Can I get my Birth Certificate online for free?
Author: US Birth Certificates Team
A birth certificate is an important document that every person needs to prove their identity and citizenship. Birth certificates are often required for many things, from registering at school, to getting married, to obtaining a driver’s license.
You may receive a birth certificate by filling out an online application form, however, you may be wondering if it’s possible to obtain the vital record for free.
Unfortunately, at this time, an issuance fee must be paid to obtain a certificate.
Vital Records Offices are in charge of handling birth certificate requests. Official vital records contain important and private personal identity information that should only be accessible by you or your immediate family.
Finding a free and printable copy of your certificate is not feasible. Imagine the trouble if anyone could easily access your private information.
Identity theft would be even more common if that were the case.
Your birth certificate is a valuable document that you should request only when necessary, and keep in a safe and secure place in your home or office.
Getting your birth certificate online
Usually, people order a birth certificate to be able to demonstrate their identity and complete an official matter, such as getting a passport or a driver’s license. Whenever a birth certificate is required, it means you need to get a certified copy issued by your state Vital Records office.
The state where you were born is responsible for handling the vital records of its citizens. A Vital Records Office maintains the master records of its citizens:
- Birth certificates
- Death certificates
- Marriage
- Divorce certificates.
Only a Vital Records Office can reproduce an authorized and certified copy of your document.
The easiest way to obtain a certified copy of a birth certificate that is legally valid for official business is to order online.
To get an official copy of a birth certificate:
- Fill out a simple online form with the certificate holder’s basic information
- Print and sign the birth certificate application form
- Post it with the required documents and fee, following our personalized instructions
Once issued, the Vital Records Office will post the certified birth certificate, so you receive the document at your chosen address.
Some birth certificate requests are rejected due to errors or inconsistencies in the data entered. An easy way to avoid this is to have your application professionally revised before submitting it.
Our smart form ensures that your birth certificate application is mistake-free and can be processed correctly on the first try.
Keep in mind that there are two types of birth certificates. One is for informational purposes only and won’t have a state seal stamp.
The other is a certified birth certificate which you will need to get married, enroll in school, etc.
When ordering a birth certificate online, you will need to cover the processing costs of the birth certificate.
The cost of your birth certificate will be determined by the Vital Records Office where your birth was registered.
If you live in a different state than the one where you were born, ordering your certificate online could save you time and hassle. You will need to pay for the cost of the certificate, otherwise, your request cannot be processed.
Can I download my birth certificate?
A lot of people are not used to getting official documents, and, therefore, might wonder if it’s possible to download a copy of their birth certificate.
However, a certified birth certificate will always need an official state seal stamp and a signature of the state, county, or city registrar on it.
Therefore, it is not possible to download or print a certificate directly from home.
Regular and printed photocopies of a birth certificate would not serve any purpose. If you see platforms that advertise printing your own copy, know that your certificate needs to be processed by your Vital Records Office.
For any official purpose, your certificate needs to have the original seal and the registrar’s signature. Otherwise, it will be rejected and you’ll waste time and money. When you are verifying your identity, only a Vital Records Office is able to issue official records.
Requests for birth certificate copies are handled by mail, once you have ordered one, it will be sent to your address.
Depending on the state, the waiting time will vary.
It can take between 10 days to a few weeks before your certificate is delivered by mail.
However, most vital records offices offer rush service, which means that for an extra fee you could get your certified birth certificate within 2 to 3 business days.
Another aspect you need to consider when ordering a birth certificate online is that you must be either the registrant, the person named on the certificate; the legal guardian or parent of the registrant; or the child, grandparent, or sibling of the registrant.
Birth certificates can also be requested by a government official who is conducting official business, a party entitled to receive the records as a result of a court order, or an attorney representing the registrant.