Get your certified Illinois Birth Certificate

How to Get an Illinois Birth Certificate Without ID

The Illinois Department of Public Health’s Division of Vital Records IDPH-DVR requires all applicants to verify their identity with a valid, government-issued photo ID. This can be a driver’s license, a state-issued photo ID, or a passport. You may submit your ID with an additional secondary form if it is less than six months old. If your ID expired more than six months ago or you do not have it, you must submit two secondary forms of identification, one of which must show your current address.

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

Processing times for birth certificates can vary. The IDPH’s current estimated processing time is shown in the table below. You can opt for online notarization with VRO during checkout if a notary is required. Otherwise, account for additional time to visit a local notary.

Do I Need to Notarize My Application?

If you request an Illinois-certified birth record on behalf of someone else, you may be required to get a notarized statement of permission to prove you are authorized.

Other FAQs

• How to Obtain an Illinois Birth Certificate if Born on an Overseas Military Base

  

  Individuals born on an overseas military base are not considered to have been born in Illinois; therefore, there is no birth certificate on record with the state of Illinois. If you were born overseas on a US military base and your parents were US citizens, your birth should be recorded with the US Department of State. You must contact the US Department of State to request a copy of your Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA of form FS-240).

  Note that this is not a birth certificate; it is evidence of US citizenship for individuals born abroad to US citizen parents who meet the requirements for transmitting citizenship under the Immigration and Nationality Act. This document is equivalent to having a US birth certificate. This document is recognized in the US 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 Illinois Birth Certificate?

  

  An Illinois birth certificate is a vital document in various aspects of our lives. It is an official record of an individual's birth, affirming their legal name, date of birth, place of birth, and parents' names. This document is widely acknowledged and endorsed by both government and private organizations. It is a foundation for proving identity and citizenship and is indispensable for life's most meaningful events, including legal matters, family affairs, academic enrollment, 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 an Illinois Birth Certificate Look Like?

  

  An official Illinois birth certificate will have distinct features to indicate the IDPH issues it. The appearance of an official birth certificate may differ depending on the year it was issued. It often includes key information to verify a person's identity and the legitimacy of their citizenship at birth. A long-form (official) birth certificate is used legally, whereas a short-form (informational) copy is usually not. The IDPH 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 Illinois Birth Certificate

  

  If you lose your birth certificate:

  1. Submit a certified replacement application 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 IDPH.
  2. 1. For in-person applications: Present the completed application and required documents to the vital records-issuing agency in the county where the birth occurred.
     2. For applying by mail: Send your application, documents, and a check or money order for the replacement fee to the IDPH at:
        
        IDPH Vital Records
        925 E. Ridgely Avenue Springfield, IL 62702-2737
        
     3. For online submissions: Complete the application and upload your documents through the VRO website (payable by credit card online).
        
  2. The IDPH will mail the certified copy(s) after processing.

• How to Correct or Amend an Illinois Birth Certificate

  

  The IDPH: Division of Vital Records’ process for correcting or amending an individual’s birth certificate is straightforward. The forms required depend on the information that needs to be amended. When a birth record is changed, an amendment is necessary. Supplemental changes become addendums to the original vital record; however, it is impossible to alter the original document. In accordance with Senate Bill 180, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment can no longer process gender identity amendments on birth certificates.

  
  To correct or amend a birth record, you will need:

  1. A completed amendment application;
  2. Supporting documentation;
  3. Appropriate fee(s);
  4. A notarized affidavit completed by an authorized person.

  Learn more about correcting or amending birth certificates.

• How to Obtain an Apostille for an Illinois Birth Certificate

  

  An apostille is typically needed when filing a birth certificate with a foreign government. Apostilles are issued for birth certificates initially filed with the Division of Vital Records. Apostilles for Illinois birth records can be obtained online through Vital Records Online or the Secretary of State Index Department.
  
  If you are manually sending your certificates to the Secretary of State Index Department, you will need to submit the following documents:
  

  1. Your certified copy of your vital records certificate.
  2. A completed Application for Authentication or Apostille stating in which country the certificate will be used.
  3. A payment of $2.00 per document can be either a check or money order made payable to the Secretary of State.
  4. A self-addressed, stamped return envelope – if you use prepaid Express Mail, Priority Mail, FedEx, UPS, or Airborne Express, you must include a prepaid bill receipt and pre-printed shipping label from that carrier.

  For Express or standard courier:
  Illinois Secretary of State, Index Department

  17 N. State St., Ste 1010, Chicago, IL 60602

  
  For in-person, walk-in service:
  Secretary of State, Index Department

  111 E. Monroe, Springfield, IL 62756