For the fastest service, order certified copies online through VitalChek, which is the only vendor authorized by the Health Department to process birth certificate orders. There are unauthorized vendors charging customers high fees for help getting a birth certificate. If you ordered a certificate through an unauthorized vendor and would like to file a complaint, visit the NYC Department of Consumer Protection or call 311.
If you were born outside of New York City, including elsewhere in New York State, the CDC has information on how you can order a certificate.
For more information on applying , see Birth and Death Records: How to Apply
Each certificate costs $15, and may have an additional processing fee. For more information on fees, see Birth and Death Records: Fees.
There are two types of birth certificates:
The following application is required for all orders of both short and long forms:
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, call 311 or email nycdohvr@health.nyc.gov. In your email, include current photo ID and documents showing that you have an emergency, such as a paid plane ticket, letter from an employer with a job start date, or letter from a government agency with an appointment date. You will receive an email confirming whether your in-person emergency appointment to purchase the birth certificate is approved.
Parents receive a free birth certificate for newborns about four weeks after birth. Your baby's birth certificate will be based on 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 (PDF). 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.
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.
Certified copies of an Acknowledgment of Parentage are free of charge. Complete the New York State Acknowledgment of Parentage application and submit by mail or in person.
For questions about certificates for newborns (born within the past 30 days),call 646-632-6563 or email birth@health.nyc.gov.
There is no fee to add a child's given name to a birth certificate if you submit the application within 60 days of birth.
You may add a given name and submit corrections if you find missing or incorrect information at the hospital. There is no fee for changes made by the hospital if sent within 12 months of birth.
Once the baby is named, it is official. Changing a baby's name may require you to go to court and pay applicable fees. Visit the certificate corrections page for more details.
How to Obtain an Apostille on a NYC Birth Certificate
Step 1: Get the Long Form Birth Certificate or Death Certificate with a Letter of Exemplification.
Step 2: Authentication by the County Clerk.
Step 3: Acquiring the Apostille or Certificate of Authentication.
An attorney requesting a birth certificate on behalf of a registrant, registrant's mother or registrant's father/parent (if named on the certificate) can order a birth certificate. To submit a request, an attorney must:
The information on the forms must match the Birth Certificate record on file.
Ordering a Deceased Person's Birth Certificate
Orders can only be made by mail.
Ordering an Existing Acknowledgement of Parentage (AOP)
Certified copies of an existing acknowledgment of parentage are available for free. Complete the Application for a Copy of an Acknowledgment of Parentage (PDF) form and submit your request by mail or in person. You must include a copy of your current photo identification.
All in-person orders require an appointment. Click here to schedule an appointment online. If you schedule an appointment and make your request in person, you may be able to walk away with a certified copy of the acknowledgement of parentage that same day.
Send mail requests to:
Office of Vital Records
125 Worth Street, Room 119
New York, NY 10013
Non-Profit Organization Request
Non-profit groups that provide services to minor children or developmentally disabled adults may get birth and death certificates on behalf of their clients through a mailed application. For instructions on how to make this request, email the following to nycdohvr@health.nyc.gov:
Pre-1910 Birth Certificates
To request a birth record from before 1910, order online through the NYC Department of Records and Information Services Municipal Archives website or call 311.
If that agency is unable to locate your record, email nycdohvr@health.nyc.gov.
Certificate Security Features
As of 2019, NYC birth and death certificates no longer have a raised seal. The certificates are issued on certified paper that includes numerous security features that ensures the integrity and acceptance of the certificates. Refer to the back of the certificate, which describes several of these security features in detail.
For information on requesting a pre-adoption birth certificate, see Birth and Death Records: Pre-Adoption Certificates.
Chat: For more help ordering a certificate, you can chat online with an operator, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
