within a strict timeframe.
I am providing this affidavit to confirm our relationship in the event the birth certificate is not recovered prior to the filing deadline.
At this time, I do not have other primary evidence to prove the relationship between myself and my child.
I make this affidavit for the purpose of confirming ______’s date of birth and biological relationship to me as my ______.
How it works
Answer the questions on the left. Your document builds itself on the right as you type.
Get a clean, ready-to-sign PDF in seconds. No account, no watermark.
Book an appointment, bring your document, and we witness your signature and apply the seal.
An Affidavit in Lieu of Birth Certificate is a sworn statement used when an official birth certificate cannot be obtained from the country of birth. A parent, close relative, or someone with direct knowledge of the birth declares under oath the person's full name, date and place of birth, parentage, and the reason the original certificate is unavailable. Once notarised, the affidavit serves as substitute proof of birth for government agencies and institutions that require it.
In Ontario, this document arises most often in immigration and citizenship proceedings. It is also accepted for passport applications, provincial health card registration, school enrolment, and name-change filings where birth records were never issued or have been destroyed.
The person swearing must have direct personal knowledge of the birth. Government agencies expect the declarant to be able to state the child's full name, date and place of birth, and the names of both parents.
The affidavit must include enough detail to establish the birth as fact. Gather the following before your appointment.
Bring valid government-issued photo ID (Canadian passport, Ontario driver's licence, Ontario Photo Card, or Permanent Resident card). If you have any supporting documents that corroborate the birth details, bring those as well. They are not legally required but can strengthen the affidavit.
You swear or affirm the affidavit before a notary public or commissioner for taking affidavits. The notary verifies your identity, administers the oath, watches you sign, and completes the jurat. Notarisation at Minute Notary is a flat $19.90 per stamp. Under O. Reg. 431/20, this can also be done by live video, with both you and the commissioner located in Ontario.
Because this affidavit replaces an official government record, every detail must be correct. Swearing a false affidavit is perjury under section 131 of the Criminal Code of Canada, carrying a maximum penalty of 14 years' imprisonment. Any immigration application that relied on false information can be refused or revoked. If you are unsure about a date, a spelling, or a location, say so in the affidavit rather than guessing.
Frequently asked
Fill it in online, download a ready-to-sign PDF, then bring it in and we will notarize it, in person across Ottawa or online.