Each applicant will need to obtain an original birth certificate issued by the official custodian of birth records in the country of birth, showing the date and place of birth and the parentage of the applicant, based upon the original registration of birth. Important Notice: You must submit a long form original birth certificate. Short form birth certificates will not be accepted.
The certificate must contain the:
Person's date of birth;
Person's place of birth;
Names of both parents; and,
Annotation by the appropriate authority indicating that it is an extract from the official records.
Unobtainable birth certificates: Some birth records may not be obtainable if, for example:
The applicant's birth was never officially recorded.
The applicant's birth records have been destroyed.
The appropriate government authority will not issue one.
In these cases, please obtain a certified statement from the appropriate government authority stating the reason the applicant's birth record is not available. With the certified statement the applicant must submit secondary evidence. For example:
A baptismal certificate that contains the date and place of birth, as well as both parents' names (providing the baptism took place shortly after birth).
An adoption decree for an adopted child.
An affidavit from a close relative, preferably the applicant's mother, stating the date and place of birth, both parents names, and the mother's maiden name. Note: An affidavit must be executed before an official authorized to take oaths or affirmations.