How to get a copy of your birth certificate

Your steps, in order

1. 1

   Find the office in the state where you were born

   Contact the vital records office of the state or territory where you were born, not the state you live in now. You'll need to know the city and county of your birth.1

   The CDC's Where to Write page lists every state's office, fees and rules, with links to each state's own site.2

   Born in New York City? The New York State office doesn't hold New York City records; order from the city.15

   Tip:

   Start from your state's own .gov page or the CDC list and follow its link. Other websites can add their own fees. Florida, for example, says VitalChek is its only contracted vendor and recommends against using any other online vendor.1718

2. 2

   Choose how to order

   You can order online, by mail or in person.1

   By mail, pay with a check or money order made out to the office. The CDC advises against sending cash, because an office can't refund cash lost in the mail.3

   Some states ask for more on mail orders. Texas, for example, asks you to sign the application in front of a notary.13

   In person can be fastest. In Washington, most orders at a local health department are ready the same day.19

3. 3

   Prove who you are, with or without a photo ID

   Most states ask for a photo ID. If you don't have one, most states have another way to verify you, such as your sworn statement of identity, or a notarized letter and a copy of the photo ID from a parent named on your birth certificate.1

   Utah, for example, takes one primary ID or two secondary documents. Jail or prison documents, probation documents, court papers, a Social Security card, a utility bill and an insurance card all count as secondary, and a jail or prison release form with your picture counts as primary. A spouse, parent, grandparent, brother or sister, or adult child can also show their own ID, with proof of how you're related.7

   New York State accepts two documents showing your name and address, such as a letter from a government agency dated within the last six months and a utility bill.15

   Bring

   • Photo ID, if you have one
   • If not: release or probation papers, court papers, a Social Security card, a utility bill or an insurance card (what counts differs by state)
   • The city and county where you were born
4. 4

   Pay the fee, or ask whether you qualify for a waiver

   Utah waives the fee for people who are homeless and for youth who aged out of foster care and are under 26, as well as youth in state custody. An approved homeless service provider verifies eligibility.8

   California gives a free certified copy to people who are homeless, with an affidavit signed by a homeless services provider and by you.1011

   Washington gives a free copy to people who are homeless and were born and live in Washington. A government agency or homeless service provider sends the request with a letter on its letterhead.20

   Texas waives the fee for homeless youth, certified by a school official or the director of a shelter, youth center or transitional living program. The waiver isn't for all adults.1214

   Tip:

   Order two certified copies if you can. You'll hand one over more than once. In Utah, extra copies of the same record ordered at the same time are $10 each.7

5. 5

   Wait for it, and keep it safe

   Times differ a lot. Florida says it normally processes birth certificates in 3 to 5 business days, plus shipping. Washington ships online orders in 3 to 7 business days, while mail orders take 8 to 10 weeks. New York State says online and phone orders are processed in 5 to 10 business days, but also warns of significant delays.17191615

   Keep it flat and dry with your other papers. Offices take only originals or certified copies, so a photocopy won't replace it.

What it costs

State examples

Rules, prices and waivers differ by state. These are examples from each state's own pages; check your birth state's page before you order.

Questions people ask

Keep going: more first-step guides

Sources

Official pages, read in October 2026. Rules change. If something here looks out of date, please let us know at hello@riseaid.org and we'll fix it.

1. 1.USA.gov. How to get a certified copy of your birth certificate
2. 2.CDC National Center for Health Statistics. Where to Write for Vital Records
3. 3.CDC National Center for Health Statistics. Where to Write for Vital Records: application guidelines
4. 4.U.S. Code (GovInfo). 42 U.S.C. § 675(5)(I): documents for youth leaving foster care
5. 5.U.S. Code (via Cornell Law School). 18 U.S.C. § 4042: Duties of the Bureau of Prisons
6. 6.Utah Office of Vital Records and Statistics. Fee schedule
7. 7.Utah Office of Vital Records and Statistics. Birth certificate application (2026)
8. 8.Utah Office of Vital Records and Statistics. Fee waiver fact sheet
9. 9.California Department of Public Health. Vital records fees
10. 10.California Department of Public Health. Assembly Bill 1733: free birth records for people who are homeless
11. 11.California Department of Public Health. Affidavit of homeless status for a fee-exempt certified copy of a birth record
12. 12.Texas Department of State Health Services. Vital statistics costs and fees
13. 13.Texas Department of State Health Services. Requirements for mail and in-person orders
14. 14.Texas Department of State Health Services. Certification of homeless status for a Texas birth certificate
15. 15.New York State Department of Health. Birth certificates
16. 16.New York State Department of Health. Internet and telephone orders
17. 17.Florida Department of Health. Birth certificates
18. 18.Florida Department of Health. Order certificates from VitalChek
19. 19.Washington State Department of Health. Ordering a birth record
20. 20.Washington State Department of Health. Vital records at no fee in specific circumstances
21. 21.U.S. Department of State. Replace or amend a Consular Report of Birth Abroad