How to Get Your Original Birth Certificate

Co-authored by Clinton M. Sandvick, JD, PhD

Last Updated: January 9, 2020 References

We use our birth certificates regularly, from applying for jobs to getting a drivers license. If yours is lost or stolen, don’t panic--you can get a certified copy that will function just like your original. The process for replacing a birth certificate is relatively painless, although it can take a bit of time depending on where and when you were born. Start the process of replacing this vital document by identifying your particular situation.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Getting Your U.S. Birth Certificate

1
Locate the state in which you were born. The federal government does not manage birth certificates and other vital records, so you will need to identify the appropriate state.
2
Find your state’s application process. Each state will have a slightly different process for requesting a birth certificate. Usually, this process is handled by the state’s vital records office. Try doing an Internet search for this office’s website, or use the state-by-state guide compiled by the federal government.^{[1]
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Trustworthy Source
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services
Go to source}

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3
Gather the necessary information. Although each state will have its own process, they will ask for much of the same information. Some states may require additional information (like names of the cities your parents were born in), but you will certainly want to make sure you have the following facts, documents, and other requirements handy:^{[2]
X
Trustworthy Source
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services
Go to source}
- Your full name
- Your sex
- The full names of your parents, including any previous names each of them used
- The date of your birth
- The place of your birth, including the city, county, state, and hospital
- The reason for the request
- Your relationship to the person whose birth certificate is being requested, if you are doing so for someone other than yourself
- Contact information
- A copy of a valid ID, such as a drivers license
- A fee (make sure you know what payment methods your state accepts)
4
Complete and submit the application. Each state will have its own application, which you can find either at the vital records office or online. You will be given a number of options for submitting the application, although specific options will vary by state:^{[3]
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- In person at the vital records office(s)
- By mail, addressed to the vital records office
- Online (increasingly common, though not everywhere)
- By telephone

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Getting Your Consular Report of Birth Abroad

1
Start the process early. If your parents were traveling abroad or serving in the military when you were born, they should have received a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (FS-240) from the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in that country. Requests for copies of these reports are handled by the U.S. Department of State.^{[4]
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Trustworthy Source
USA.GOV
Official website for the United States federal government
Go to source} This is a relatively lengthy process, so be prepared to wait four to six weeks for your replacement.^{[5]
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- If your parents were serving in the military and did not go through this process, you might need to contact the hospital where you were born, the operator of the base where they were stationed, or the public affairs office for the branch of the military in which they were serving.
2
Gather the necessary information. Before you submit your request, make sure you have all of the facts that you will need, including the following:^{[6]
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- Your full name at birth
- Any adoptive names you have gone by
- When and where you were born
- Information about any passports you have had
- The full names of your parents
- If possible, the serial number of the original document
- Your contact information, including mailing address and phone number
3
Write a request letter including all of this information. Make sure to include your signature. Your letter can be typed or handwritten, but you will need to get it notarized before you send it.^{[7]
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- Include a copy of a valid ID, such as a drivers license, with your letter.
- Include a $50.00 check or money order made out to “Department of State.”
4
Send your request to the Department of State. Use the following address: Department of State; Passport Vital Records Section; 44132 Mercure Cir.; PO Box 1213; Sterling, VA 20166-1213.^{[8]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Getting Your Birth Certificate from Another Country

1
Contact the embassy or consulate for the country in which you were born. Its staff can help you locate your original birth certificate and get it translated, if need be.^{[9]
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Trustworthy Source
USA.GOV
Official website for the United States federal government
Go to source}
2
Place a request with the country or city in which you were born. Like the U.S., many other countries will require you to place your request not with a central agency, but with a specific locale. However, central authorities can often point you in the right direction. As with U.S. birth certificates, you will need as much information as possible and will be required to pay a fee.
3
Dig deeper for less recent births. In many countries, birth certificates and other vital documents began to be collected by government agencies only recently. If you were born before this time, or you are trying to obtain a birth certificate for a relative who was, you will likely need to contact the appropriate church office. This means that you will need to know both denomination and location.^{[10]
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