Get your certified Florida Birth Certificate
Order your government-issued Florida birth certificate from home.
Start your application now.
Order Florida Birth Certificate
Trusted by +1.5 million customers
Order your government-issued Florida birth certificate from home.
Start your application now.
Order Florida Birth Certificate
Trusted by +1.5 million customers
Order with confidence
Learn how to order Florida Birth Certificates from the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics. The current processing time is 3 to 5 business days with a $10 Rush Processing fee for 2 to 3 business days. The state fee is $9 for a short form and $14.00 for a long-form copy, with additional copies costing $4 each. Authorized individuals who can order include the person on record, certain family members, legal representatives, and other third parties with a court order.
You can conveniently order your Florida birth certificate online now through VRO, in person, or by mail from the Florida Department of Health - Bureau of Vital Statistics (FL DOH-BVS) by following the instructions below for each ordering method. Before you begin the application process, be sure to review the costs, eligibility, requirements, and current processing times.
Order online now through VRO with a simple two-step process:
Starting from
$29+ state fees
Benefits of Ordering Online with VRO
required documents
All applicants must provide proof of identity with a valid primary (government-issued) ID to request certified copies of a Florida birth certificate. Review the table below for the list of required information and documents from the person on record or third-party requests, as stipulated by the FL DOH-BVS.
Primary ID Requirements Options | Secondary ID Requirements Options |
---|---|
Driver's License Passport State ID US Military ID | Auto Insurance Health Insurance Card Matricula card School ID Tax Document or Mail with Current Address Vehicle title or registration Consular card Employment ID Foreign issued driver license Identification card |
If you do not have a valid primary ID, Florida will accept two (2) alternative forms of identification. Secondary forms of ID are only accepted if your primary ID is expired.
For those such as non-US citizens who do not possess aTo get a state of valid primary Florida birth certificate without a valid primary ID, you must provide three alternative forms of identification, including: a foreign-issued driver’s license, an identification card, a consular card or matricula card and two additional forms of identification, such as: vehicle title or registration, health insurance card, employment ID, school ID, tax document or mail with the current address
Cost & fees
The total costs and fees to obtain a replacement Florida birth certificate depend on the ordering method. The FL DOH-BVS charges a $9.00 search fee for a computer-generated certified copy of a live birth record. The fee for a certified photocopy of the record is $14.00. Additional copies can be requested for $4.00 each during the same order. Additionally, the FL DOH-BVS charges a $1.00 shipping and handling fee on all orders.
Rush orders are available through the FL DOH-BVS for an additional $10.00.
State Fee |
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$14.00 |
Rush Processing |
---|
$10.00 |
Additional Copy |
---|
1 x $4.00 |
Processing time
Processing and replacement times for Florida birth certificates may vary. Please refer to the chart below for the current delivery and processing timelines. You can speed up the document generation and application packet process by choosing expedited options when ordering through VRO.
All orders, including RUSH orders through the FL DOH-BVS, are mailed by Standard US Postal delivery unless you include a prepaid envelope for expedited shipping with your application.
Processing Time |
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3-5 business days |
Rush Processing Time |
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2-3 business days |
Authorization
The person on record can request a certified copy of their birth certificate for themselves or their family. If you request a birth record on someone else's behalf, review the eligibility requirements, as births that occurred under 125 years ago are confidential and may only be issued to authorized individuals per Florida Statute Chapter 119 (Public Record Law).
The FL DOH-BVS lists individuals who can request a birth certificate, as shown below.
If your relationship to the individual on record does not qualify you as an eligible individual, you can still request the record, but you must also submit an Affidavit to Release a Birth Certificate, notarized and signed by the record-holder or an eligible individual.
The Florida Health Department does not require authorized applicants to prove their identity with a notarized application. However, some scenarios requiring a notary with your application may include:
Tracking
After you submit your birth certificate application through VRO, you can track your order status through the support portal. While the FL DOH-BVS delivers birth certificates by USPS first-class mail, they are not responsible for lost or misdirected certificates.
If you mail your application manually to the FL DOH-BVS, purchase first-class mail tracking to confirm its arrival at their office.
State VR Office Tracking
All orders are mailed Standard US Postal delivery unless a special prepaid express delivery envelope is provided.
VRO Tracking
VRO provides First-Class Mail Tracking with every online order.
Rush Processing is available as an Add-On for same-day Verification and Dispatching of your Application.
frequently asked questions
Individuals born on an overseas military base are not considered to have been born in Florida; therefore, there is no birth certificate on record with the state of Florida.
If you were born overseas on a U.S. military base and your parents were U.S. citizens, 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).
A consular report is different from a birth certificate. It serves as proof of U.S. citizenship for individuals born abroad to U.S. citizen parents who meet the requirements under the Immigration and Nationality Act. This document is equivalent to a U.S. birth certificate and is recognized as valid proof of birth and citizenship. It can be used to obtain a passport or apply for social services.
If you need additional copies, you can contact the hospital where the birth occurred to request a copy of the birth certificate or order copies from the Department of State. Learn more about CRBA.
A Florida 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
A government-issued birth certificate includes specific features to show the FL DOH-BVS issued it. Its appearance may vary depending on the year it was issued, with counties using unique colors and layouts based on FL DOH-BVS guidelines.
A long-form (official) birth certificate is legally valid, while a short-form (informational) copy is typically for informational use only. Official birth certificates generally include 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.
If you lose your birth certificate:
1. Submit an application for a certified replacement copy in person, by mail, or online through VRO. You must complete the application, gather the required identification and documents, and pay the fees determined by the FL DOH-BVS.
a. For in-person applications: Present the completed, notarized application and required documents to a county health department during hours of operation.
b. For applying by mail: Send your application, documents, and a check or money order for the replacement fee to the FL DOH-BVS. at:
Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics
PO Box 210, 1217 Pearl Street, Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042
c. For online submissions: Complete the application and upload your documents through the VRO website (payable by credit card online).
2. The FL DOH-BVS. will mail the certified copy(s) after processing.
If there are errors on your Florida birth certificate, you can request a correction or amendment from the FL DOH-BVS. Corrections are added as amendments, and the original document cannot be altered. The requirements for requesting the changes depend on the information being amended.
You may need to provide supporting documents to confirm the changes. Still, requests to correct or amend a Florida birth certificate often do not require supporting documentation if the changes are within the timeframes and guidelines given by the FL DOH-BVS.
Typically, to amend, you will need:
Some of the corrections requiring documentary evidence include:
For the complete list of corrections requiring documentation, visit DOH’s Instructions on Form DH 660 for amending a live birth.
Acceptable documents of proof for an amended birth record include:
Visit Florida’s Amendments and Corrections page for the complete list and more details.
You can order an apostille directly through the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations, or online through VRO’s Express Apostille Service. Apostilles are often required when filing a Florida birth certificate with a foreign government as part of the 1961 Hague Convention.
If you already possess a certified copy of your Florida birth certificate, you can forward it to the Florida Department of State for an Apostille/Notarial Certificate.
Manual Apostille/Notarial Requests
For manual Apostille/Notarial requests, you need to submit the following documents:
Simultaneous Requests for a Birth Certificate Replacement and Apostille/Notarial Certificate
If you need to obtain a certified birth certificate and an Apostille/Notarial Certificate at the same time, follow this two-step process:
Complete Form DH 726A and pay the required fees to obtain a certified copy of your Florida birth certificate from the Florida Department of Health – Bureau of Vital Statistics (FDOH-BVS):
Once you receive your certified birth certificate, manually forward it with the following documents by mail to the Florida Department of State’s Division of Corporations or submit it in person at their office:
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:
Mailing address
Walk-in or Express Mail and Courier Delivery: