You can order a birth certificate online only if your name is on the record.

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.

VitalChek.com is the only online vendor authorized by the Health Department to process birth certificate orders. Other websites are unauthorized and may charge higher fees.

Order a birth certificate through VitalChek.

After a Name Change

If you had a legal name change (such as through marriage), your birth certificate is not automatically changed to reflect your current legal name. The name on your birth certificate remains the same. This is known as your birth name. For those who are married, this is sometimes referred to as a maiden name.

During the online ordering process, the website will ask for your current legal name. At another point it will ask for the information as listed on your birth certificate. At that time, you will put your birth name.

Cost

Processing

• $15 per copy
• $9.30 fee

Delivery

• First-class U.S. postal service: free
• Express delivery: $20

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

The name on the credit or debit card must match a parent or child name on the record.

• If you are listed as the child or the father, the first and last names must match.
• If you are listed as the mother, the first name must match.

Processing and Shipping

Processing Time

• Birth certificates from 1919 to present (short form copies): 2 weeks
• Birth certificates from 1910 to 1919: 4 weeks
• Long form copies and Letters of Exemplification: 4 weeks
• Pre-adoption certificates: 6 weeks

Delivery Time

• First-class mail: 10 to 15 business days
• Express delivery: see VitalChek website

You can request a birth certificate by mail.

You must include:

• Complete, notarized application
• Original copies of required documents
• Check or money order for fees
• Self-addressed stamped envelope

Application

Online

You can download the application in multiple languages online.

Get the Birth Certificate Application.

Get the Pre-Adoption Birth Certificate Application.

By Mail

You can request a paper copy of the application.

You can order a birth certificate in person if:

• Your name is on the record
• The birth took place in or after 1920

Orders for all other records must be made online or by mail.

Unless the record is of a deceased person, you can get it on the same day if you are ordering:

• Short form birth certificate
• Long form birth certificate with Letter of Exemplification

You can’t get the record on the same day if you’re ordering:

• Pre-adoption record
• Birth certificate of a deceased person

You will get the record by mail instead.  

All in-person orders require an appointment.

Schedule an Appointment

Schedule an appointment.

If you are unable to schedule an appointment and have an emergency request related to travel, health care coverage, government services, military, housing, or employment, email nycdohvr@health.nyc.gov.

Include a clear copy of your unexpired ID and documents showing you have an emergency. Examples include a paid plane ticket, a letter from an employer with a job start date, or a letter from a government agency with an appointment date.

Location and Hours

The Office of Vital Records is open from Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 3:30 PM.

It's located at:

125 Worth Street, CN-4, Room 119
(use the Lafayette Street entrance)
New York, NY 10013

Cost

• $15 per copy
• $2.75 processing fee

You can pay by credit or debit card or with a check or money order in the exact amount. Cash isn't accepted.

Application

Online

You can download the application in multiple languages online.

Get the Birth Certificate Application.

Get the Pre-Adoption Birth Certificate Application.

By Mail

You can request a paper copy of the application.

For Your or Your Child's Certificate

If you order a birth certificate online, you will be asked questions to verify your identity. If you pass the verification process, you don’t have to submit proof. If you fail, you will have the option to fax copies of documents to prove your identity.

If you order by mail, you must include:

• One photocopy of a Category 1 document (proof of identity), OR
• Two original Category 2 documents (proof of address)

If you order in person, you can get the record on the same day if:

• You submit a Category 1 document (proof of identity)
• The child is not deceased

The record will be mailed to you instead of given on the same day if:

• You submit Category 2 documents (proof of address), OR
• You submit a photocopy of a Category 1 document (proof of identity), OR
• The child is deceased

Category 1 Documents – Proof of Identity

Category 1 documents must be unexpired and include your photo and your signature. 

Examples:

• Driver's License or non-driver's ID from any U.S. state or territory
• IDNYC
• Public benefit card
• U.S. or foreign passport
• U.S. certificate of naturalization
• Military ID card
• Employee ID with photo, verifiable employer, and recent pay stub
• MTA reduced-fare Metro Card
• Student ID and current transcript from an accredited and verifiable institution
• Incarcerated person photo ID with release papers

Category 2 Documents – Proof of Address

If you don’t provide a Category 1 document, you must provide two proofs of your current address.

If you’re providing Category 2 documents, each must be:

• Original, not a copy
• Show your name and current address
• Be dated within the past 60 days
• Be a different type

Examples:

• Utility or telephone bills (online bills can be downloaded from your provider)
• Letter from a government agency

If you order using Category 2 documents, the birth certificate will be mailed to the address listed on your documents.

For a Deceased Relative’s Certificate

You can request a birth certificate of a deceased relative. Orders can only be made by mail.

You must include the following documents:

• A copy of your valid, unexpired photo ID (see Category 1 examples above)
• Completed Family Tree/Link to Decedent form
• Proof of the person’s death
  • If the person died in NYC, provide a copy of the death certificate or the death certificate number
  • If the person died outside NYC, provide the original death certificate

No Documents

Contact Vital Records if you can’t provide Category 1 or Category 2 identification. 

Email nycdohvr@health.nyc.gov.

You can track the status of an NYC birth certificate order.

Please note the processing times for each type of order:

• Online applications:
  • Short form: 2 weeks
  • Long form: 4 weeks
  • Pre-adoption certificates: 6 weeks
• Mailed applications: 6 to 8 weeks

Delivery by mail may take an additional 2 weeks.

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

• Online more than 5 weeks ago
• By mail more than 15 weeks ago
• In person more than 3 weeks ago

Online

Check order status.

By Phone

You may order a birth certificate of a deceased relative if you are their:

• Spouse or domestic partner
• Parent (if deceased was 18 or younger)
• Child
• Sibling
• Niece or nephew
• Aunt or uncle
• Grandchild or great-grandchild
• Grandniece or grandnephew

Orders can only be made by mail.

You must include the following documents:

• A copy of your valid, unexpired photo ID (see examples below)
• Completed Family Tree/Link to Decedent form
• Proof of the person’s death
  • If the person died in NYC, provide a copy of the death certificate or the death certificate number
  • If the person died outside NYC, provide the original death certificate

Identification Documents

Identification documents must be unexpired and include your photo and your signature. 

Examples:

• Driver's License or non-driver's ID from any U.S. state or territory
• IDNYC
• Public benefit card
• U.S. or foreign passport
• U.S. certificate of naturalization
• Military ID card
• Employee ID with photo, verifiable employer, and recent pay stub
• MTA reduced-fare MetroCard
• Student ID and current transcript from an accredited and verifiable institution
• Incarcerated person photo ID with release papers

There are two main types of birth certificates.

The short form is the most requested type of birth certificate. You can use it for most domestic purposes, such as obtaining a US passport, driver's license, housing, and school enrollment.

This record includes:

• Child’s first and last name
• Date of birth
• Sex or gender marker
• Parents’ first and last names

The long form, or vault copy, also includes:

• Time of birth
• Place of birth
• Parents’ address and other information at the time of birth
• Information about who delivered the child

It's often required to:

• Apply for dual citizenship
• Get an Apostille of a public document for use in a foreign country
• Marry, adopt, or purchase property in a foreign country
• Get a Letter of Exemplification

Letter of Exemplification and Apostille

If you need a Letter of Exemplification to get an Apostille, 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.

There are three steps to get an Apostille for an NYC birth record.

Step 1. Get a certified copy of the birth certificate with a Letter of Exemplification.

• Online order: Visit VitalChek.com and select “Apostille/Authentication” from the request reasons dropdown.
• Mail order: Answer “yes” to question 11b on the Birth Certificate Application.
• In-person order: Schedule an appointment. At your appointment, select “Apostille/Authentication” from the request reasons dropdown at the customer kiosk.

Step 2. Submit the record and Letter of Exemplification to the County Clerk of Manhattan so they can verify the signature on the record. 

There is a $3 fee. You can do this by mail or in person for priority requests. In-person services are by appointment only. 

To learn more, visit the County Clerk page to get contact information for the Manhattan County Clerk.

Step 3. Submit the original documents, the verification, and a $10 fee to the New York State Department of State for authentication. You can do this by mail or in person for priority requests. In-person services are by appointment only. Be sure to specify the country where you are going to send the record. 

Learn more about getting an Apostille or Certificate of Authentication.

Contact the NYS DOS for more information or to schedule an appointment.

If you were adopted and born in NYC, you can request a copy of pre-adoption, or original long form birth certificate.

Along with your order, you will receive a copy of any adoption-related documents that are on file.

Who Can Order

You can order it if:

• You are the adopted person and are 18 years or older.
• The adopted person is deceased, and you are their direct line descendent — child, grandchild, or great-grandchild.
• You are a lawful representative for the adopted person. A lawful representative may include the adopted person's attorney or the attorney for the direct line descendant.
• The adopted person is deceased, you are a lawful representative for a direct line descendant.

How to Order

The fastest way to get a pre-adoption certificate is to order online through VitalChek. Only the adoptee can place an order online. Everyone else must order by mail.

No matter how you order, it takes 6 weeks to process the application.

For mailed requests, the application will ask for information as it appears on the current post-adoption birth certificate. No information is required from the pre-adoption birth certificate.

Learn more about pre-adoption birth certificates.

To learn about getting other adoption-related records or information, visit the Adoption Records page.

You may be allowed to order a copy on behalf of someone with a mental disability or dementia.

Parents receive a free birth certificate for newborns about four weeks after birth. Your baby's birth certificate will be based on the information you provide at the hospital when you deliver. It will be automatically mailed to the parents listed on the certificate.

At the hospital, you will be asked to fill out a Mother/Parent Worksheet. You can complete this ahead of time and bring it to the hospital or give it to your midwife. The worksheet collects important information and helps your baby get a Social Security Card.

Be careful when you fill out your baby’s full name and your mailing address. Correcting a birth certificate can cost money or even require a trip to court. A mistake in the mailing address can delay delivery.

Parent Names

Married parents, regardless of sex, have the right to have both their names on their child's birth certificate. Some hospitals require proof of marriage. Check with the hospital to find out if you need to bring a copy of your marriage license with you.

An Acknowledgment of Parentage is a document that unmarried parents must both sign voluntarily to establish the child's legal father/parent. The form will be given to you at the hospital. Learn more on the Parentage Acknowledgment page. 

Delivery Status

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

The NYC Health Department only keeps birth records for people who were born in New York City (Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island).

Born in Other Area in New York

If you were born in New York State, but outside of NYC, contact the NYS Health Department.

Online

Visit the NYS Health Department website.

By Phone

NYC birth and death certificates do not have a raised seal. They are issued on certified paper that includes numerous security features to ensure their integrity and acceptance. The back of the certificate describes several of these security features in detail.

Refunds vary based on how the order was submitted. For all orders, processing fees will not be refunded.

Online

Refunds will be made back to the credit card or bank account that was used. It may take 5 to 7 business days.

Mail

Money order or check payments will be returned by mail. It may take 3 to 90 days, due to processing by the NYC Department of Finance.

Once you have canceled an order, all documents and payments will be returned to you. You then must resubmit the order according to the instructions provided. If the order is accepted and searched, this process can take 5 to 7 business days. Note, this process will take the same amount of time as a new submission.

In-Person

Fees paid by credit card and money orders will be returned immediately. Debit/EFT charges are a manual process, so these fees cannot be refunded electronically.

You can contact the Office of Vital Records for help with your NYC birth certificate.

You can get help with:

• Status of an order if processing time has passed
• Scheduling or canceling an appointment
• No proof of identity or address
• Refunds

By Email

Email nycdohvr@health.nyc.gov.

Include:

• The reason for the email
• How you ordered (online, mail, in person)
• Date you ordered
• Order number (required for online orders)

Online

Chat online with an operator Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM.

In Person

Appointments are required.

Schedule an appointment.

Visit:

Office of Vital Records
125 Worth Street (use the Lafayette Street entrance)
New York, NY 10013

By Phone