How do I declare the birth of a child in Québec?

✓ Verified answer Written from official pages, with checked citations and a verification date.

General information, not legal advice. Every birth that takes place in Québec must be declared to the Directeur de l'état civil (Québec's civil status registrar). The child's parents fill out the declaration of birth, online or on paper, and send it within 30 days of the birth, based on the birth statement given by the health facility. After that time, a late declaration is possible, but fees apply. Once the birth is entered in the register, you can ask for a birth certificate or a copy of the birth act.

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Key facts

Deadline to declare: 30 days after the child's birth.
Cost: Free if the declaration is sent within 30 days. After that time, fees apply: the official page currently shows (rates subject to change) $66.50 for a late registration of less than one year and $135.00 for a late registration of more than one year. Check the rate on the official page.
Registration time: 15 business days if the documents received are complete and compliant. There is no accelerated processing for this service.
Who declares: The child's parents; otherwise, the person who has custody of the child.
Ways to declare: Online service Déclaration électronique de naissance or paper form Déclaration de naissance (only one of the two).
Given names: Maximum of four given names, including the usual given name.

Your procedure, step by step

Start the official procedure Official page: Declaration of birth (Directeur de l'état civil) (opens in a new tab)https://www.etatcivil.gouv.qc.ca/fr/naissance/declaration_naissance.html

At the hospital or birthing centre, the attending physician or midwife fills out the birth statement (Constat de naissance). Keep the copy you are given: you need it to fill out the declaration of birth (the birth statement number is requested).
Choose only one way to declare the birth: the online service Déclaration électronique de naissance or the paper form Déclaration de naissance. If you use both, processing takes longer.
Check who must fill out and sign. If you are married or in a civil union, either parent can do it. If you are single, both parents must fill out and sign so that filiation can be established. For common-law partners, the official pages do not say exactly the same thing depending on the method (paper form or online service): contact the Directeur de l'état civil if this is your case. If the parents are unknown or cannot act, the person who has custody of the child can fill out the declaration.
Fill out the declaration carefully: once signed and dated by the Directeur de l'état civil, it becomes the official act. For a multiple birth, one declaration is needed per child. The maximum number of given names is four, including the usual given name.
If you wish, also fill out the simplified access request for government programs and services related to birth (Demande d'accès simplifié): it lets you notify several departments and agencies of the birth in a single step.
Send the declaration within 30 days of the birth. Online, you authenticate with the government authentication service. On paper, it is preferable to hand the completed, signed declaration to the facility's staff before leaving; otherwise, it is up to you to mail it to the Directeur de l'état civil, at the address shown on the official page, within the same time.
Wait for the birth to be entered in the register: the time is 15 business days if the documents are complete and compliant. You then receive a letter confirming the registration (keep it: it contains a quick and secure access number). Once the birth is registered, you can order a birth certificate or a copy of the birth act.
If you missed the deadline, you can file a late declaration (fees apply). If you notice an error on the declaration you sent, contact the Directeur de l'état civil by telephone without delay.

Start the official procedure Official page: Declaration of birth (Directeur de l'état civil) (opens in a new tab)https://www.etatcivil.gouv.qc.ca/fr/naissance/declaration_naissance.html

Your progress is kept on this device only: nothing is sent to Demande au Québec. Some steps only apply in certain situations: skip the ones that do not concern you.

General information drawn from official sources. It does not replace legal, medical or financial advice. For your situation, contact the organization concerned or a professional.

Sources

Naissance (Directeur de l'état civil)
Déclaration de naissance (Directeur de l'état civil)
Délai à respecter pour transmettre la déclaration de naissance (Directeur de l'état civil)
Qui doit remplir et signer la déclaration de naissance? (Directeur de l'état civil)
Renseignements sur la Déclaration de naissance — formulaire papier (Directeur de l'état civil)
Que devez-vous savoir avant de commencer (déclaration électronique de naissance) (Directeur de l'état civil)
Inscription d'un événement au registre de l'état civil (Directeur de l'état civil)
Déclaration tardive (Directeur de l'état civil)
Tarifs et délais de traitement (Directeur de l'état civil)
Demande de correction de la déclaration de naissance (Directeur de l'état civil)
Déclarer une naissance (Québec.ca (Famille et soutien aux personnes))

Checked on October 6, 2026. Rules, deadlines and fees can change: always confirm on the official page above. Demande au Québec is an independent website, not a government site.

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