Get your certified Connecticut Marriage Certificate

How to Get a Connecticut Birth Certificate Without ID

If you cannot provide a valid, government-issued ID (such as a driver's license or passport), you may submit two secondary forms of identity accepted by the CDPH. Refer to the table above for secondary IDs.

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

The processing time for requesting a Connecticut replacement birth certificate is up to twelve (12) weeks, depending on the volume of requests. The total waiting time to receive a replacement can vary based on how you submit your application and specific requirements.

Some states include shipping. Some don’t. Create a secondary notice, or omit the statement about shipping being included or not included.

Do I Need to Notarize My Application for Connecticut?

Notarized applications or signatures are not required in Connecticut when requesting certified copies of birth certificates, regardless of whether the request is ordered online, by mail, or in person. The DPH-State Vital Records Office only requires notarized applications when requesting an amendment to a record.

Other FAQs

• Why Do I Need My Connecticut Birth Certificate?

  

  A birth certificate plays a crucial role in various aspects of life as an authoritative source of information regarding an individual's birth. It is universally recognized and accepted by both government and commercial entities. This document verifies an individual's legal name, place of birth, parents' names, and the individual's date of birth. These details are vital for legal proceedings, family matters, school enrollment, employment, and travel, making the birth certificate essential for life's most significant events.
  
  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 Connecticut Birth Certificate Look Like?

  

  An officially certified birth certificate will contain features to indicate the CDPH issues it. The appearance of an official birth certificate may differ depending on the year it was issued. It will often include key 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 usually is not. The CDPH defines specific guidelines for counties that may use unique colors and layouts. In all cases, official birth certificates 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 Connecticut 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 DPH.
     a. For in-person applications: Present the completed application and required documents to a vital records 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 DPH at:

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

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

• How to Correct or Amend a Connecticut Birth Certificate

  

  If you need to make a change or correction to a Connecticut birth certificate, you must contact the Vital Records Office in the town where the event occurred. An amendment is required when a vital record is changed, and all amendment requests must be accompanied by proper documentation. No entity can alter the original document, so any changes are made as addendums.

  The requirements for requesting an amendment vary depending on what changes need to be made and where the certificate was filed.

  Typically, requests to correct or amend birth records will require the following:

  1. Document Collection: Obtain certified copies of supporting documents (A notarized affidavit stating that the current record is incorrect or missing and that the new information you provided is correct (like court orders or medical records).
  2. Application Submission: Complete the VS-24 amendment form.
  3. Fee Payment: Include a $30.00 money order payable to the Treasurer, State of Connecticut, for state-processed amendments.
  4. Submit Request: Enclose the Form VS-24 and supporting documents to the local registrar or State Vital Records Office. (Allow 8–12 weeks for state-level revisions; local registrars typically finalize corrections within 10 business days.)

  Typographical or Clerical Errors:

  Parents may request name corrections within 30 days of birth registration by submitting a written affidavit to the local registrar. After this period, corrections require documentation such as hospital records or baptismal certificates created before the child's eighth birthday.

  Legal Name Changes:

  Post-adoption or court-ordered name changes necessitate a certified court decree submitted to the State Vital Records Office. Gender designation amendments require a physician's affidavit confirming appropriate clinical treatment.

  Paternity Additions:

  Acknowledgment of paternity may be added via a notarized affidavit from both parents or a court order. Late registrations (more than one year post-birth) require genetic testing results and a judicial determination.

• How to Obtain an Apostille for a Connecticut Birth Certificate

  

  Apostilles are a special certificate that verifies the authenticity of a vital record for international use and is acceptable in countries that are part of the Hague Convention.

  Apostilles are provided for birth certificates initially filed with the Connecticut Department of Health. Apostilles for Connecticut birth certificates must be requested through the Connecticut Secretary of State. Alternatively, you can submit a request online using VRO’s Apostille Express Service.

  
  If you are manually submitting your birth certificate to the Secretary of State, you will need to provide the following:

  1. Include a certified copy of your birth records.
  2. Completed Authentication Order Form.
  3. Include payment of $40.00 per authentication.
  4. Submit requests for birth certificate apostilles to the CT Secretary of State at the following addresses:

  Express courier (UPS, DHL, FedEx):

  Standard mail (only USPS):

  EXPEDITED SERVICE: your orders will be processed and mailed within 24 hours of receipt from the Management Support Services department. Note that adoption documents cannot be expedited. If any documents are rejected, you will forfeit the expedited fee of $90.00.