Florida Application for Certificate of Foreign Birth (DH 1178)
Official state formAdoptionForm DH 1178Free downloadLast verified November 10, 2026
Application to file, or get a copy of, a Florida Certificate of Foreign Birth for a child born abroad who is not a U.S. citizen and whose adoption judgment was entered by a Florida court. It goes to the Adoption Unit of the Florida Department of Health vital statistics office.
Who can use this form
- The person named on the record or an adoptive parent, with valid photo ID
- A guardian with a certified guardianship order
- An attorney, with bar number and client details
- Other people with a notarized DH 1958 affidavit or a court order
- A foreign adoption must first be recognized by a Florida court.
What to send with it
- Completed and signed application
- Copy of valid photo ID
- DH 527 Certified Statement of Final Decree of Adoption, certified by the court
- Check or money order payable to Vital Statistics
Where to send it
- Mail to
- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH OFFICE OF VITAL STATISTICS ATTN: ADOPTION UNIT P.O. BOX 210 Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042
- State fee
- $20.00 for the initial filing (includes one certification); $9.00 for the first additional certification or for a copy of a certificate already on file; $4.00 for each additional certification; optional $10 rush fee.
- Typical processing
- Generally two to three weeks
- Form revision
- 04/2016
- Source
- Official government page