Get your certified New York Birth Certificate

How to Get a New York Birth Certificate Without ID

If you do not have a primary ID, you may still be able to obtain a New York birth certificate by providing two secondary forms of identification as outlined by the New York State Department of Health. Acceptable secondary forms of documentation can include a letter from a government agency or a utility bill. Both documents must show your name and address.

Alternatively, a parent listed on the record can request a birth certificate on your behalf if they provide proof of identity.

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

The total time it takes to receive a New York birth certificate replacement varies depending on how you apply and the current wait times set by the New York State Department of Health. Standard processing takes 10-12 weeks.

Do I Need to Notarize My Application?

Generally, a notarized application for New York birth certificate replacements is unnecessary. However, if you are requesting that the certificate be sent to a P.O. Box or to a third party, you must provide a notarized, signed statement and a copy of your drivers license.

Other FAQs

• How to Obtain a New York if Born on an Overseas Military Base

  

  If you were born overseas on a US military base, your birth would have been recorded by the US Department of State; therefore, you do not have a birth on record with the state of New York. You can request a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA or form FS-240) from the US Department of State. The CRBA serves as evidence of US citizenship and is equivalent to a US birth certificate as proof of identity and US citizenship. It provides essential documentation for various purposes, such as passport applications and access to social services.

  If you need original birth certificate copies and your birth was initially recorded in another country, you must contact the hospital where the birth was initially recorded.

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

  

  Certified birth certificates prove identity and citizenship and are accepted by government and commercial entities. They contain your legal name, place, birth date, and parents' names. In addition, certified birth certificates are often required for legal proceedings, family matters, 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 York Birth Certificate Look Like?

  

  New York birth certificates may have different designs and layouts depending on the year they were issued. The NYSDOH guidelines determine that certified copies will always include features such as the state seal, the individual's name, and the registrar's signature and are printed on secure paper. Official (long-form) copies are accepted for legal purposes, while informational (short-form) copies are generally for personal, commemorative reasons.

  • 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 New York 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 NYSDOH BVR.
     a. For in-person applications: Present the completed application and required documents to a City Clerk office. The NYSDOH does not accept walk-ins at their location.
     b. For applying by mail: Send your application, documents and a check or money order for the replacement fee to the NYSDOH at:
     New York State Department of Health, Vital Records Certification Unit
     P.O. Box 2602, Albany, NY 12220-2602
     c. For online submissions: Complete the application and upload your documents through the VRO website (payable by credit card online).
  2. The NYSDOH will mail the certified copy(s) after processing.

• How to Correct or Amend a New York Birth Certificate

  

  The process of correcting or amending New York birth certificates varies depending on what changes are required. An addendum will be created to correct or change the birth certificate while the original record remains unaltered.

  Typically, amendments to birth certificates will require:

  1. A completed amendment application,
  2. Supporting documentation,
  3. Appropriate fee(s)

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

  

  If you need an apostille, you can order one directly through the New York Secretary of State or online via VRO's Express Apostille Service. Apostilles are issued by the New York Secretary of State and are often required when submitting a birth certificate to a foreign government as part of the 1961 Hague Convention.

  To manually submit a request for an apostille, complete the following steps:

  1. Obtain a certified copy of the birth certificate from the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH).
  2. Complete the Apostille/Certificate of Authentication Request Form available on the New York Department of State website.
  3. Prepare the required documents including the certified birth certificate and the completed request form.
  4. Issue a check or money order for $10.00 per document, issued to the New York Department of State.
  5. Submit the application and documents to the New York Department of State by mail (prepaid envelope for express delivery is optional), or submit in-person to the following addresses:

  In-Person Submission:

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Mail Submission:

  
  

  Express Courier Mail: