Discover Your Canadian Ancestry

Search the largest free genealogy databases to find your Canadian ancestor and gather the records you need for your citizenship application.

Search Canadian Records

Search millions of birth, marriage, and church records via FamilySearch

How It Works

1

Research

Use the databases below to find your ancestor’s name, birth date, and province.

2

Order official copies

Request certified certificates from the provincial vital statistics office.

3

Upload to MaplePass

Start your application — upload documents and we’ll build your CIT 0001 package.

Expect delays for Quebec records

Quebec archives have seen a 3,000%+ increase in requests since Bill C-3 passed. Processing times may be significantly longer than usual. Plan ahead and request documents early.

Canadian Archives

Start with FamilySearch for free access, then check provincial archives for your ancestor's region.

FamilySearch.orgFree

Largest free genealogy database — census, birth, marriage & death records from the 1600s

Library and Archives CanadaFree

Federal immigration, military, census, land grants & naturalization records

BAnQ — Quebec ArchivesFree

Parish records, notarial acts & vital statistics from 1621 to present

Drouin Collection (Généalogie Québec)

11 million baptism, marriage & burial acts from Quebec parishes (1621–1940s)

Archives of OntarioFree

Birth, marriage & death registrations, land records, immigration & census from 1869+

Canadiana.caFree

Digitized early Canadian newspapers, directories, census records & government documents

Automated GenealogyFree

Searchable 1901, 1906, 1911 & 1916 Canadian census records — fully indexed by name

Ancestry.ca

Comprehensive paid platform with exclusive Canadian databases & indexed parish records

Government of Canada Databases

Official government sources from Library and Archives Canada — all free to search.

Birth, Marriage & Death RecordsImmigrants Before 1865Grosse Île / Montreal Emigrant Society (1832+)Chinese Immigrants (1885–1952)Russian Empire ImmigrantsUkrainian Immigrants (1891–1930)Porters & Domestics (1899–1949)Land Grants — Upper CanadaWar of 1812 RecordsMilitary Medals & Honours

Order Official Certificates

IRCC requires certified documents, not screenshots. Order from your ancestor's province.

Quebec

$34–$77Varies by processing typeOnline (DEClic!), mail, or in-person
Order online

Ontario

$25–$7515 business days (regular), 5 days (rush)Online or in-person (Toronto)
Order online

British Columbia

$27 (mail) / $60 (courier)4–6 weeks (mail), next day (courier)Online (eCOS)
Order online

Alberta

$20 + registry agent fee3 business days after receiptIn-person (registry agent) or mail

Manitoba

$30 (regular) / $65 (rush)8–10 weeks (regular), 3–5 days (rush)Online, mail, or fax
Order online

Saskatchewan

$35–$55Check website for current timesOnline
Order online

Nova Scotia

See website for fees4–6 weeksOnline or mail

New Brunswick

$25 (first copy), $5 (additional)4–8 weeksOnline or mail

Newfoundland

$30 (online) / $35 (mail)Check website for current timesOnline or mail
Order online

PEI

See website for feesCheck website for current timesOnline, mail, or in-person

Tips

  • Try spelling variations — French-Canadian names were often anglicized (Boulanger became Baker, Roi became King).
  • Widen the birth year — leave it blank to see all matching records across all time periods.
  • Check church records — many births before 1900 were only recorded in parish registers, especially in Quebec.
  • Look for border crossings — US-Canada border crossing records (1895–1956) confirm when your ancestor entered the US.

Ready to apply?

Upload your documents and we'll build your CIT 0001 application package.