Get your certified Colorado Birth Certificate

A certified copy of a Colorado birth certificate costs $25 from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). Additional copies ordered at the same time are $20 each, and an heirloom birth certificate is $35. Card payments carry a surcharge. Through VRO, add VRO's $19 service fee. CDPHE says mail applications can take up to 21 to 25 business days to process, plus mail time.

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CDPHE takes online and phone orders through its own authorized online provider. VRO is an independent preparation service: we prepare your application and send it to CDPHE by mail on your behalf. You will need valid identification, the full name on the certificate, the date and city or county of birth, and the parents' names. Colorado accepts an online signature, so you sign the application in your VRO account; there is nothing to print or mail back.

Start now - order your Colorado birth certificate online in minutes.

Only eligible people can. Besides the person on record, Colorado allows the spouse, parents, stepparents, siblings, adult children, a legal guardian, and a legal representative of any of them. Everyone must send a copy of acceptable ID, and anyone other than the person on record or a parent must send proof of relationship, such as a birth certificate, marriage certificate, or court order.

Need to order for a family member? Request a Colorado birth certificate on their behalf through our secure service.

A Colorado State File Number is a unique identifier assigned to each vital record registered with CDPHE. Including it on your application helps CDPHE locate the record. You can find it on a previously issued certified copy. If you do not have it, you can still request your birth certificate by providing the full name at birth, date of birth, and place of birth.

Don't have your file number? You can still order a Colorado birth certificate with the details you know.

The CDPHE establishes distinct rules regarding the appearance of birth certificates, ensuring that they adhere to specific authentication features. The design may differ depending on the year of issuance and the issuing county due to local guidelines and practices, which can impact their overall layout and security attributes. Standard features of official birth certificates include a raised, embossed, or multicolored state seal to signify its authenticity, which is produced on specialized, secure paper. Additionally, certified copies will display essential information such as the registrar's signature, the parents' full names, the date and location of birth, and a unique certificate number.

While Colorado issues two types of birth certificates - long-form (official) and short-form (informational) - the long-form certificates serve as certified documents, typically required for legal purposes. In contrast, short-form certificates are informational and may not carry the same legal significance. You can contact the county's vital records office for the most accurate and current information regarding the appearance and use of birth certificates.

• 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.

You may also need to order a Colorado death certificate through our secure online service.

If you lose your birth certificate:

1. Apply for a certified replacement copy in person, by mail, or online through VRO. You must complete and sign the application, gather the required identification and documents, and pay the fees set by CDPHE. You can also report the lost or stolen certificate on the CDPHE missing certificate page.

a. For in-person applications: Book an appointment at the CDPHE office in Denver (no walk-ins), or visit a local vital records office.

b. For applying by mail: Send your signed application, a photocopy of your ID, and payment as listed on the application to the address printed on the CDPHE application.

c. For online submissions: Complete the application and upload your documents through the VRO website (payable by credit card online). Sign your application online; we send it to CDPHE.

2. CDPHE will mail the certified copy(s) after processing.

Replace your certificate quickly - order a Colorado birth certificate replacement through our secure service.

Corrections fix information that was recorded incorrectly on the original certificate. Other changes, such as a legal name change, adding or changing a parent, or a sex designation change, have their own requirements, explained in the special situations section above.

To correct a Colorado birth certificate, send:

1. A completed application: the birth certificate correction form.
2. A copy of your ID.
3. Documentary evidence of the correct information. Court orders are required for some changes.
4. Fees: a $25.00 filing fee, plus $25.00 for the first certified copy and $20.00 for each additional copy.

Looking for a different document? Order a Colorado marriage certificate through our secure online service.

Apostilles for Colorado birth certificates are issued by the Colorado Secretary of State and are required when you file a birth certificate with a foreign government that is part of the 1961 Hague Convention. VRO's apostille service costs $49, plus government fees.

If you are submitting a request for an apostille yourself, you will need:

1. A birth certificate certified by Colorado Vital Records or a Colorado county office
2. The Apostilles and Authentications Request Form
3. A check or money order for $5.00 per apostille, payable to "Colorado Secretary of State" (credit cards are not accepted)

Mail your request, or drop it off, at:

Certified copy and apostille in one request: the CDPHE birth certificate application also includes an apostille option for $5.00 per copy, in addition to the certificate fees. Mark it on the application when you order.

A long-form birth certificate (also called the "full" or "certified" copy) is a complete reproduction of the original Colorado birth record. It includes your full legal name, date and place of birth, parents' names, birthplaces, and occupations, the attending physician or midwife, and the file date and registration number. This is the version you'll need for passports, REAL ID, Social Security, adoption, immigration, dual citizenship, and most legal purposes.

A short-form birth certificate (sometimes called a "certification" or "abstract") is a condensed version that shows only your name, date of birth, place of birth, and sex. It does not include parents' information. The short form is accepted for many everyday purposes, like enrolling in school, applying for a driver's license, or joining sports leagues, but it is not always accepted for federal documents or international travel.

When you order a Colorado birth certificate through VitalRecordsOnline, you receive the long-form version by default, since it is the most widely accepted. If you're unsure which version you need, check with the agency requesting the document.

Need another vital record? Get your Colorado divorce certificate through our secure online service.

CDPHE says mail applications can take up to 21 to 25 business days to process, plus mail time. Its current processing dates are posted on the CDPHE ordering page.

When you order online through VitalRecordsOnline, we review your application to catch errors before submission, you sign it online, and we send the signed application to CDPHE. Ordering through VRO does not shorten CDPHE processing time. Expedited options at checkout speed up VRO's preparation and submission of your application; they do not change CDPHE processing time.

If the issuing office returns your request because of missing information, our team contacts you so the correction can be made without starting over. Once your application reaches CDPHE, order status is provided by Colorado Vital Records at 303-692-2200.

New to our service? Learn how our service works through our secure online service.

If you were born in Denver or anywhere in Colorado, your birth certificate is part of the state vital records system kept by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE).

In-Person Options in Denver:

The CDPHE Vital Records office at 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South, Denver, CO 80246, serves the public by appointment only; walk-ins are not accepted. Denver Public Health & Environment also has a vital records office at 120 West 5th Avenue, Denver, CO 80204. Bring a valid photo ID, proof of relationship if the record is not yours, and payment.

Denver residents frequently need certified birth certificates for Real ID applications at the Colorado DMV, passport processing, school enrollment, and name changes.

Prefer to skip the trip? Order your Colorado birth certificate online and we prepare and file your application for you.

CDPHE does not advertise same-day service. The state office in Denver serves the public by appointment only, with no walk-ins, and local vital records offices set their own hours and procedures, so call ahead to ask whether copies are issued while you wait. By mail, CDPHE says applications can take up to 21 to 25 business days to process.

What to Bring:

A valid government-issued photo ID and payment for the certificate fee. If requesting someone else's record, you must show proof of eligibility - such as being a parent, legal guardian, or legal representative.

Prefer to skip the trip? Order your Colorado birth certificate online and we prepare and file your application for you.

Colorado Springs residents can obtain birth certificates through El Paso County Public Health, Vital Records or by ordering from the state CDPHE office in Denver.

El Paso County Public Health, Vital Records:

The office at 1675 W. Garden of the Gods Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80907, issues certified copies of Colorado birth certificates. Call (719) 575-8492 to confirm hours and requirements before you go.

Colorado Springs is the second-largest city in Colorado, and residents here commonly need birth certificates for military base requirements at Fort Carson, Real ID applications, and USAFA enrollment documentation.

The easiest way to order from anywhere is to request your Colorado birth certificate online through our secure service.