GuidedResearch:Why Can't I Find the Record - Alberta Births

This page will give you additional guidance and resources to find birth information for your ancestor. Use this page after first completing the birth section of the Alberta Guided Research page.

Images Only (Browsable Images)
Currently, there are no image only collections.

How to Request the Record When It's Not Online
Province-wide registration for births started in 1898. General compliance occurred by 1930. A few birth records also exist from 1870-1898. To learn more about record limitations and restrictions, see the article Alberta Vital Records.

To order birth records from 1870-1898, contact:


 * Provincial Archives of Alberta 8555 Roper Road Edmonton, Alberta T6E 5W1 Phone: (780) 427-1750 Website

To order birth records after 1898, contact:


 * Registry Agents Services Phone: 780-427-7013 Website

NOTE: Birth records are confidential for those born within the last 100 years. Only a close relative may order the birth registration during this restricted period (see Restrictions for more details).

Additional Records with Birth Information
Substitute records may contain information about more than one event and are used when records for an event are not available. Records that are used to substitute for birth events may not have been created at the time of the birth. The accuracy of the record is contingent upon when the information was recorded. Search for information in multiple substitute records to confirm the accuracy of these records.

Virtual Genealogy Consultations
Schedule a free online consultation with a research specialist:

Ask the Community
Select a community research group where you can ask questions and receive free genealogy help.

Tips for finding births
Successfully finding birth records in online databases depends on a few key points. Try the following search suggestions:
 * Spelling variations. Your ancestor's name may be misspelled. Search with spelling variations for the first and last name of your ancestor.
 * Search parents. Search for the parents, if known, as the child's first name may not be on the birth record.
 * Search given name. Search by given name (leave out the last name) with the approximate date of birth.
 * Add information. For common names, add more information to narrow the search such as approximate birth date or parent's names if known.
 * Date range. Expand the date range of the search by 5 years.
 * Search province. Search using the province name only instead of by smaller locality.

Known Record Gaps
Records Start
 * 1870-1898 Few birth records exist.
 * 1898 Civil registration began.
 * 1930 General compliance occurred.