Track a letter

Where to mail your certificate application in Nova Scotia

Mail your completed Nova Scotia birth, marriage, or death certificate application to Vital Statistics, PO Box 157, Halifax NS B3J 2M9. This is Nova Scotia's vital statistics office — it issues certified copies of births, marriages, and deaths registered in the province. Send the signed form, a copy of the required ID, and payment, and keep proof of mailing if your certificate is for a passport, estate, or other deadline.

Mail my certificate application — $6

$6 flat — postage included · no account needed

Mailing address

Verified August 2026

Certificate applications — birth, marriage & death

Vital Statistics
Service Nova Scotia
PO Box 157
Halifax NS  B3J 2M9

Use this address for birth, marriage, and death certificate applications for events registered in Nova Scotia.

Mail my certificate application — $6

No printer, envelope, or stamp — we print and mail it the next business day.

Sources

Addresses verified August 2026 against official sources. Always confirm on the official site before time-sensitive filings.

Key facts

  • Nova Scotia's vital statistics office issues certificates only for events (births, marriages, deaths) that were registered in Nova Scotia — apply to the province where the event happened, not where you live now.
  • A mailed application must include the signed application form, a copy of the required ID, and payment (usually a cheque or money order) — an unsigned or unpaid application is returned.
  • Mailed applications take longer than online orders because processing only starts once the envelope arrives, so allow extra time for passports, estates, and other deadlines.
  • Keep proof of mailing for time-sensitive requests — PostPal emails you a dated Confirmation of Mailing when your envelope is handed to Canada Post.
  • PostPal prints your completed application and mails it to Vital Statistics the next business day — no printer, envelope, or trip to the post office.

How to send your letter

  1. 1

    Confirm the event was registered in Nova Scotia

    Certificates come from the province where the birth, marriage, or death was registered. If the event happened in Nova Scotia, Vital Statistics is the right office; if it happened in another province, apply there instead.

  2. 2

    Fill out and sign the application

    Download the current birth, marriage, or death certificate application from the Nova Scotia vital statistics website (linked in the sources below), complete it, and sign it. Attach a copy of the ID the form asks for and include your payment.

  3. 3

    Address the envelope to the vital statistics office

    Mail it to Vital Statistics, PO Box 157, Halifax NS B3J 2M9. Put your own return address on the envelope so anything undeliverable comes back to you.

  4. 4

    Send it without leaving home

    Upload your completed application to PostPal with this address prefilled. We print it, add it to a sealed envelope, and deposit it with Canada Post within one business day for $6 — postage included.

Common questions

Where do I mail my birth certificate application in Nova Scotia?

Mail it to Vital Statistics, PO Box 157, Halifax NS B3J 2M9. The same office issues marriage and death certificates for Nova Scotia, so applications for all three go to this address.

Can I mail a vital statistics application instead of ordering online?

Yes. Nova Scotia accepts certificate applications by mail — send the signed form, the required ID copy, and payment to Vital Statistics. Mail is a common choice when you can't order online or need to include documents the online system won't accept.

What do I need to include when I mail my application?

Include the completed and signed application form, a photocopy of the identification the form requires, and payment for the fee (typically a cheque or money order). Check the current fee and accepted payment on the official Nova Scotia application form before mailing.

How long does a mailed certificate take?

Longer than an online order, because processing only begins when your envelope arrives and the finished certificate is mailed back to you. If you're up against a passport, travel, or estate deadline, mail early and keep proof of the date you sent it.

Do I have to apply in the province where I was born?

Yes. Certificates are issued by the province where the event was registered, not the province you live in now. For an event registered in Nova Scotia, apply to Vital Statistics, even if you've since moved away.

Can PostPal mail my Nova Scotia certificate application for me?

Yes. Upload your completed, signed application and PostPal prints it and mails it to Vital Statistics the next business day for $6, with a dated Confirmation of Mailing emailed to you. You still fill out and sign the form yourself — we handle the printing, envelope, and postage.

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