Introduction of Polymer Certificates Will Protect Against Damage and Fraud – March 10, 2015 – Office of the Premier: Ontario birth certificates will now be more durable and secure, thanks to a new polymer material and innovative security features that make them difficult to counterfeit and easier to verify.
Premier Kathleen Wynne unveiled the new Ontario birth certificates today at St. Michael’s Hospital. Birth certificates are important documents used to obtain other ID. Making them more secure will help prevent identity theft and fraud.
The polymer birth certificates have a variety of embedded security features, including raised print, transparent windows and colour-shifting images. They are also more durable and easier to clean than the current paper certificates. With normal use, they will last a person a lifetime. The new design and material will not increase the cost of ordering a birth certificate.
Introducing new polymer birth certificates is one of a number of measures the government of Ontario is taking to improve personal security and reduce fraud and identity theft, which hurt individuals, businesses, taxpayers and the economy.
Quick Facts
- The new polymer birth certificates will be available starting April 15, 2015.
- Ontario issues about 200,000 birth certificates each year.
- Current birth certificates are still valid and do not need to be replaced.
- Parents can register their baby’s birth and apply for a birth certificate, Social Insurance Number and Canada child tax benefits at the same time using the 4-in-1 Newborn Bundle.
Source: http://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2015/03/new-ontario-birth-certificates-easier-to-verify-and-harder-to-forge.html
