Get your certified Massachusetts Birth Certificate

How to Get a Massachusetts Birth Certificate Without ID

If you cannot provide a government-issued photo ID, you may submit two secondary forms of identification. Refer to the table above for accepted forms of secondary ID.

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

The current processing and replacement times for Massachusetts birth certificates is within 2 to 3 weeks, however times may vary. Rush processing time is 7 to 10 days. 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 Massachusetts Application?

The Massachusetts DPH-RVRS does not require applicants to obtain notarized applications when requesting certified copies of their birth certificates, regardless of whether the request is ordered online, by mail, by telephone, or in person.

Other FAQs

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

  

  Individuals born on an overseas military base are not considered to have been born in Massachusetts. Therefore, there is no birth certificate on record in Massachusetts. 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 of 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 Massachusetts Birth Certificate?

  

  Certified copies of birth certificates are essential official documents that serve various legal and official purposes. Primarily, they are used to establish one's identity. These documents are required for a range of uses, from obtaining a driver's license or a passport to enrolling in school or applying for government benefits. Certified birth certificates also serve as proof of age, citizenship, and parentage, which is sometimes necessary for job applications and applying for a marriage license. Furthermore, they are often required for conducting genealogical research or settling an estate after someone's death. They are an authoritative source of factual information about an individual's birth, recognized and accepted by all government and commercial entities.
  
  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 Massachusetts Birth Certificate Look Like?

  

  An officially certified birth certificate will have distinct features to indicate the DPH-RVRS 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 usually is not. The DPH-RVRS 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 Massachusetts Birth Certificate

  

  If you lose your birth certificate:
  1 Promptly report it to the police and request a replacement copy. A birth certificate can be used for identity fraud if it falls into the wrong hands.

  2.Submit a certified replacement copy in person, by mail, or online through VRO. Complete the application, gather the required identification and documents, and pay the fees determined by the DPH-RVRS.

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

  Registry of Vital Records and Statistics

  150 Mount Vernon St.
  1st Floor Dorchester,
  MA 02125-3105
  

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

  3. ADHS-BVR will mail the certified copy(s) after processing.

• How to Correct or Amend a Massachusetts Birth Certificate

  

  The Massachusetts DPH-RVRS provides a straightforward process for correcting or amending birth certificates. Massachusetts DPH requires you to show evidence that the information was incorrect at or near the time of the event.

  Correcting or amending birth records will generally require the following:

  1. A completed amendment application: Request the form from the city or town clerk where the event took place.
  2. Supporting documentation: Request the information you need regarding the evidence and paperwork required to have that vital record amended from the clerk’s office.
  3. Appropriate fee(s): There is a one-time amendment fee of $50.00. A certified copy of the amended birth certificate is an additional $32.00 (if requesting by mail) or $20.00 per copy for in-person orders.

• How to Obtain an Apostille for a Massachusetts Birth Certificate

  

  You can order an apostille directly through the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth or online through VRO’s Apostille Express Service. The Secretary of the Commonwealth issues Apostilles, which are often required when filing a birth certificate with a foreign government that is part of the 1961 Hague Convention.

  If you manually submit a request to obtain an apostille for your birth certificate, you will need to provide the following information:

  1. Completed Authentication Submittal Form.
  2. Certified birth certificate copy.
  3. A fee of $6.00 per document, checks/money order only, made payable to the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
  4. Self-addressed, stamped envelope or prepaid express shipping label and envelope (not necessary if picking up in person).
  5. Submit the apostille application by mail or hand-deliver requests for birth certificate apostilles to the Secretary of the Commonwealth at one of the following addresses: