Baby Bundle

Welcoming Baby Forms

View PDF version here.

 

Welcoming a baby can be both a joyful and overwhelming experience!

The first few months involve a lot of change for new parents and caregivers.

This resource is intended to make the paperwork and administrative part of the journey a lot easier. This resource describes all the forms and paperwork that need to be completed in the first few months after birth to support access to essential services and programs to support your child and family.

 

On this page

Birth Registration Statement

What is it? Why is it important?

Birth registration is needed to create a permanent record of a person’s birth and to order a Birth Certificate.

Steps to Apply

This form will be provided to you at the hospital. 

It is the first form you need to complete. Hospital staff will help you complete it before you are discharged from the hospital.

Supporting Documents

  • The mother of the child, the father of the child, or where both parents are into able to, the person standing in for the parents can complete the birth registration form.

Fees

There is no fee to register a birth within one year of the date of birth.

Important Notes

It is important to complete the registration within 30 days. The birth registration necessary to apply for other important documents, including the birth certificate.

Birth Certificate

What is it? Why is it important?

A birth certificate is an essential first piece of identification for your child. 

It will help to access other important programs, services, government funding and application for a passport.

Steps to Apply

Complete the Application for Certificate of Birth and return form with payment to the General Registrar of Vital Statistics.

Fees

A $22 fee can be processed by credit card, cheque or money order (payable to Government of the NWT).

Important Notes

All babies can get a birth certificate but if your baby was born in a different province or territory you will need to get the birth certificate from the place where the child was born.

A birth certificate can only be issued for births that occur in the Northwest Territories.

Make sure that the spelling of the baby’s name is the way you want, and any accents and hyphens are included.

Canada Child Benefits (CCB)

What is it? Why is it important?

The CCB is a tax-free monthly payment made to eligible families to help with the cost of raising children under 18 years of age. It is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency.

Steps to Apply

You can apply at the same time as you fill the Birth Registration Statement of your child if you are the birth parent.

Supporting Documents

  • The parents/caregivers provide consent and Social Insurance Number.

Fees

There is no fee to apply for CCB.

Important Notes

The person who is primarily responsible for the care and upbringing of the child should apply for the CCB.

Health Care Card

What is it? Why is it important?

A health care card is required to receive health care benefits.

Steps to Apply

Complete and submit the NWT Application for Health Care- Newborn form. Forms are also available at hospitals, health clinics and health centres. 

Signed applications can be faxed, scanned and emailed or mailed to the Health Services Administration Office.

When the application is approved, your baby’s health care card will be mailed to you.

Supporting Documents

  • NWT Health Care Card of caregiver/parent(s)
  • Copy of child’s birth certificate.
  • Copy of accepted documents to confirm Indigenous status (if applicable)
    • A copy of a status card (front and back) or a letter from Indigenous Services Canada;
    • A copy of a letter from the applicable Inuvialuit/Inuit Registrar; or
    • A copy of a Métis card (front and back) or a letter from a Métis Association or a Métis Local in Canada or NWT.

If your baby is adopted, include a copy of the document showing that the adoption is final.

Fees

There is no fee to apply for NWT health care card.

Important Notes

If you are Indigenous, you can apply for a standard Health Care Card and send a copy of your newborn’s Indigenous status once you receive it.

If you are Métis, you can apply for Métis Health Benefits

Social Insurance Number

What is it? Why is it important?

A social insurance number is a 9-digit number. It is an important identity documents that will help your baby to access programs and services throughout their life.

Steps to Apply

In the Northwest Territories, you can apply for your child’s SIN directly through Service Canada.

Fees

There is no fee to apply for your child’s SIN.

Important Notes

If you have Indigenous status under the Indian Act and want to register your status in your SIN record, you must provide your primary identity document and a Certificate of Indian Status issued by the Government of Canada.

A primary identity document is an official document that proves your identity and status in Canada. An example is a birth certificate or certificate of Canadian citizenship.

Canada Learning Bond (CLB)

What is it? Why is it important?

The Canada Learning Bond is a grant of $500 to $2,000 from the Federal Government of Canada to help eligible families with the cost of their child’s education after high school.

Steps to Apply

The application for CLB is completed in 3 steps:

  1. Open a no-cost RESP and apply for CLB online
  2. Connect with financial institution (bank) to complete application.
  3. CLB deposited into RESP.

Supporting Documents

  • Email address
  • Caregiver’s Social Insurance Number (SIN) 
  • Child’s Social Insurance Number (SIN)
  • A Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) with a participating RESP promoter.

Fees

There is no fee to open a RESP or to apply for the CLB.

Important Notes

The free MySmartFuture online application can help you open the Registered Education Savings Plan needed to receive the Canada Learning Bond.

A bank account is not needed to open up an RESP.

Indian Status Card

What is it? Why is it important?

Identity document that confirms status as a “Registered Indian” under the Federal government’s Indian Act, and gives access to a range of rights, services, programs, and benefits.

Steps to Apply

You can apply for a status card online, by mail, and in-person at the regional office (4923-52nd St, Yellowknife, NT, 867-669- 2500).

You need a guarantor (a person who can confirm your identity) to provide a guarantor declaration.

Supporting Documents

Documents required for the child:

  • Proof of birth document 

Documents required for the parent(s) or legal guardian(s): 

  • Supporting Identify documents 

Family Information

  • 2 printed photos that meet the photo requirements or a digital photo using the SCIS photo app.
  • Guarantor Declaration.

Fees

There may be fees associated with guarantor or photos required for application.

Important Notes

Note that it can take 6 months to 2 years to process a complete registration application. 

Individual Indigenous governments in the NWT have their own registration processes for membership and people should be in touch with them directly.

Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (IRC) Registration

(if you are from the Inuvialuit Settlement Region)

Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI) Registration

(If you are from Nunavut)

What is it? Why is it important?

Identity document that confirms Inuvialuit and/ or Inuk identity and gives access to a range of programs and services.

(This is also commonly referred to as the “N number”)

Steps to Apply

IRC Registration:

Send your registration and a copy of the child’s birth certificate to: 

Emily Arey, Deputy Registrar of Enrolment and Registration,
Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (IRC)
Tel: (867) 777-7015
enrolment@inuvialuit.com

NTI Registration:

Send completed form to one of the following:
Department of Inuit
Programs and Services
Fax: (867) 645-5414
Mail: P.O. Box 280,
Rankin Inlet, NU X0C 0G0
Enrolment@tunngavik.com

Supporting Documents

IRC Registration:

Documents required for the parents(s) or legal guardian(s):

  • copy of the child’s birth certificate (you can register now and provide the birth certificate later, if you don’t yet have one).
  • All you need is simple information about the child and their family.

NTI Registration:

Documents required for the parents(s) or legal guardian(s):

  • Social Insurance Number, Health Care Number.

Fees

There is no fee to register.

Important Notes

NTI Registration: To enroll an adopted Inuk child in the Nunavut Agreement, you must fill out the Adopted Inuit Children Application Form. Please sign the form, have your spouse sign the
form, and send it to your Community Enrolment Committee or to NTI.

Questions?

If you have questions or are in need of assistance with applying for these important documents, you can contact:

For questions related to birth registration, birth certificate, NWT health care card:

Health Services Administration Office
Department of Health and Social Services
107 Mackenzie Road / IDC Building, 2nd Floor
1-800-661-0830 (toll free)
hsa@gov.nt.ca

 

For programs and services provided by the Government of Northwest Territories and/or the Government of Canada, please contact your local Government Service Officer.