If you were born in another City or State the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) can tell you how to get a copy of your records.

Visit the CDC's vital records page.

You can order a birth certificate for yourself or your child online. If you need a birth certificate for any other person, you must request it by mail or in person at the Office of Vital Records.

Order a birth certificate for yourself or your child.

Vitalchek.com is the official website for ordering birth certificates. Other websites that process birth certificate orders are privately owned and may charge a different fee. These websites have no affiliation with the City. In order to avoid any additional fees when placing an order, please ensure that the order is placed through vitalchek.com.

Identification Requirements

To verify your identity, you must answer questions as part of the online ordering process. If the verification process fails, you will be able to fax copies of your proof of identification.

Cost

The cost of each certified copy is $15. There is an $8.30 online processing fee applied to the entire order.

Payment Methods

You can pay for your online order by credit or debit card, or by entering personal check information (EFT).

The name on your certificate must match the name on your credit/debit card. If you are a woman, the first name must match. If you are a man, the first and last names must match. If the name on the credit/debit card doesn’t match the name on the certificate, you must order it by mail or in person.

Processing and Shipping

Most orders are processed within 24 hours. Long form copies and Letters of Exemplification are processed in 10 business days.

There are two shipping options:

• First-class mail orders are delivered within 5 to 7 business days and are free of charge.
• Express mail orders are delivered by United Parcel Service (UPS) within 3 business days for an extra $17. 
  • UPS express delivery option includes enhanced security, door to door tracking and faster delivery after your order is processed.

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You can order a birth certificate by mailing your request. It’s the least expensive option, but it takes longer to receive your order.

Identification Requirements

You must prove your identity by completing an application and submitting the required documents.

If you are applying for your birth certificate or your child's birth certificate, you must provide a copy of a valid photo identification with signature.

Examples:

• Driver license
• Employee ID with most recent pay stub
• Government ID
• IDNYC Card
• Social services or public benefit ID
• Student ID and transcript from an accredited and verifiable institution
• Passport
• MTA Reduced-Fare MetroCard

If you don’t have a valid photo ID, you must give two proofs of your current address, such as a recent utility bill, telephone bill, or letter from a government agency. These must be originals, not copies.

If you need a copy of a birth certificate for a deceased relative, you must provide your own valid photo ID and prove you are a blood relative. You must also provide a photocopy of the person's death certificate if he or she died in New York City, or the original death certificate if the person died outside of New York City.

Cost

The cost of each certified copy is $15. There is no mailing fee.

Payment Methods

You must pay by check or money order payable to the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

Processing and Shipping

It takes about 30 days to process and deliver the order. International orders are processed in 8 weeks.

Mailing Address

Mail your completed, notarized application, proof of identity, and a self-addressed stamped envelope to:

Department of Health
Office of Vital Records
125 Worth Street, Room 133
New York, NY 10013

Application

Online

Download a Birth Certificate Application.

By Mail

Request by phone that a paper copy be mailed to you.

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Due to COVID-19 in-person ordering of birth certificates is suspended until further notice.

You can get the status of a birth certificate order if it was requested:

• Online more than 10 days ago
• By mail more than 4 weeks ago
• In person more than 2 weeks ago

You can get help with refunds.

Starting January 15, 2020, if you were adopted and born within five NYC boroughs of Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island and Manhattan, you will be able to request a copy of pre-adoption, or original long form birth certificate.

You can request the pre-adoption birth certificate if:

• You are the adopted person and are 18 years of age or older.
• You are the adopted person’s direct line descendant, if the adopted person is deceased.
• You are a lawful representative for the adopted person.
• You are a lawful representative for a direct line descendant, if the adopted person is deceased.

Online

To learn more, please visit the Vital Records website.

By Phone

The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene automatically mails one copy of the birth certificate to the parents of a baby born in a hospital in New York City. You should get the copy within 4 weeks of the child's birth.

If you haven't received the birth certificate and your baby was born more than 30 days ago, you can find out the status by phone.

You may be allowed to order a copy on behalf of someone who is mentally disabled or living with dementia.

If you don’t know the exact date of birth, but can give a range of dates, you can include this on the application for question number 4B.

If you give a range of dates within a 2-year period, the Department of Health will search for the record for free. For an extra $3 per year, you can search within a larger date range.

Both a long form birth certificate (also called a vault copy) and a Letter of Exemplification are needed for certain overseas transactions.

They are often required to:

• Apply for dual citizenship
• Get Apostille Document Authentication of a public document for use in a foreign country
• Marry in a foreign country
• Adopt a child from a foreign country
• Purchase property in a foreign country

If you need a Letter of Exemplification, you should order a long form birth certificate. When you place your order for the birth certificate, make sure you clearly explain the reason for your request, and the Department of Health will determine if a Letter of Exemplification is also needed.

Please allow an additional 10 to 12 days for processing.

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