Frequently Asked Questions - Digital Government and Service NL

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Online Certificate Ordering

1. Who Can Order Online for a Birth Certificate

You can apply for a Newfoundland & Labrador Birth Certificate if you are:

The person named (the subject) on the certificate. You must be at least 16 years of age.
Parents of the child named on the certificate, if the child is under the age of 19.
A person with written consent who:
- has known the person making the designation for at least one year and has signed a statement to that effect in the form set by the minister,
- is a lawyer acting on behalf of the person making the designation, or
- satisfies the registrar general that they are acting on behalf of or employed by a government, charitable or non-profit organization providing social support or social services to the person making the designation and has signed a statement to that effect in the form set by the minister.
Please Note: you must obtain the signature of the person named on the certificate (or the parent named on the certificate if the child is under the age of 19) and submit a completed consent form by either:
1. printing, completing, scanning , and uploading the consent form as part of the online order; or
2. by submitting the completed consent form by email, fax, or mail.
The birth must be registered in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

If you are not one of the above you cannot use this online service and you must submit your order by mail or by visiting our office at 149 Smallwood Drive, Mount Pearl, NL.

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2. Who Can Order Online for a Marriage Certificate?

You can apply for a Newfoundland & Labrador Marriage Certificate if you are:

Either party to the marriage.
A person with written consent who:
- A designated person who has known the person making the designation for at least one year and has signed a statement to that effect in the form set by the minister,
- Satisfies the registrar general that they are acting on behalf of or employed by a government, charitable or non-profit organization providing social support or social services to the person making the designation and has signed a statement to that effect in the form set by the minister.
Please Note: you must obtain the subject’s signature and submit a completed consent form by either:
1. printing, completing, scanning , and uploading the consent form as part of the online order; or
2. by submitting the completed consent form by email, fax, or mail.
The marriage must be registered in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

If you are not one of the above you cannot use this online service and you must submit your order by mail or by visiting our office at 149 Smallwood Drive, Mount Pearl, NL.

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3. Who Can Order Online for a Death Certificate?

Any person may apply for a death certificate.
The death must be registered in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

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4. What software do I need to complete my order online?

You need the following:

Web browser with JavaScript enabled.
Web browser with Popup windows allowed from this website.
Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view your Order Receipt. You may download a free copy at http://www.adobe.com

Due to recent upgrades to the Government Electronic Payment system all users must ensure that a setting in their browser security (TLS version 1.2) is enabled in order to complete a payment. Please refer to browser specific documentation for details on how to enable TLS 1.2. The latest version of most web browsers have this setting enabled by default.

For IE, version 8 and above support TLS 1.2, but it is turned off by default for 8, 9, 10.
For Chrome, version 30 and above support TLS 1.2.
For FireFox, version 24 and above support TLS 1.2, but it is turned off by default for 24, 25, 26.
For Safari, version 7 and above support TLS 1.2.

Note: This website is designed to be used with a screen resolution of 1024×768 or higher.

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5. How long will it take to receive my certificate?

Regular processing can take up to 5 business days, excluding shipping time.

*NOTE* Processing times are approximate and cannot be guaranteed.

Orders may be delayed or rejected if inadequate information is provided or if there is a discrepancy between information provided and records on file at Vital Statistics.

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6. What details do I need to complete my order?

Please have the following information ready prior to starting your order:

Birth Certificate:
- surname and all given names
- date and place of birth
- parent names / surnames at birth
- applicant name and mailing address
- consent form (when is a consent form required)
- valid Credit Card / Interac® Online information
Death Certificate:
- surname and all given names
- date and place of death
- applicant name and mailing address
- valid Credit Card / Interac® Online information
Marriage Certificate:
- surname and all given names for both parties
- date and place of marriage
- applicant name and mailing address
- consent form (when is a consent form required)
- valid Credit Card / Interac® Online information

NOTE:

When a consent form is required we recommend you complete the consent form before you begin your online order.
When a consent form is required you must obtain the signature of the person named on the certificate (or the parent named on the certificate if the child is under the age of 19) and submit a completed consent form by either:
1. printing, completing, scanning , and uploading the consent form as part of the online order; or
2. submitting the completed consent form by email, fax, or mail.

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7. Can I order more than one certificate at a time?

Yes. A single order can accommodate multiple certificates.

The maximum quantity you can order per subject is:

Birth:

3 certificates

Marriage:

3 certificates

Death:

3 certificates

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8. Can I complete my order online without paying the required fee?

No. You must make your payment online during the ordering process.

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9. Can I review my completed online order before I submit it?

Yes. There are a number of opportunities to review sections of your order.

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10. Will I receive my certificate electronically?

No. You will receive your certificate by regular mail or courier service.

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11. Can I electronically save the order I send online?

No. There is no method to save your order information electronically.

Note:

Your application must be completed in one session.
Partially completed orders cannot be saved for later use.
Your application will be cancelled and all information entered will be erased if you stop typing on a page for longer than 15 minutes.

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12. Can I electronically save my payment receipt?

Yes. Upon successful submission of your order, you will be presented with a payment receipt. You may print and/or save an electronic copy of your Order Receipt.

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13. My name contains letters with accents. How do I enter these characters?

Ensure Number Lock is on.
Hold down the Alt key and type the number listed below using the Numeric Keypad on the right side of your keyboard.
When you release the Alt key, the character will appear.

table.character{ margin-right:10px; width: 300px; border: 1px solid silver; text-align: center; float:left; } p.clear { clear: both; }

Character	Press Alt and type
Ç	128
ü	129
é	130
â	131
ä	132
à	133
ç	135
ê	136

Character	Press Alt and type
ë	137
è	138
ï	139
î	140
É	144
ô	147
ö	148
û	150

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14. What are Shipping Methods?

Shipping methods available include Regular Mail and Courier Service.

Vital Statistics ships Regular Mail via Canada Post-Regular Mail Service and Courier Service via Canada Post-Xpresspost.

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15. What is the difference between Courier and Regular Mail Service?

Courier Service

Provided by Canada Post-Xpresspost and includes the following fees:

Destination	Fee	As April 13th, 2018	Notes
Ship within Canada	$ 11.00	$ 12.00	(includes applicable taxes)
Ship to United States	$ 23.00	$ 24.00	(includes applicable taxes)
Ship to outside Canada & USA	$ 58.00	$ 65.00	(includes applicable taxes)

All certificates are printed and distributed from the St. John’s office. Orders containing multiple certificates will be shipped as one package.
For information on Canada Post–Xpresspost, please visit Canada Post-Xpresspost

Regular Mail

Means standard mail as defined by Canada Post. There are no additional fees for delivery by Regular Mail.
Your order will be shipped by Regular Mail unless you paid additional fees for Courier Service.
All certificates are printed and distributed from the St. John’s office. Orders containing multiple certificates will be shipped as one package.
For information on Canada Post–Regular Mail, please visit Canada Post-Regular Mail

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16. How are orders containing multiple certificates shipped?

Orders containing multiple certificates will be shipped as one package.

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17. How much does a certificate cost?

Certificate	Fee	As May 1st, 2016	Notes
Birth Certificate Long	$ 20.00	$ 30.00	Long form certificates contain the parent(s) names.
Birth Certificate Short	$ 20.00	$ 30.00	Short form certificates do not contain parent(s) names.
Marriage Certificate	$ 20.00	$ 30.00	Only one format available.
Death Certificate	Free	Free	No fee for a Death Certificate issued within the first year of death.
Death Certificate	$ 20.00	$ 30.00	Fee for any Death Certificate issued after 1 year from the date of death

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18. How much does courier service cost?

Courier Service fees are:

Destination	Fee	As April 13th, 2018	Notes
Ship within Canada	$ 11.00	$ 12.00	(includes applicable taxes)
Ship to United States	$ 23.00	$ 24.00	(includes applicable taxes)
Ship to outside Canada & USA	$ 58.00	$ 65.00	(includes applicable taxes)

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19. How do I make payment using this online service?

You can pay the required fees electronically via government’s online payment system. You may use one of the following payment methods.

Visa Master Card Interac

INTERAC® Online: please remember you must already be set up for online banking with your bank before you can use this option.

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20. Is my Credit Card or Banking Information stored in the system?

No. Credit Card and Banking Information is used to complete the payment transaction and is NOT stored in the system.

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21. What is the courier fee if my order is for more than one certificate?

Orders containing more than one certificate request are shipped together in a single package and charged one courier fee.

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22. When is a consent form required?

Consent is required if you are acting on behalf of an individual who has authorized you to order a certificate.

When a consent form is required we recommend you complete the consent form before you begin your online order.
When a consent form is required you must obtain the signature of the person named on the certificate (or the parent named on the certificate if the child is under the age of 19) and submit a completed consent form by either:
1. printing, completing, scanning , and uploading the consent form as part of the online order; or
2. by submitting the completed consent form by email, fax, or mail.

Download Consent Form

For further information please see:

Births:

Who Can Order Online for a Birth Certificate?

Marriages

Who Can Order Online for a Marriage Certificate?

Deaths:

Consent is NOT required to order a Death Certificate.

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23. How do I submit a consent form for this online service?

General Instructions

Step 1: Type your information directly into the form and then print it.
Step 2: Ensure the subject named on the certificate (or parent named on the certificate if the child is under the age of 19) signs the Consent Form
Step 3: Create an electronic image of the completed form:
- Scan and save in PDF format or
- Create JPG photo image
Step 4: Submit your completed consent form:
- Upload your file containing your completed consent form during the online ordering process.
- Alternatively, you may email the completed form to vstats@gov.nl.ca or fax to 709-729-0946, or send by mail to Vital Statistics Division

Note: Consent forms submitted by mail, email or fax MUST include your Order Reference Number.

If you require additional information, please contact Vital Statistics

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24. Will my certificate be issued if the Consent Form is not submitted?

No, if consent is required, your order cannot be processed until your Consent Form has been received by Vital Statistics.

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25. How do I check the status of my order?

Once you have completed your order online, you can view your order progress using Online Status Inquiry

You will need your Order Reference Number from your Order Receipt or from the order confirmation sent to the email address provided.

Order Status information will be available the next business day.

Use your Courier Tracking Number to check the status of your Canada Post-Xpresspost delivery at Canada Post – Xpresspost Tracking

Please use your Order Reference Number in all communications with Vital Statistics regarding your order.

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26. What Order Status information is provided?

Order Status information provided includes:

Item	Description
Date of Order	The date your order was submitted.
Delivery Method	Regular Mail or Courier Service.
Courier Tracking Number	If courier service was selected and your order has been shipped your courier tracking number will be provided.
Shipping Date	If courier service was selected, a shipping date is provided once your order has been shipped.
Product Description	Birth, Marriage or Death Certificate.
Quantity	Number of certificates ordered.
Status	In Progress– Your order is being processed. Complete– Your order has been processed. Contact Vital Statistics – Your order could NOT be processed and additional or corrected information is required.
Status Date	The date of the last update.

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27. Privacy Notice

Personal information on this site is collected under the authority of the Vital Statistics Act, 2009. By clicking the “Order Certificate Online” button you are providing the Newfoundland and Labrador Vital Statistics Division with your consent to use the information you submit for the purpose of determining your entitlement to receive the birth, marriage or death certificate(s) you requested. The information provided will be used to fulfill the requirements of the Vital Statistics Act, 2009 for the release of information. If you have any questions about the collection or use of this information, please contact Vital Statistics Division

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28. To Protect Your Personal Information

You share responsibility for protecting your personal information. If you are using this online service in a public place (i.e. library, educational facility or Internet café), please ensure that you:

Do not leave the computer unattended while completing the application.
End the session by selecting the Exit buttons.
Clear the browser’s cache and close the browser when finished.
Be certain to collect all copies from the printer and shred any copies that you do not need.

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29. When are Father / Other Parent Details Required for a Birth Certificate?

Father / Other Parent details must be supplied if Father / Other Parent has been named on the birth registration at Vital Statistics.

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30. Contact Vital Statistics

Please contact Vital Statistics:

During regular business hours at Telephone: (709) 729-3308 or Toll Free: 1-855-729-3380
Email: vstats@gov.nl.ca
In writing:Registrar General
Vital Statistics Division, Digital Government and Service NL
P.O. Box 8700
St. John’s, NL
A1B 4J6

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Online Certificate Ordering

Who Can Order Online?

Ordering Online

Shipping Methods

Fees & Payments

Consent Form

Order Status

Privacy

Father / Other Parent Details

Vital Statistics Contact Information