How to Send an Inquiry Concerning Your Own or Another Individual’s Records
We try to answer inquiries within 30 days; however, due to the large number of inquiries being received, we are currently experiencing delays in our response times. Clients who submit a written request should expect to wait six months for a response. Priority service is given to people who require documentation to prove that they qualify for pensions, allowances, claims and other benefits, therefore, these types of requests should be clearly identified.
For projects involving research in a large number of files, the request will be assessed by our staff to determine if current resources can accommodate such an extensive commitment.
- Your request must be signed.
- To identify a file, we require surname, full given name(s), date of birth, and service number or social insurance number.
- If you do not know the date of birth, service number or S.I.N. (social insurance number), secondary information (e.g., the names of next of kin, postings, dates of service, place of enlistment) can assist in identifying the correct individual.
- Consult the section below on Access Restrictions.
- Please specify what document(s) you require. If you are doing family history research, we recommend that you request a "genealogy package," which will include copies of selected documents from the file that highlight/summarize the individual's service.
- We do not accept email inquiries for these records. Inquiries must be sent by mail or fax.
- Your request can be written as a letter or you can print off a blank copy of the Application for Military Service Information form [PDF 663 KB] also available in Rich Text Format [RTF 44,516 KB], which should be filled in, signed and sent by mail or fax.
- Inquiries should be sent by mail or fax to:
ATIP and Personnel Records Division
Library and Archives Canada
395 Wellington Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 0N4
Fax: 613-947-8456
Access Restrictions
- Access to personal information relating to an individual who is still living requires that person's signed consent.
- If the individual has been deceased for less than 20 years, limited information may be released to immediate family. Proof of death and relationship must be provided.
- There are no restrictions on access to information relating to an individual who has been deceased for more than 20 years. Proof of death is required.
Proof of Death: A copy of a death certificate, newspaper obituary, funeral notice or photograph of the gravestone. Note that proof of death is not required if the individual died while in service.
Proof of Relationship: A document that clearly demonstrates the relationship between the individual concerned and the person requesting the record. Both names must appear on the document. A newspaper obituary, baptismal certificate or full-form birth certificate are acceptable. A wallet-sized birth certificate that does not indicate parents' names is not accepted. Please do not send original documents; photocopies are acceptable.
Immediate Family: A parent, spouse, child, sibling or grandchild of the individual.
