Order your Illinois (IL) Birth Certificate Online
Long gone are the waiting lines in government offices. Order your official Illinois (IL) birth certificate from the comfort of your home!
Legal Disclaimer: US Birth Certificates is a privately owned website that is not affiliated with, not owned or operated by any government agency. US Birth Certificates is an independent preparer that provides vital records application preparation assistance services. If you are looking for blank forms, you can get them for free at the relevant state office.
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Illinois Birth Certificate Application
A birth certificate is an essential document in the United States, that is used to prove a person’s citizenship and identity.
An Illinois Birth Certificate allows you to apply for a passport, get a driver’s license, request a social security card, get married, and enroll in university.
Now it is possible to order a birth certificate online, in just a few minutes. Follow our personalized instructions, receive your birth certificate directly to your home address.
Illinois birth records and other vital records are kept by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
There are vital records offices located in several counties, including Cook County, DuPage County, Lake County, Will County, and Kane County. Additionally, the city of Chicago also has its own a vital records office.
In the event that your birth certificate was lost, destroyed, damaged or stolen you can easily complete an online application to get an authorized copy.
When using our online service, you can avoid going in person to a vital records office or agency. The replacement of a birth certificate in Illinois is straightforward and simple to fill out.
Before requesting your birth certificate, please know that there are two types of copies available and they cannot both be used for the same purposes.
- A certified or authorized copy of a birth certificate - this has the registrar’s raised, embossed, impressed or multicolored seal, as well as the registrar’s signature, and the date that the certificate was filed with the registrar’s office. This authorized copy can be used for several purposes.
- An informational copy of a birth certificate - informational copies have the following words imprinted across the face of the copy: “Informational, not a valid document to establish identity”.
If, for example, you are planning to get married or wish to enroll in college or a sports program, you will need to provide an authorized copy of your birth certificate.
This type of copy is also necessary to obtain a social security number, apply for a U.S. passport, and getting a driver’s license.
An informational copy is mostly used for health or research purposes. However, they cannot be used to prove your identity. To obtain an authorized or informational copy of your birth certificate, you must complete the online application with these details:
- Last name (as it appears on the certificate)
- First name
- Sex
- Exact date of birth
- Name of the hospital or addres you were born
- Why you need the certificate
- Your mother’s name or parent’s name prior to their first marriage
- Your father’s name or parent’s name prior to their first marriage
After you have completed the application, you simply need to print it out and mail it to an Illinois vital records office.
Illinois Birth Certificate Short Form and Long Form
Birth Certificate: Long Form
A long form birth certificate, is an authorized copy of the original record, with the embossed Seal of Illinois.
This certificate will be accepted by all state and federal agencies as proof of birth and U.S. citizenship.
The long form birth certificate can therefore be used to apply for a passport, get a social security number, travel, obtain a driver’s license, register for school or sports programs and more. Illinois has birth certificate records available from 1916 onwards.
Birth Certificate: Short Form
A short form birth certificate contains a certified abstract that shows a child’s name, birth, date, sex, county of birth, and may also list the parent’s names.
This kind of birth certificate, can be used as proof of identity, however, it cannot be used to obtain a passport if the parent’s name are not included. Birth certificates are included from 1916 to the present.
How to Get a Copy of a Birth Certificate in Illinois
Getting your Illinois birth certificate has become easier thanks to the online application. There are a few steps each applicant must follow. After you have filled out the application, the next step is to print the form and sign it.
In an envelope, include your signed application, along with the copy of a valid photo ID. Be sure to include your money order or check. Mail all these three requirements to the vital records office.
Please note that as of May 3rd, 2023, 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.
Who Can Request a Illinois Birth Certificate
An authorized copy of a birth certificate may only be requested by specific individuals. You will be able to obtain a copy, if you are:
- 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, 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.
Remember that to be used as ID this must featurethe raised, embossed, impressed or multicolored Seal of Illinois, the registrar’s signature, and the date the certificate was filed with the registrar’s office.
Documents Needed to Apply
To request a certified copy of an Illinois birth certificate you must provide a completed application form and a clear photocopy of both sides of one of the forms of photo ID listed below:
- State of Illinois Driver’s License
- State of Illinois ID Card
- Driver’s license issued by another U.S. State, jurisdiction or territory
- Photo State Identification Card issued by another U.S. State, jurisdiction or territory>
- U.S. Passport or foreign issued
Once your application package is completed you will need to mail it to:
Illinois Department of Public Health
Division of Vital Records
925 E. Ridgely Avenue
Springfield, IL 62702-2737
Vital Records has relocated from the Daley Center (50 W. Washington, Suite CL-25) to the Cook County Building (118 N. Clark, 1st floor) on Monday November 23, 2020. As of November 23rd, we no longer receive customers at the 50 W. Washington location.
Illinois Birth Certificate Cost
To obtain a copy of an Illinois birth certificate, applicants must cover the cost of each copy requested. In Illinois, the fee of a birth certificate copy is $15, each additional copy will cost USD $2.
Illinois Birth Certificate Processing Times
After you have mailed the application, along with a copy of a photo ID and the payment, the vital records office will process your request. You will receive your birth certificate by mail, at your home address.
In the majority of cases birth certificate orders in Illinois are filed within 5-7 business days. However, some orders may take longer due to peak request periods.
You are advised to apply for a copy of your birth certificate early to avoid delays especially if you need the certificate for sports programs, travel documents and passports, school enrollment, planning for retirement and other reasons that may have a deadline.
Illinois Vital Records Offices
The following is a complete list of Vital Records and Health offices who can provide Birth Certificate copies. Keep in mind that county offices that may be further away from youcan sometimes process requests faster.
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Champaign County Clerk
1776 E. Washington
Urbana, IL 61802 -
Cook County Biulding
118 N. Clark, Room 120
Chicago, IL 60602 -
Cook County Biulding
118 N. Clark, Room 120
Chicago, IL 60602 -
421 N. County Farm Road
Wheaton, IL 60187 -
Illinois Dept. Of Public Health
Division Of Vital Records, 925 E Ridgely Avenue
Springfield, IL 62702-5097 -
Kane County Clerk (Aurora)
5 E. Downer Pl., Suite F
Aurora, IL 60505 -
Kane County Clerk (Main)
719 S. Batavia Avenue
Geneva, IL 60134 -
County Court House, 18 North County Street
Waukegan, IL 60085 -
Madison County Clerk 157
North Main Street, Rm # 109
Edwardsville, IL 62025 -
McHenry County Clerk
2200 North Seminary Ave
Woodstock, IL 60098 -
St. Clair County Clerk
10 Public Square
Belleville, IL 62220 -
Will County Clerk
302 North Chicago Street
Joliet, IL 60432 -
Winnebago County Clerk
404 Elm Street, Room #103
Rockford, IL 61101
FAQs About Illinois Birth Certificates
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How to get a birth certificate in Illinois?
If you need to get an official copy of your Illinois birth certificate, the easiest way to do so is by following our personalized instructions:
- Fill out the birth certificate application form with your data
- Photocopy your government-issued photo ID on both sides (as per the list of valid photo IDs detailed above)
- Please print out your application package, sign it, and mail it to the vital records office along with the required documents and payment
- Receive the certified copy of the Illinois birth certificate at your home address
Please note that urgent orders must include proof of urgency as well as a prepaid overnight delivery return envelope
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How long does it take to get birth certificate in Illinois?
Having a certified copy of your birth certificate issued by the State of Illinois usually takes 5-7 business days.
However, if you urgently need a legally-valid IL birth certificate, you may mail in your birth certificate application package following our personalized instructions.
You will also need to include proof of immediate need, as detailed above as well as a prepaid overnight delivery return envelope.
Once issued, you will receive the certified copy of the Illinois birth certificate at the address printed on your return envelope. (Please note that FedEx envelopes are unacceptable since they do not offer this service.)
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How much is a birth certificate in Illinois?
Obtaining a government-issued copy of your Illinois birth certificate bears a cost required by the state.
Processing a certified copy of an IL birth certificate requires paying a $15 fee for the first copy.
It is good practice to order multiple copies of the same birth certificate at once. This can be useful to keep on file for different purposes. Each successive birth certificate copy ordered for the same citizen through a single application form carries an additional $2 fee.
The payment must be submitted along with the birth certificate application.
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What documents do I need to get my birth certificate?
If you need a certified copy of an IL birth certificate, you must first complete a birth certificate application.
Next, sign and print your birth certificate application form and post it with photocopies of a government-issued ID. The full list of photo identification documents acceptable for this purpose is specified above. Remember to photocopy both sides of the chosen form of ID.
Please mail your application package, the fees and required documents to the vital records office.
Once processed, the State of Illinois will issue and send you the birth certificate by mail.
