Online Certificate Application



Turnaround Times


Certificate Turnaround Times:


There are two service options available: Rush Service and Regular Service.

Rush service: Applications are processed within three business days and sent by courier. Please note that delivery time is in addition to the three-day processing time.

Regular service: Applications are processed in the order received and delivered by Canada Post. The average processing times for online applications are provided below.

Week Average Turnaround Time (weeks)
2026-08-24 to 2026-08-30 1.1
2026-08-31 to 2026-09-06 1.3
2026-09-07 to 2026-09-13 1.5
2026-09-14 to 2026-09-20 1.3
2026-09-21 to 2026-09-27 1.2
2026-09-28 to 2026-10-04 1.1


Please note that the processing times listed above apply to online regular service applications that are complete, contain no errors or missing information, and relate to events that are fully registered.

Additional processing time may be required for both regular or rush service if:
  • The application was not submitted online
  • Additional information or supporting documentation is required
  • The event recently occurred and Vital Statistics has not received the registration, the registration is incomplete, or the registration contains errors.
In these situations, extra time may be needed before a certificate can be issued.


Registration Turnaround Times:


Before a birth, death, or marriage can be registered in Manitoba, the Vital Statistics Branch must receive the required registration forms from the appropriate source, such as a hospital, funeral home, or marriage commissioner. In most cases, these forms are received within 2 to 3 weeks of the event.

The turnaround times shown below represent the average processing time to complete the registration after all required forms have been received by the Branch.

Processing times are based on registrations that are complete and do not contain errors. If information is missing, incomplete, or requires correction, additional processing time may be necessary.

Week Average time (weeks) to register an event once VSB receives the registration forms
Birth Death Marriage
2026-08-24 to 2026-08-30 1.4 1.3 1.3
2026-08-31 to 2026-09-06 1.1 1.3 1.3
2026-09-07 to 2026-09-13 1.0 1.7 1.9
2026-09-14 to 2026-09-20 1.7 1.7 1.7
2026-09-21 to 2026-09-27 1.0 1.4 1.4
2026-09-28 to 2026-10-04 1.7 1.7 1.7



What we do


The Vital Statistics Branch is responsible for administering and enforcing The Vital Statistics Act, The Marriage Act, The Change of Name Act and processing disinterments under The Public Health Act.

The Branch registers vital events (birth, death, marriage, stillbirth and change of name) in Manitoba and provides documents as proof of those events. Legislation protecting privacy governs who can access records held by the Branch.

Our database contains information from vital event records from 1882 to present for the Province of Manitoba. All of our records are held in perpetuity for all Manitoba events.


Hours of Operation


The Vital Statistics Branch is open Monday to Friday, from 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. (Central Time).

The hours of operation are subject to any government-wide office closures (e.g. statutory holidays).

Address: Vital Statistics Branch
254 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg MB   R3C 0B6


Contact us


Phone: 204-945-3701
Toll Free: 1-866-949-9296
Fax: 204-948-3128
Email: vitalstats@gov.mb.ca

Calls to the Vital Statistics Branch are routed through an interactive voice response system (IVR), a computer automated switchboard that callers navigate using touch-tone key-presses provided by a vendor. Touch-tone presses connect callers with different phone lines, from which callers hear auto-messages upon connection or interact with the Branch's live staff.

The vendor has been experiencing challenges with the system, which may be affecting the ability of callers to connect with the Vital Statistics Branch and/or auto-responses within the system. The vendor is working to resolve this.

If you receive a message between 8:30am and 4:30pm (and it is not a statutory holiday), that we are experiencing above average call volumes - please be advised that we are answering calls - you are unable to hold because our queue of callers is full. Please hang up and call back later.


Responsibilities




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