How to Get a District of Columbia (D.C.) Birth Certificate Without ID

If you cannot provide the three required forms of identification when applying by mail, you can apply in person with accepted secondary identification. Alternatively, you can have an authorized third party, such as you parent, sibling, grandparent, or adult child make the request on your behalf.

How Long Does It Take to Process and Receive a Birth Certificate in the District of Columbia (D.C.)?

Processing and replacement times for District of Columbia birth certificates may vary. Please refer to the chart below for the current delivery and processing timelines. To avoid delays, we recommend using VRO’s easy online service, which helps prevent incomplete submissions and errors.

Do I Need to Notarize My Application?

The DC Health generally does not require applicants to obtain a notarized application to prove their identity. However, the applicant must provide between 1 to 3 forms of identification, depending on the ordering method. A notarized statement may also be required for certain third-party applicants or when amending a record.

For further details about specific situations that require a notary with your application, visit the DCVRD website. Remember to bring your ID for identity verification when visiting the local public notary.

Other FAQs

• How to Obtain a District of Columbia (D.C.) Birth Certificate if Born on an Overseas Military Base

  

  Individuals born on an overseas military base are not considered to have been born in the Washington, District of Columbia, therefore, there is no birth certificate on record with the state. If you were born on a U.S. military base overseas and your parents were U.S. citizens at the time of your birth, your birth should be recorded with the U.S. Department of State. You must contact the U.S. 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 U.S. citizenship for individuals born abroad to U.S. citizen parents who meet the requirements for transmitting citizenship under the Immigration and Nationality Act. This document is equivalent to having a U.S. birth certificate. This document is recognized in the U.S. 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 District of Columbia (D.C.) Birth Certificate?

  

  A birth certificate is a vital document containing official details about an individual's birth and is universally acknowledged by public and private organizations. It confirms your legal name, parents' names, place of birth, and date of birth, making it a crucial piece of evidence in legal procedures, family affairs, school admissions, employment, and travel.
  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 District of Columbia (D.C.) Birth Certificate Look Like?

  

  An officially certified birth certificate will display distinct features to indicate it is issued by the DCVRD. 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 is usually not. The DCVRD 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 District of Columbia (D.C.) 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 DCVRD.

  a. For in-person applications: Present the completed application and required documents to the DCVRD 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 DCVRD at:

  Vital Record Mail Services ATTN: DC Vital Records

  P.O. Box 222130 El Paso, TX 79913
  

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

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

• How to Correct or Amend a District of Columbia (D.C.) Birth Certificate

  

  DC Vital Records Division (DCVRD) offers a straightforward process to make legal corrections or amendments to birth certificates. Any changes made to a birth certificate are considered amendments, which are added as addendums to the original record. The original document, however, cannot be modified in any way.

  The requirements for making these changes or amendments will depend on the information that needs to be altered.

  Correcting or amending vital records usually will require the following:

  1. A completed amendment application: For self or one parent listed on birth certificate complete the Amendment of Birth Record (Single Parent) application. For a birth record with two parents listed complete the Amendment for Birth Record (Two Parents) form. Other applications include, Amendment for Adoption, Court Order Amendment, and Gender Marker Amendment. A signature in front of a Notary Public is required on all amendment applications.
  2. Supporting documents: Identification verification is required, along with original supporting evidence (like a marriage license, or mother’s birth certificate).
  3. Appropriate fee(s): DCVRD charges a nonrefundable processing fee of $23.00, plus $23.00 for each amended birth certificate requested.

• How to Obtain an Apostille for an District of Columbia Birth Certificate

  

  An apostille is a type of certification that is required when submitting a birth certificate to a foreign government. The birth certificate must be filed initially with the DCVRD to obtain an apostille from the Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications in the District of Columbia.

  Apostilles for birth certificates in the District of Columbia can be conveniently requested online through VRO, or manually through the Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications in the District of Columbia.

  
  If you are manually submitting your certificate, you will need to provide the following information:

  1. A certified copy of your birth certificate(s). (Must be an original from the District of Columbia).
  2. $15.00 per document, checks and money orders made payable to "DC Treasurer."
  3. Pre-paid, self-addressed return envelope.
  4. Submit requests for birth certificate apostilles to the following address:

  Standard or express courier (UPS, DHL, FedEx)