Get your certified New Jersey Birth Certificate

Order your government-issued New Jersey birth certificate from home.
Start your application now.

Order New Jersey Birth Certificate

Trusted by +1.5 million customers

New Jersey Birth Certificate Offices Map
New Jersey Birth Certificate

Order with confidence

New Jersey Birth Certificates

Learn how to obtain a New Jersey birth certificate from the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH). The current processing time is 8 to 12 weeks for online orders and 12 to 14 weeks for mail-in orders, with a fee of $25.00 for birth certificate replacements and $2.00 for each additional copy in the same order. Authorized individuals, including the person on record, family members, and legal representatives, can order certified copies of birth records.

How to Order State of New Jersey Birth Certificates

You can now order New Jersey birth certificates through VRO’s online filing service. VRO offers a secure and simple way to order birth certificates. We handle the entire application process, ensuring accuracy and ease. Your application is securely delivered to the New Jersey Department of Health Office (NJDOH) Office of Vital Statistics and Registry (OVRS) for processing, allowing them to issue and mail your birth certificate to you. You can place the order yourself in person or by mail through the NJDOH OVRS by following the specific steps and meeting certain requirements. Before starting the application and placing your order, review the costs, eligibility, requirements, and processing times.


Person ordering a birth certificate with a phone using VRO

Ordering with VRO

Requesting a New Jersey birth certificate through our online filing service is quick and easy.

  1. Complete the online application and upload your documents.
  2. Process your order.

Starting from

$29+ state fees

Benefits of Ordering Online with VRO

  • 5 minutes process
  • No waiting in lines
  • No handling paperwork or mail
  • Simplified application process
  • 24 hour service
  • Online assistance by specialists
  • Verification and error-checking
  • Order tracking
  • Online notary
  • Pay online by credit card
  • Remote processing time

Get Started Online


required documents

What Documents Are Required to Order a State of New Jersey Birth Certificate?

Applicants must provide proof of identity to the New Jersey Department of Health when requesting certified copies of birth records—a government-issued ID such as a U.S. state-issued driver’s license or U.S. passport. The table below displays the information and documents required to order a birth certificate in New Jersey.


Primary ID Requirements Options

Secondary ID Requirements Options

Driver's License
Non-Driver Photo ID

Vehicle Registration
Auto Insurance
Voter Registration Card
Passport
Permanent Resident Card
Immigrant Visa
Federal ID
State ID
County ID
Utility Bill
Bank Statement
W-2 Form
College ID

How to Get a New Jersey Birth Certificate Without ID?

If you do not have a primary ID, you can still obtain a New Jersey birth certificate by providing two secondary forms of identification, such as a utility bill, bank statement, or rental agreement. At least one of the IDs must show your current address. Alternatively, authorized third parties, such as family members or legal representatives, can request the birth certificate on your behalf, provided they have the necessary documentation and proof of their relationship with you.

Cost & fees

What Are the Costs and Fees Associated with Replacing a Birth Certificate in New Jersey?

The total cost for replacing New Jersey birth certificates varies by your application method. The fee for a certified copy from the NJ OVSR is $25.00, and each additional copy costs $2.00, whether you apply in person, by mail, or online. The NJ vital records online platform costs an additional processing fee of $22.00 ($5.00 verification fee, $5.00 online processing fee, and $12.00 UPS expedited shipping fee for faster service). Fees may differ by municipality if you visit a local vital records office. When using VRO's online filing service, the fee starts at $29.00, plus state fees. VRO provides a secure online solution for ordering birth certificates.


State Fee

$25.00


Rush Processing

Not offered


Additional Copy

1 x $2.00

Processing time

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

The NJDOH’s current processing time for birth certificate applications by mail is approximately 12 to 14 weeks. The total waiting time will also depend on how you submit your application and the necessary documents. Expedited mail-in processing is available for $6.00 plus shipping costs (if using express) through NJDOH’s website. To avoid delays, we recommend using VRO’s easy online service, which helps prevent incomplete submissions and errors.

Processing Time

12 to 14 weeks

Rush Processing Time

Not offered




Authorization

Who is Authorized to Order a New Jersey Birth Certificate?

The person on record or authorized third parties can order certified copies of New Jersey birth certificates by providing a valid ID with their application. If you are ordering on behalf of the person on record, confirm that you are an eligible individual. You may be required to submit additional documentation to verify your relationship with the person on record. All applicants must provide proof of their identity when making the request.


Authorized People


  • Children
  • Government Agency
  • Grandchildren
  • Legal Guardian
  • Legal Representative
  • Other Person by Court Order
  • Parents
  • Person on Record
  • Siblings
  • Spouse

Do I Need to Notarize My Application?

The NJDOH generally does not need to notarize your New Jersey birth certificate application. However, if you are applying by mail and requesting your certificate be sent to an address other than the one listed on your ID, you must provide a notarized letter with a written request to mail the certificate to the alternative address.

Tracking

How to Track the Status of Your Birth Certificate Replacement

When you place a request through VRO, you can track the status of your application online while we handle it. VRO verifies your documents before forwarding them to NJDOH – Office of Vital Statistics and Registry for further processing. Additionally, you can request mail tracking with VRO to monitor your application's arrival at the health department for further confirmation.

If you manually mail your birth certificate request, purchasing first-class mail with tracking is recommended to know when your application is delivered to the NJDOH.

NJDOH does not directly provide mail tracking for delivering your vital records certificates to your address. Once the state sends the records, they are not responsible for lost or misdirected certificates.

frequently asked questions

Other FAQs


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

    arrow down

    If you were born overseas on a U.S. military base, no birth certificate is on record with the state of New Jersey. Your birth would have been recorded with the U.S. Department of State. In this case, you must request a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA), also known as form FS-240, from the U.S. Department of State. The CRBA serves as evidence of U.S. citizenship, is equivalent to a U.S. birth certificate, and is legally accepted for various purposes, such as proving your birth and citizenship, applying for a passport, legal proceedings, or accessing social services.

    If you are looking for copies of an original birth certificate, contact the hospital where you were born.

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

    arrow down

    Birth certificates are essential for proving identity and citizenship and are legally recognized by government and commercial organizations. They contain crucial information such as your legal name, place and date of birth, and parents' names. In addition, they are often necessary for legal matters, family affairs, school 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 a New Jersey Birth Certificate Look Like?

    arrow down

    Official New Jersey birth certificates will display specific features to prove authenticity, according to rules outlined by the state for their design. The appearance may vary depending on the year they were issued. However, they will always contain standard information, such as the state seal, the individual's name, and the registrar's signature, and are printed on secure paper the individual's identity and citizenship.

    Note that there are two types of copies: official (long-form) copies used for legal purposes and informational (short-form) copies used for personal or commemorative purposes.

    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.


    Certificate of Live Birth State of New Jersey
  • How to Replace a Lost or Stolen New Jersey Birth Certificate

    arrow down

    If you lose your birth certificate:

    1.Apply a certified replacement copy application 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 NJDOH.

    a For in-person applications: Present the completed application and required documents to the state health department or a local office that offers the record you need.

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

    New Jersey Department of Health
    Vital Statistics and Registry

    P.O. Box 370
    Trenton, NJ 08625-0370

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

    2. The NJDOH will mail the certified copy(s) after processing.

  • How to Correct or Amend a New Jersey Birth Certificate

    arrow down

    The process for correcting or amending a New Jersey birth certificate varies depending on the specific changes needed. Typically, an addendum is created to correct or change the birth certificate while the original record remains unaltered. Each type of amendment has different requirements set by the NJDOH Vital Statistics and Registry.

    Reasons to correct or amend a NJ birth certificate include: changing a legal name, correcting a last name on a birth certificate, correcting a first or middle name on a birth certificate, updating the birth record for a child with unmarried parents, updating the birth record if biological parents marry after the child's birth, updating the birth record for a child born out of wedlock when the mother marries someone else, changing gender identity.

    Typically, amendments to birth certificates will require:

    1. A completed Amendment Application Form REG-15
    2. Supporting documentation includes valid proof of identity (photo ID) and proof you are an eligible requestor.
    3. Appropriate fee(s): The cost for the search and the resulting record is $25.00; additional copies of the same record ordered simultaneously are $2.00 each. Make check or money order payable to “Treasurer, State of NJ.” Do not mail cash.
    4. Mail the completed submission to:
      New Jersey Department of Health Vital Statistics and Registry Attention: Vital Record Modifications Unit P.O. Box 370 Trenton, NJ 08625-0370

    Once an amendment is completed, the New Jersey Office of Vital Statistics and Registry will not replace previously issued copies. For questions regarding the amendment application form, contact the NJDOH records office at [email protected] or by telephone at 609-292-4087.

  • How to Obtain an Apostille for a New Jersey Birth Certificate

    arrow down

    You can order directly through the New Jersey Secretary of State or online through VRO's Express Apostille Service to obtain an apostille for a New Jersey birth certificate. The Secretary of State exclusively issues apostilles for New Jersey birth certificates for submission to a foreign government by the 1961 Hague Convention.

    If you are manually submitting a request for an apostille, complete the following steps:

    1. Obtain a Certified Birth Certificate: Request a certified copy of your birth certificate from the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) or through an authorized provider like VRO. This document must be certified within the last 6 months.
    2. Complete the Request Form: Fill out the Apostille/Certificate of Authenticity Request Form.
    3. Gather Required Documents: Ensure you have a certified copy of the birth certificate and any additional documents required for the apostille process.
    4. Make Payment: Prepare the appropriate fee of $25.00 per certificate ($5.00 per certificate for adoptions) for the apostille service. You can pay by a check or money order made payable to the "Treasurer, State of New Jersey."
    5. Submit Your Request. Submit the completed form, documents, and payment to the following addresses:

    By Mail:

    In Person: