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Adoption Registration

Last updated on April 30, 2018

The Vital Statistics Agency acts as the record-keeper for adoptions granted in British Columbia. Once an adoption order is granted by the courts, the record of the adoption is forwarded to Vital Statistics for registration.

Adoptions granted in British Columbia and registered by the Vital Statistics Agency fall into three categories:

  1. Individuals born in British Columbia. Since the Agency holds the birth registration of the adopted person, it also updates the birth record with the post-adoption information and can issue a new B.C. birth certificate.
  2. Individuals born in another province in Canada. The Agency forwards a certified copy of the adoption registration to the province or territory where the adoptee was born. Only the province or territory of birth can amend the adoptee’s birth record and issue a new birth certificate.
  3. Individuals born in another country. The Vital Statistics Agency can only register the adoption.

The Ministry of Children & Family Development provides additional information about adoption in B.C. for birth parents, adoptive parents, and adoptees.

Phone:

Victoria: 250 952-2681
Toll-Free within B.C.: 1 888 876-1633

Email Vital Statistics

Mailing Address:

Vital Statistics Agency
PO Box 9657 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria, B.C.
V8W 9P3

To complete transactions in person, find a Service BC location near you.