Get your certified Maine Birth Certificate

A certified copy of a Maine birth certificate costs $15 for the first copy and $6 for each additional copy ordered at the same time from the Maine CDC Office of Vital Records. Expedited processing and shipping are available for additional fees.

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Yes, you can order a Maine birth certificate online through an approved service provider. You can also apply by mail or in person at the Maine CDC Office of Vital Records in Augusta or at your local municipal clerk office.

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In Maine, eligible requesters include the person named on the certificate, a parent, a legal guardian, a spouse, an adult child, or a legal representative. If you need someone else to request the certificate on your behalf, they may use a notarized Power of Attorney (PoA) or a signed affidavit from the authorized applicant.

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Maine birth certificates are not public records. Access is restricted to eligible individuals as defined by Maine law. The Office of Vital Records requires proof of identity and eligibility before issuing certified copies to protect personal information.

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An officially certified birth certificate will have distinct features to indicate the Maine DHHS-DRVS 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 is usually not. The Maine DHHS-DRVS 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.

For an overview of how birth certificates work across all 50 states, including types, fees, and processing times, see our birth certificate guide.

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 DHHS-DRVS.

a For in-person applications: Present the completed application and required documents to your nearest vital records-issuing 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 DHHS-DRVS at:

Maine CDC 220

Capitol Street,11 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0011

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

2. DHHS-DRVS will mail the certified copy(s) after processing.

Replace yours — order a Maine birth certificate replacement online.

Any changes to a Maine vital record such as a correction or amendment to an item on a vital record, a legal name change, gender change, or adding a parent, requires an appointment. Please call (207) 287-3771 to make an appointment.��When a vital record is to be changed, an amendment is required, and various forms are needed depending on the information that will be amended.

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

1. A personal notarized affidavit: An Application to Correct a Vital Record in Maine completed by a parent, grandparent, older sibling, or legal guardian who has first-hand knowledge of the registrant’s birth.
2. Provide supporting documentation which includes:
   • Birth, death, marriage records, and marriage intentions.
   • Passport.
   • Medical records or immunization records.
   • Records of employment, education, census, selective service, or military service.
   • Voter registration applications.
   • Vehicle registrations, hunting or fishing licenses.
   • SSA statements.
   • Income taxes.
   • Insurance records.
   • Housing/rental agreements.
   • Court orders and/or divorce records.
   • Ceremonial certificate from the church and/or baptismal record.
   • Other documents approved by the State Registrar.
3. Appropriate fee(s): The fee for correcting or amending a vital record after 90 days of filing is $60.00. A certified copy of the corrected record is $15.00.

An apostille is often required when a vital record is to be submitted to a foreign government. The apostille for Maine birth certificates can be obtained through either the Secretary of State Division of Corporations, UCC and Commissions, or Vital Records Online (VRO).
To manually request an apostille, you will have to provide the following information:

1. Completed application form.
2. Document to be authenticated.
3. Payment of $10.00 per document.
4. Submit your request to the Secretary of State Division of Corporations, UCC, and Commissions at the following addresses:

For walk-in appointments or Express Courier (UPS, DHL, FedEx)

Secretary of State
Division of Corporations, UCC and Commissions,

6 E. Chestnut Street,
5th Floor
Augusta, ME 04333

For Standard Mail:

Secretary of State
Division of Corporations, UCC and Commissions,

101 State House Station,
Augusta, ME 04333-0101

A long-form birth certificate (also called the "full" or "certified" copy) is a complete reproduction of the original Maine birth record. It includes your full legal name, date and place of birth, parents' names, birthplaces, and occupations, the attending physician or midwife, and the file date and registration number. This is the version you'll need for passports, REAL ID, Social Security, adoption, immigration, dual citizenship, and most legal purposes.

A short-form birth certificate (sometimes called a "certification" or "abstract") is a condensed version that shows only your name, date of birth, place of birth, and sex. It does not include parents' information. The short form is accepted for many everyday purposes, like enrolling in school, applying for a driver's license, or joining sports leagues, but it is not always accepted for federal documents or international travel.

When you order a Maine birth certificate through VitalRecordsOnline, you receive the long-form version by default, since it is the most widely accepted. If you're unsure which version you need, check with the agency requesting the document.

Need a certified copy? Order your Maine birth certificate online.

Processing times for a Maine birth certificate depend on how you order and which delivery speed you choose. Standard government processing through the Maine vital records office generally takes 4 to 12 weeks by mail. In-person requests at the state office or authorized county location are often completed the same day or within a few business days.

When you order online through VitalRecordsOnline, we review your application within 24 hours to catch errors before submission, then forward it to the issuing authority. Most customers receive their certified Maine birth certificate in 2 to 3 weeks with standard shipping. Expedited processing and rush shipping options are available at checkout for urgent needs like passport applications or upcoming travel.

If the issuing office returns your request because of missing information, our team contacts you immediately so the correction can be made without starting over. You can track your order status at any time through your account.

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If you were born in Portland or anywhere in Maine, birth certificates are managed at the municipal level by the town or city clerk where the birth occurred. Maine is unique in that vital records are primarily maintained locally rather than at the state level.

Portland City Clerk's Office:

Visit the Portland City Clerk at 389 Congress Street, Room 204, Portland, ME 04101. Walk-in requests are accepted during business hours, and you may be able to receive your certified copy the same day.

Portland residents commonly need birth certificates for Real ID applications at the Maine BMV, school enrollment, and passport processing.

For the fastest option, order your Maine birth certificate online and skip the trip to city hall.

Same-day birth certificate service in Maine is generally available at the town or city clerk's office where the birth was registered. Since Maine keeps vital records at the municipal level, you'll need to visit the clerk in the town where you were born.

What to Bring:

A valid government-issued photo ID and the filing fee. Maine law restricts access to birth certificates — only the registrant, parents, legal guardians, and certain other authorized individuals may obtain a certified copy.

Important Notes:

Same-day availability depends on the specific town clerk's hours and staffing. Larger cities like Portland, Lewiston, and Bangor typically have regular business hours. Smaller towns may have limited clerk hours. The Maine CDC Office of Vital Records in Augusta also processes requests but primarily by mail.

Skip the trip — order your Maine birth certificate online for convenient delivery.

Bangor residents can obtain birth certificates from the Bangor City Clerk's office at 73 Harlow Street, Bangor, ME 04401. This office handles birth certificates for births that occurred in Bangor.

For births in other Maine towns, you'll need to contact the clerk in the municipality where the birth took place, or order through the Maine CDC Office of Vital Records in Augusta.

Bangor is eastern Maine's largest city and a gateway to Acadia National Park. Residents frequently need birth certificates for Real ID applications and military-related purposes at the former Bangor Air National Guard Base.

The simplest option is to order your Maine birth certificate online through our secure service.