Get your certified Michigan Birth Certificate

How to Get a Michigan Birth Certificate Without ID?

If you do not have a valid, government-issued ID, you can submit two to three secondary forms of identity accepted by the MDHHS. If your ID has expired within the past 5 years, you can combine it with an accepted secondary form of ID. Alternatively, you can provide three different forms of approved secondary identification shown in the table above. The MDHHS has also established several more combinations of approved identification, including options for students and incarcerated inmates. For a complete list, refer to the application form.

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

The current processing times for Michigan birth certificates may vary, but is generally 4 to 5 weeks plus shipping time. Rush orders take 2 to 3 weeks to process. To avoid delays, we recommend using VRO’s easy online service, which helps prevent incomplete submissions and errors. Refer to the table below for the current delivery and processing timelines.

Do I Need to Notarize My Application?

Notarized applications are not required when ordering a birth certificate from the MDHHS-DVRHS, regardless of how the request is made.

Other FAQs

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

  

  If you were born on a U.S. military base overseas and your parents were U.S. citizens at the time, your birth should be recorded with the U.S. Department of State. Since such births are not considered to have occurred in Michigan, there is no birth certificate on record with the state. To obtain a copy, you must contact the U.S. Department of State and request a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA, form FS-240).

  Although this document is not a birth certificate, it serves as evidence of U.S. citizenship for individuals born abroad to U.S. citizen parents who meet the Immigration and Nationality Act requirements. It is equivalent to a U.S. birth certificate and is recognized in the U.S. as proof of birth and citizenship, allowing you to obtain a passport and apply for social services. If you need additional copies, you can contact the hospital where the birth occurred to request a birth certificate or order them from the Department of State. Learn more about the CRBA for additional information.

• Why Do I Need Certified Copies of My Michigan Birth Certificate?

  

  Certified copies of birth certificates are official, legal documents that serve a variety of purposes. They establish identity and prove age, citizenship, and parentage, which can be necessary for things such as job applications or applying for a marriage license. They are also useful for personal reasons such as exploring family history.
  
  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 Michigan Birth Certificate Look Like?

  

  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.

• How to Replace a Lost or Stolen Michigan Birth Certificate

  

  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.

• How to Correct or Amend a Michigan Birth Certificate

  

  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.

• How to Obtain an Apostille for a Michigan Birth Certificate

  

  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