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The Advice Archive

Canada Name Changes

If you are legally a resident of Canada, you must legally change your name in your province of residence. Again, that’s where you live, not where you were born. Birth certificates are changed with the province (or state, if you were born in the United States, or country, if you were born elsewhere) in which you were born; legal name changes are handled by the province in which you currently live.

Alberta

You must be 18 or older to apply; if you’re under 18, your parent or guardian can apply on your behalf. You must also be a resident of Alberta.

The application fee is $120.00, plus the RCMP Civil Fingerprint Screen Services fee of $25.00 (if you’re 18 or older). Also, registry agents are authorised to charge a service fee. Contact a registry agent office for payment details.

See Service Alberta.

British Columbia

You must be 19 or older to apply; if you’re under 19, your parent or guardian can apply on your behalf. You must also be a resident of British Columbia.

The application fee is $137, which includes one large certificate. There is also a $25 fee for a criminal background check, which is required if you’re 18 or older. You will have to have your fingerprints taken if you’re 18 or older; your local police department may charge a fee for that. Extra Change of Name certificates are $27 each. Certified copies of documents are $50 each.

See British Columbia Vital Statistics Agency.

Manitoba

You must be 18 or older to apply; if you’re under 18, your parent or guardian can apply on your behalf. You must also have been a resident of Manitoba for at least three months.

The application fee is $25.

See The Change of Name Act. If you’re 18 or older, focus on section 2; if you’re under 18, focus on sections 2 and 4.

New Brunswick

See the New Brunswick Registrar General of Vital Statistics and The Change of Name Act for more information. If you’re 18 or older, focus on section 2; if you’re under 18, focus on sections 2 and 4.

Newfoundland and Labrador

See Service NL. You must be 19 or older to apply; if you’re under 19, your parent or guardian can apply on your behalf. You must also have been a resident of NL for at least three months immediately before the change of name application.

The application fee is $25.

Northwest Territories

See Northwest Territories Health and Social Services.

The application fee is $10.

Nova Scotia

See Nova Scotia Vital Statistics. You must be 19 or older to apply; if you’re under 19, your parent or guardian can apply on your behalf. You must also either have been born in Nova Scotia OR have resided in Nova Scotia for at least one year immediately before the change of name application.

The application fee is $152.02. If you’re changing your surname, there is an additional fee of $27.62.

Nunavut

See the Nunavut Court of Justice.

Ontario

See the Ontario Ministry of Government Services.

The application fee is $137.

Prince Edward Island

See Prince Edward Island Vital Statistics. You must be 18 or older to apply; if you’re under 18, your parent or guardian can apply on your behalf.

The application fee is $190.90.

Québec

See the Québec Registrar of Civil Status. (En français: Directeur de l’état civil.)

The application fee is $130. (Les frais d’inscription est de $130.)

Saskatchewan

See Saskatchewan Vital Statistics.

The application fee is $125, plus $10.70 to publish your change of name in the Saskatchewan Gazette, as required.

Yukon

See Yukon Vital Statistics. You must be 19 or older to apply; if you’re under 19, your parent or guardian can apply on your behalf. You must also have been a resident of the Yukon for at least three months immediately before the change of name application.

The application fee is $50.