Order your Michigan (MI) Birth Certificate Online
A Michigan birth certificate is an important document for different official purposes. If you were born in the state of Michigan (MI) and are in need a copy of your certificate, you are now able to easily apply for one online.
Michigan Birth Certificate Online
The Michigan birth certificate application can be completed in a few minutes. The application requires that you provide a few essential details. After completing the application, you will simply need to print it out and send a copy of a valid photo ID, such as a driver’s license, to a Michigan Vital Records office. A copy of your birth certificate carries a fee, which you can pay with a check or money order.
People may be asked to present a copy of their birth certificate to prove their identity or U.S. citizenship. There are other circumstances when you will be asked to present an authorized copy of your Michigan birth certificate. Among some of these circumstances, you will need your birth certificate to obtain your driver’s license, apply for a U.S. passport, get married, or register for university or school. If you have to get a replacement of your birth certificate, obtaining an authorized or informational copy is fairly simple.
In the United States all records of life events must be kept under governmental authority. The Michigan Department of Health manages all birth certificate requests as well as marriage and death certificates. There are vital records offices in Michigan in Wayne County, Oakland County, Macomb County, Kent County and Detroit City, among other locations.
Please take into account that starting October 1st, 2021, U.S. nationals and residents must have a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or ID card to enter federal facilities and board commercial aircrafts. Among the requirements to get a REAL ID, you will be required to prove your identity with a document such as the birth certificate.
How is an informational copy different from an authorized copy?
If you need a copy of your birth certificate, make sure you know the difference between the two types that are available. The two types of copies of birth certificates in Michigan are: an informational copy or an authorized copy.
An authorized copy will always 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.
An informational copy has the following words imprinted across the face of the copy: "Informational, not a valid document to establish identity". The information is, for the most part, the same as the info displayed on the authorized copy. Certain items may be redacted and an informational copy may not be used to obtain identification.
Authorized and informational copies are both considered "certified copies."
How to get a Michigan Birth Certificate Copy
Getting your Michigan birth certificate can be done is a few steps. You do not have to travel to a vital records office to obtain your authorized or informational copy. Apply for your birth certificate copies, through an online application. After filling out your personal details, print out the form and mail it to the Michigan Department of Health along with a copy of a valid U.S. ID, and the respective payment.
All those born in the state of Michigan that need to request a certified copy of their birth certificate will need to include a clear photocopy of both sides of one of the forms of photo ID listed below along with a completed application form:
- State of Michigan Driver’s License
- State of Michigan ID Card
- Driver’s license issued by another U.S. State, jurisdiction or territoryState-issued
- Photo State Identification Card issued by another U.S. State, jurisdiction or territory
- U.S. Passport or foreign issued
- U.S. Military Identification Card with both picture and signature
Once your application package is completed you will need to mail it to:
Regular Mail to:
Vital Records Requests
P.O. Box 30721
Lansing, MI 48909-8221Rush Mail to:
Vital Records RUSH
P.O. Box 30721
Lansing, MI 48909-8221
This is the office that handles all birth certificate requests that are send via mail. You can always go in person to the vital records office where your birth was recorded.
Who can request a copy of a Birth Certificate?
Only eligible people are able to request an authorized copy. The following persons are eligible to apply for a person’s birth certificate:
- The person named on the certificate.
- That person’s mother, father, or legal guardian.
- The husband or wife of person named on certificate.
- The son or daughter of person named on certificate.
- The sister or brother of person named on certificate.
- The legal representative of an authorized person.
When completing the application, you will need to provide the following details:
- 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
Michigan Birth Certificate Cost
When requesting a copy of a birth certificate applicants need to cover the cost of each copy requested. When preparing your application, you will need to include a money order or a personal check.
The filing fee of each copy of a birth certificate in Michigan is of $34. Each additional copy have a reduced cost of $12 each
Michigan Birth Certificate Processing Times
Once you have completed your application and have mailed it to the vital records office you will have to wait until it’s processed. Processing time in each state varies, in Michigan, birth certificate requests are processed within 4-5 weeks. There are peak request periods, and it is possible that during these periods, the order takes longer to process.
Michigan Vital Records Offices
Below you will find a complete list of Vital Records offices and Michigan County Recorders that are able to provide Birth Certificate copies. Though County Recorder Offices may not be close to your home, they can at times process requests faster than CDPH-VR.
FAQs about Michigan Birth Certificates
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How to get a birth certificate in Michigan?
Michigan-born citizens can get a certified copy of their birth certificate online without having to visit a vital records office, nor wait in line for long hours.
MI birth certificates can be obtained following 3 simple steps:
- Fill out the online birth certificate application form for Michigan
- Print, sign and pack the application form with the required documents (see detailed list above) and the applicable fees
- Post your birth certificate application package to the vital records office
- Once the birth certificate order is received, the State of Michigan will issue the document and post it to the applicant's home address.
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Where do I get a birth certificate in Michigan or Detroit?
Citizens of Detroit or the rest of Michigan can obtain a certified copy of their birth certificate in 2 different ways.
Both require completing a birth certificate application, printing and signing it and submitting it with the required documents and payment (as detailed above).
The birth certificate application package can then be submitted:
- By mail to the vital records office to avoid waiting in line
- In person to the vital records office (see addresses above)
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How much is a birth certificate in Michigan?
The cost of a Michigan birth certificate can vary depending on the application method and whether rush service is required.
The first copy of an official birth certificate issued in Michigan carries a state fee of $34.
Any additional copies of the same birth certificate ordered within a single birth certificate application package carries a cost of $12 per copy.
- Rush service is available for MI birth certificate applications, at an additional cost.
- Payment must be submitted at the same time as the birth certificate application package.
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How long does it take to get a birth certificate in Michigan?
Turnaround time for a Michigan birth certificate depends on several factors.
Citizens can submit an MI birth certificate application in 2 ways:
- By mail, which usually takes 4-5 weeks or 2-3 weeks for rush orders
- In person at the vital records office, which can result in same-day service, this can entail require waiting in line, and submitting the application before 3 PM
An issue that causes delays and rejected applications are errors on the form or incomplete documents which cause unnecessary setbacks.
To avoid delays and have a birth certificate issued in MI on the first try:
- Have the form revised by experts before submitting it
- Follow our personalized instructions
