New York City (NYC) Birth Certificate Online
If you need a replacement of your New York City birth certificate, you can now get an authorized copy. Applying for a copy of your Birth Certificate online will take you just a few minutes.
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New York City Birth Certificate Application Form
A birth certificate is a legal document that is referred to as a vital record. Birth certificates are generally issued by the Department of Health and Vital Records when a person is born.
New York City has birth records of citizens born in the following boroughs:
- Bronx
- Brooklyn (Kings County)
- Manhattan
- Queens
- Staten Island (Richmond County)
If you were born in New York City and are wondering where to get an NYC birth certificate replacement, the simplest way is to order online and avoid the hassle of visiting vital records offices in New York City or New York State .
Filling out the New York City birth certificate online application can be done in about 5 minutes online, eliminating the need to visit a vital records office in person.
When you request an authorized copy of your birth certificate and the letter of exemplification in NYC, you will need to provide the following information:
- Last name (as it would appear on the certificate)
- First name
- Sex
- Exact date of birth
- Name of hospital or address where you were born
- Why do you need the certificate
- Your mother’s name or parent’s name prior to first marriage
- Your father’s name or parent’s name prior to first marriage
There are 2 types of birth certificates that you can apply for online. There’s an authorized copy and an informational copy. This is what sets them apart:
A certified or authorized copy of an NYC birth certificate will have the registrar's raised, embossed, impressed or multicolored seal, as well as the registrar's signature, and the date the certificate was filed with the registrar's office. This authorized copy is also known as a long-form birth certificate. It carries legal validity and can be used for several purposes. An informational copy of a birth certificate issued in NYC has the following words imprinted across the face of the copy: "Informational, not a valid document to establish identity".
You should keep in mind that an authorized copy of the birth certificate will be required to apply for a US passport, get married, or get a driver’s license.
Birth certificates are also a requirement to enroll in school or university or when moving abroad. The authorized birth certificate is a document you can use to prove your identity.
Only a handful of eligible people are authorized to get an individual’s authorized NYC birth certificate copy.
In contrast, the informational copy is usually needed for informational purposes only. The informational copy has all of your details but it will not have the official seal.
As of May 7, 2025, U.S. citizens and residents must have a REAL ID-compliant driving license or ID card to enter federal facilities and board commercial aircrafts.Requirements to obtain a REAL ID may include proof of identity, such as a certified copy of the birth certificate.
New York City Birth Certificate Requirements
To get your New York City birth certificate you simply have to fill out an online application with your details or the details of the person you need the certificate for.
New York City has records of the people who have been born in the area, including it’s five boroughs: Kings, Queens, Manhattan, Bronx, and Staten Island.
All of the above have vital records offices, as well as the cities of Buffalo, Rochester, Yonkers, and Syracuse.
Once you have completed your application form, you can print it out to send to the vital records office along with a copy any of the following acceptable photo identification documents:
- Driver’s License or non-driver’s ID from any state or US territory
- Public benefit card
- US or foreign passport
- US 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 accredited and verifiable institution
- Inmate photo ID with release papers
In the case that you do not have any of the documents listed above, you can, instead, provide proof of address.
Once the application has been processed, the NYC birth certificate will be mailed to the address listed on the documents provided.
The proof of address can be sent as follows:
- Two different documents dates within the past 60 days, showing your name and address
- Utility bills (online bills can be downloaded from your service provider)
- Letter from a government agency
Who Can Apply for a NYC Birth Certificate?
As we mentioned above, to get an authorized copy of a New York City birth certificate, the person must be eligible. The following are eligible people who can get a certified birth certificate in NYC:
- The certificate holder, a parent or legal guardian of the certificate holder.
- A child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner of the certificate holder.
- A member of a law enforcement agency or a representative of another governmental agency, as provided by law, who is conducting official business.
- A party entitled to receive the record as a result of a court order, or an attorney or a licensed adoption agency seeking the birth record.
- An attorney representing the certificate holder or the certificate holder’s estate, or any person or agency empowered by statute or appointed by a court to act on behalf of the certificate holder or the certificate holder's estate.
If you need to get your driver's license, apply for a passport, get married, register for school, you will need a certified copy of your birth certificate.
Remember that what differentiates this type of birth certificate copy is the official state registrar's raised, embossed, impressed or multicolored Seal, the registrar's signature, and the date the certificate was filed with the registrar's office.
Once your application package is completed you will need to mail it to:
NYC Health Department
Office of Vital Records
125 Worth Street, CN4, Rm. 133
New York, NY 10013
New York City Birth Certificate Cost
The advantage of applying for a birth certificate online, is that you can do it at any time. If you need to obtain a certified or an informational copy of a birth certificate, you will need to pay a fee for each copy you request. The fee for a certified copy of your birth certificate in New York City is $15 per copy.
If you require more than one certified copy of an New York City (NYC) birth certificate, you may request them by paying the fee of $15 for each extra copy you need.
New York City Birth Certificate Processing Times
When you are completing your application, be careful with all the details you enter, as all information must be accurate. You will have to include a valid copy of an official photo ID such as your driver’s license, military ID, work ID, or passport, etc. As well as the payment to cover the processing fees.
The New York City Health Department usually takes between 4-6 weeks to process your application from the moment it has been received.
Although it is not currently possible to obtain an NYC birth certificate the same day, you can pay an additional fee for the rush service if you need the certificate urgently.
New York City Vital Records offices
Below you will find a complete list of all County Clerks offices and Health Department office who can provide Birth Certificate copies in New York City.
Note that County Recorder Offices may not be near you, although they can sometimes process the requests faster.
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Bronx Borough Birth Certificates
Supreme Court Building
851 Grand Concourse, Room B131
Bronx, NY 10451. -
Brooklyn Borough Birth Certificates
Brooklyn Municipal Building
210 Joralemon Street, Room 205
Brooklyn, NY 11201 -
Manhattan Borough Birth Certificates
141 Worth Street, Attn: Record Room
New York, NY 10013 -
New York State Birth Certificates
NY Department of Health
Vital Records Section/Certification Unit,
P.O. Box 2602,
Albany, NY 12220-2602 -
Queens Borough Birth Certificates
Borough Hall Building
120-55 Queens Boulevard, GF, Room G-100
Kew Gardens, NY 11424 -
State Island Borough Birth Certificates
Staten Island Borough Hall
10 Richmond Terrace, Room 311
Staten Island, NY 10301
FAQs About New York City Birth Certificates
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How can I get my birth certificate from New York City?
You can get a certified copy of a birth certificate issued by the NYC vital records bureau without having to wait in line.
To receive an NYC birth certificate at home, apply online following these steps:
- Fill out the birth certificate application form. Our experts will revise it to make sure it is mistake-free so that your document is issued on the first try
- Print, sign and place your application form in a large envelope with a photocopy of both sides of an acceptable photo ID (see list of valid IDs above) and post it to the vital records office with the appropriate fees
- Receive your official New York City birth certificate at home
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How long does it take to get a birth certificate in NYC?
A certified copy of a birth certificate issued in New York City has a turnaround time of 10 to 12 weeks.
Rush service is especially helpful for citizens who need their NY birth certificate issued in 2 to 4 weeks instead. The shorter processing time for a government-issued birth certificate is available for an additional fee.
Here's how to avoid delays and rejected applications, and have an NYC birth certificate issued on the first try:
- Let our experts review your form before you submit it
- Follow our personalized instructions
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How much does a New York City birth certificate cost?
Obtaining a certified copy of an NYC birth certificate requires paying the appropriate fees.
Additional fees are applicable whenever rush service is required to shorten the birth certificate turnaround time.
It is advisable to order more than one copy of an NYC birth certificate to keep on file or for future use.
Each legally-valid copy of a birth certificate issued in New York City carries a cost of $30.
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What documents do I need to get my birth certificate in NYC?
To order a certified copy of a birth certificate in New York City without having to wait in line at a vital records office, you will need the following requirements:
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A filled-out New York City birth certificate application form (available by clicking the button above)
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A valid photo ID, or other proof of identity or address (see detailed list of acceptable identification documents above), photocopied on both sides
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The appropriate birth certificate fees paid at the moment of submitting your NY birth certificate order
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How do I make a correction on a New York City Birth Certificate?
To correct or amend an NYC birth certificate:
- Order a certified copy of the NYC birth certificate that must be changed (the application form is available by clicking on the button above)
- Fill out the Birth Certificate Correction Application Form
- Submit the certified copy, the correction application form and the documentary proof along with a self addressed stamped envelope and the appropriate fees to the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Corrections Unit
