Get your certified Michigan Birth Certificate

A certified copy of a Michigan birth certificate costs $34 when ordered through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). Additional copies of the same record ordered at the same time are $16 each. Processing typically takes 5–7 business days, with expedited options available for an additional fee.

Yes. You can request a Michigan birth certificate online through the MDHHS Vital Records portal or through an authorized third-party service. You will need to provide valid identification, the full name on the certificate, date of birth, and parents’ names. Online orders are typically processed within 5–7 business days.

Ordering online is especially useful when you need your birth certificate to apply for other official documents — for example, a REAL ID driver's license, a replacement Social Security card, or a U.S. passport. For definitions of unfamiliar terms on your certificate, see our vital records glossary.

Michigan allows eligible individuals such as a parent, legal guardian, heir, or legal representative to request a birth certificate on someone else’s behalf. If you are not the registrant, you may need to provide a notarized affidavit or sworn statement confirming your relationship and purpose. A Power of Attorney (PoA) document is also accepted as proof of legal authority to request the record.

An officially certified birth certificate from the MDHHS-DVRHS will have unique features to show its authenticity. The appearance of an official birth certificate can vary depending on the year of issue, and it will contain essential details to confirm a person's identity and citizenship at birth. A long-form (official) birth certificate is used for legal purposes and differs from a short-form (informational) copy. The MDHHS-DVRHS has specific guidelines for counties, which may include distinct colors and layouts. Overall, official birth certificates commonly feature the state seal, the individual's name, the signature of the registrar, and are printed on secure paper.

• 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 will need to complete the application, gather the required identification and documents, and pay the fees determined by the MDHHS-DVRHS.

a For in-person applications: Present the completed application and required documents to a county health department. Be sure to confirm if the MDHHS-DVRHS accepts walk-ins, or requires an appointment before visting their location.

b. For applying by mail: Send your application, documents and a check or money order for the replacement fee to the MDHHS-DVRHS at:

Vital Records Requests

P.O. Box 30721 Lansing MI 48909

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

2. MDHHS-DVRHS will mail the certified copy(s) after processing.

The amendment process can differ based on the type of changes to be made. When a birth certificate needs correction, an addendum is created since the original record must remain unaltered.

Typically, amendments to birth certificates will require:

1. A completed amendment application: An Application to Correct or Change a Michigan Birth Record
2. Supporting documentation: Documentation varies by changes requested. See the Frequently Asked Questions on how to Correct or Change a Michigan Birth Certificate. In general, MDHHS requires at least two (2) dated documents proving the correct information.
3. Appropriate fee(s): $50.00 application fee, and $16.00 for each additional certified copy of the amended birth certificate. Rush processing is available for an extra fee of $25.00.

You can order an apostille directly through the Michigan Department of State or online through VRO’s Express Apostille Service. Apostilles are issued by the Secretary of State and are often required when filing a birth certificate with a foreign government that is part of the 1961 Hague Convention.

If you are manually submitting a request for an apostille to the Secretary of State, you will need to provide the following items:

1. Authentication request form
2. Your birth certificate
3. Self-addressed, stamped envelope or pre-paid air bill
4. Check or money order for $1.00 per document, payable to the State of Michigan

Submit your request to the Department of State at the following addresses:

For simultaneous requests complete the appropriate form from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and follow the instructions.

Simultaneous Birth / Apostille Request Form

A long-form birth certificate (also called the "full" or "certified" copy) is a complete reproduction of the original Michigan 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 Michigan 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.

Processing times for a Michigan birth certificate depend on how you order and which delivery speed you choose. Standard government processing through the Michigan 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 Michigan 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.

Yes. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) offers a discounted fee of $14 for Michigan residents age 65 or older who are requesting their own birth record. This senior-citizen discount is one of the most generous in the country — in most other states, seniors pay the full fee.

To qualify, you must provide a valid government-issued ID showing your date of birth, and the record must be your own (not a relative's). Additional copies of the same record requested at the same time are $16 each.

Yes. In Michigan, certified copies of birth certificates can also be ordered from the County Clerk's office in the county where the birth was recorded. This is a state-approved alternative to ordering from MDHHS in Lansing.

Wayne County (Detroit), Oakland County, Kent County (Grand Rapids), Macomb County, Washtenaw County (Ann Arbor), Ingham County (Lansing), and Genesee County (Flint) are among the major county clerk offices that issue certified Michigan birth certificates. Fees, accepted ID, and processing times vary by county, so check your local clerk's website before applying.

Yes. Michigan birth certificates are issued at the state level by MDHHS in Lansing, so the same certificate is available regardless of which Michigan city you were born in — including Detroit, Grand Rapids, Warren, Lansing, Sterling Heights, Ann Arbor, Flint, Dearborn, Livonia, and Troy. Births that occurred in these cities are all recorded in the state vital records database.

For faster in-person service, residents of Wayne County (Detroit), Kent County (Grand Rapids), Oakland County, Washtenaw County (Ann Arbor), or Ingham County (Lansing) may also request the certificate through their local County Clerk's office.

No, Michigan birth certificates are not public records. Under Michigan law, birth records are kept confidential for 100 years from the date of birth — one of the longest confidentiality periods in the United States, tied with California.

During that 100-year window, only the person named on the record, immediate family members, or someone with a documented tangible interest in the record may request a certified copy. After 100 years, the record becomes a public record and may be requested by anyone for genealogy and historical research.