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In depth
A long-form birth certificate (also called a 'full birth certificate' or 'certified copy of an entry') is a detailed birth certificate that includes the child's name, date and place of birth, parents' full names, parents' dates and places of birth, parents' occupations, and the informant's signature.
Long-form birth certificates are required for most CBD applications because they establish the parent-child relationship — the citizenship chain. Short-form birth certificates (which show only the child's information) are typically not accepted.
Different countries issue long-form certificates under different names: 'copia integrale' (Italy), 'acte de naissance avec filiation' (France), 'copia certificada del acta de nacimiento' (Mexico), 'certified copy of a birth registration' (Canada).
Related terms
A short-form birth certificate is a simplified birth certificate showing only the child's basic information, typically not accepted for CBD applications.
A vital record is a government-recorded document that certifies a vital event — birth, marriage, divorce, or death — and is the primary evidence in CBD cases.
A certified copy is a copy of a document that has been verified as a true and accurate copy by the issuing authority, typically required for CBD applications.
A marriage certificate is a vital record that certifies a marriage, required for CBD cases to establish the legitimacy of the descent line.
A death certificate is a vital record that certifies a death, sometimes required for CBD cases to confirm that the ancestor is deceased.
A divorce decree is a court order that dissolves a marriage, sometimes required for CBD cases involving remarriages in the citizenship chain.