Get your certified California Birth Certificate

How to Get an California Birth Certificate Without ID

When applying through the California DPH-VR (online or by mail), you do not need to provide a copy of your ID with your application; the notarized sworn statement serves as proof of identity. However, you must verify your identity when obtaining the notary with one of the forms of ID listed in California Code 1185[b]. A witness can confirm your identity if you cannot provide any of the accepted IDs.

How Long Does It Take to Process and Receive a Birth Certificate in California?

California DPH-VR's processing time for birth certificate replacements is 5 to 7 weeks; however, the total time until you receive the certified copy will depend on how you submit your order and the volume of backlogged orders at the CDPH-VR. If you manually submit your application and documents, account for additional time to notarize your application from a local notary.

Do I Need to Notarize My Application?

The CDPH-VR requires applicants to prove their identity by notarizing a sworn statement with their application and documents. When ordering online, VRO offers an online notary service as an additional option of the service provided. Otherwise, you must bring your ID with your application document when using a local public notary.

California Birth Certificate FAQs

• How to Obtain a California Birth Certificate if Born on an Overseas Military Base

  

  Individuals born on an overseas military base are not considered born in California; therefore, there is no birth certificate on record with California. If you were born overseas on a US military base and your parents were US citizens, your birth should be recorded with the US Department of State. You must contact the US Department of State to request a copy of your Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA or form FS-240).

  Note that this is not a birth certificate; it is evidence of US citizenship for individuals born abroad to US citizen parents who meet the requirements for transmitting citizenship under the Immigration and Nationality Act. This document is equivalent to having a US birth certificate. This document is recognized in the US as proof of birth and citizenship and can be used to obtain a passport and apply for social services. If you need additional copies of this document, you can contact the hospital where the birth occurred to request a copy of the birth certificate or order them from the Department of State. Learn more about CRBA for more information.
  

• Why Do I Need Certified Copies of My California Birth Certificate?

  

  A California birth certificate offers details about a person's birth, including their legal name, place of birth, date of birth, and parents' names. These documents are universally recognized and accepted by government agencies and private businesses for various purposes, such as obtaining a driver's license or passport, enrolling in school, getting married, and participating in legal processes. Moreover, birth certificates can be invaluable for personal reasons like genealogy research.
  
  Birth certificates are often useful or required for:

  Applying for a driver's license

  Applying for a new passport

  Issuing or obtaining a Social Security Card

  Applying for Social Security benefits

  Claiming pension or insurance benefits

  Genealogy research

  Claiming family inheritance

  Applying for a new job

  Enrolling in school

  Enlisting in military

  Obtaining a marriage license

  
  

• What Does a California Birth Certificate Look Like?

  

  An officially certified birth certificate will display distinct features to indicate the CDPH-VR issued it. The appearance may differ depending on the year it was issued. It will often include essential information to verify a person's identity and the legitimacy of their citizenship at birth.

  A long-form official birth certificate is used for legal purposes, whereas a short-form (informational) copy is usually not. The CDPH-VR defines specific guidelines for counties that may use unique colors and layouts on the official birth certificate, however, they will generally display features such as:

  • Full Name of the Person: The full legal name of the person whose birth is being recorded.

  • Date of Birth: The exact date of birth of the individual.

  • Place of Birth: The city, county, and state where the birth took place.

  • Parents’ Names: The full names of both parents, including the mother’s maiden name.

  • State Seal: A raised, embossed, or printed multicolor or black and white seal of the issuing authority, which validates the document.

  • Signature of State Registrar: The signature of the state registrar or authorized official responsible for issuing the certificate.

  • Date of Issuance: The date when the state officially issued the birth certificate.

  • Printed on Security Paper: Printed on specialized paper to prevent counterfeiting.

  In some instances, a certified birth certificate may also include:

  • Name of the Hospital where the birth was recorded.

  • Name of the Physician who attended the labor.
  

  
  

  
  

  

• How to Replace a Lost or Stolen California Birth Certificate

  

  If you lose your birth certificate:

  1. Submit an application for a certified replacement copy in person, by mail, or online through VRO. You will need to complete the application, gather the required identification and documents, and pay the fees determined by the

  a. For in-person applications: Present the completed application and required documents to the County Clerk’s office during hours of availability.

  b. For applying by mail: Send your application, documents, and a check or money order for the replacement fee to the CDPH-VR at:

  c. For online submissions: Complete the application and upload your documents through the VRO website (payable by credit card online).

  2. CDPH-VR will mail the certified copy(s) after processing.

• How to Correct or Amend a California Birth Certificate

  

  The CDPH-VR provides a straightforward legal process for correcting or amending a birth certificate. Different forms are used depending on the information that needs to be amended.

  An amendment is required when a birth record is changed, while supplemental changes become addendums to the original birth record as a multi-page document. However, no entity can alter the original document.

  To correct or amend a California birth certificate, follow these steps and requirements based on the type of change needed:
  
  1) Determine the Type of Amendment:

  1. 1. Minor clerical corrections: Fix spelling errors, add missing names, correct dates/places of birth, or update sex identity. For name changes without a court order, use Form VS 24 only if correcting a clerical error (e.g., misspelling).
     2. Court-ordered changes: Legally change a name or gender marker via a court decree.
     3. Parentage updates: Add, remove, or correct parent information (requires a court order or Acknowledgement of Paternity. Parentage changes require court adjudication and cannot be processed via simple amendment.)

  2) Required Forms:

  Scenario	Form	Supporting Documents
  Spelling/clerical errors	VS 24	Notarized affidavit, proof of error (e.g., hospital records, gender, parent’s birth certificate).
  Court-ordered name/gender	VS 23	Certified court order with original seal/judge’s signature. (Out-of-state court orders: Accepted unless from Hawaii’s Office of the Lieutenant Governor.)
  Parentage adjudication	Court petition	Acknowledgment of Paternity or certified court order.

  3) Fees

  1. Within 1 year of birth: No fee to amend, but certified copies cost $25.00 each.
  2. After 1 year: $23.00 processing fee (includes one certified copy). Additional copies cost $25.00 each.

  4) Submission process

  1. Complete the appropriate form in black ink without alterations.
  2. Attach supporting documents (e.g., court orders, notarized affidavits, or hospital records).
  3. Include payment via check or money order payable to CDPH Vital Records.
  4. Mail to the following address:

  
  

• How to Obtain an Apostille for a California Birth Certificate

  

  Apostilles are required when filing documents with a foreign government. It is a special certificate that verifies the authenticity of a vital record for international use and is acceptable in countries that are part of the 1961 Hague Convention.

  Apostilles are only provided for birth certificates initially filed with the CDPH-VR. Apostilles for California birth certificates must be requested through the California Secretary of State Notary Public Section. Alternatively, you can submit a request online using VRO’s Apostille Express Service.
  
  To manually apply for an apostille, you must provide the following documents:

  1. An original certified birth certificate issued by the CDPH-VR, county clerks and deputies, county recorders and deputies, or the State Registrar (California Department of Public Health). (Photocopies are not accepted).
  2. A cover sheet specifying the country where the document will be utilized.
  3. A check or money order made out to the Secretary of State for the designated amount of $20.00 for each document to be apostilled.
  4. A self-addressed envelope is needed to return the processed document.
  5. Submit your request with the documents to the California Secretary of State’s office in Sacramento at one of the following addresses:

  You can submit the form and certified copy to the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations, Apostille Section in person or by courier to the following addresses:
  
  Standard Mail:

  Express Courier: (UPS, DHL, FedEx):