Get your certified Oregon Birth Certificate

If you were born on a U.S. military base overseas, your birth certificate would have been recorded with the U.S. Department of State instead of the state of Oregon. You must request a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA, form FS-240) from the U.S. Department of State. The CRBA is equivalent to a U.S. birth certificate and is evidence of U.S. citizenship. The CRBA can be used for legal purposes such as applying for a passport and accessing social services.

To obtain an original copy of your birth record, you must contact the hospital in the country where your birth occurred.

It is important to have certified copies of your Oregon birth certificate for various legal and official purposes. These copies provide proof of your legal name, place, date of birth, and parents' names. They are crucial for establishing identity and citizenship and are widely accepted by government and commercial entities. Additionally, they are necessary for legal proceedings, family matters, school enrollment, employment, travel, and more.

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

You may also need to order a Oregon death certificate through our secure online service.

Official birth certificates issued by the OHA-CHS contain specific features to ensure authenticity. Although their appearance can vary depending on the year of issue, official birth certificates consistently include essential details that verify an individual's identity and citizenship. State guidelines mandate basic features such as the state seal, the individual's name, the registrar's signature, and the use of secure paper to prevent unauthorized duplication.

Note that official (long-form) birth certificates are intended for legal purposes and differ from informational (short-form) certificates, typically used for personal or 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.

For answers to common questions about birth certificate types, replacement costs, and processing times, visit our birth certificate FAQ and resource page.

If you lose your birth certificate:

1. Apply for a certified replacement copy in person, by mail, or online through VRO. You must complete the application, gather the required identification and documents, and pay the fees determined by the Center for Health Statistics.
   a. For in-person applications: Present the completed application and the required documents to a county health department. The Oregon CHS only accepts walk-ins Monday through Friday, between 9 AM and 3 PM.
   b. For applying by mail: Send your application, documents, and a check or money order for the replacement fee to the CHS at:
   Oregon Health Authority
   Center for Health Statistics
   PO Box 14050 Portland, OR 97293-0050
   c. For online submissions: Complete the application and upload your documents through the VRO website (payable by credit card online).
2. The CHS will mail the certified copy(s) after processing.

The process for amending an Oregon birth certificate depends on the type of change needed and how recently it was filed. An addendum (supplement) is created to correct or alter the information on the birth certificate while keeping the original record unchanged. Note in-person assistance to change a record is not available.

Typically, amendments to birth certificates will require:

1. Birth Certificate Form: Include the full name of the registrant along with any amended names, and a signature of the applicant is required. Use the birth record order form to order short-form certificates for births after 2008 or for long-form certificates between 1903 and 2008.
2. Notarized Affidavit: A notarized Birth Correction Affidavit is typically required.
3. Amendment Fee: A $35.00 amendment fee may be applicable. Proof of payment or an order number showing that certificate fees have already been paid and the order is pending.
4. Supporting Documents: Original documents supporting the change may be required. A photocopy of the applicant’s ID is required.

If you need an apostille for an Oregon birth certificate, you can submit a request directly to the Oregon Secretary of State or use VRO's Express Apostille Service for the convenience of ordering online. An apostille, exclusively obtainable through the Oregon Secretary of State, is typically required when presenting a birth certificate to a foreign government affiliated with the 1961 Hague Convention.

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

1. Obtain a Certified Copy of the Birth Certificate: Request a certified copy from the Oregon Health Authority - Center for Health Statistics (CHS).
2. Complete the Apostille Request Form: Fill out the Apostille request form available on the Oregon Secretary of State's website.
3. Prepare Supporting Documents: Gather the documents, including a certified copy of your birth certificate and a self-addressed stamped or pre-paid return envelope if you prefer an overnight/express courier.
4. Obtain a Check or Money Order: Include a check or money order of $10.00 per document, payable to the Corporation Division, or complete the credit card authorization section to pay by credit card.
5. Submit the Request: Send the completed Apostille request form, supporting documents, and the required fee to the Oregon Secretary of State at the following address:

Mailing Address:

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

Not sure which you need? Order your Oregon birth certificate and get the right version.

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

Don't wait — start your Oregon birth certificate order today for faster processing.

Portland residents can order a Oregon birth certificate online through VitalRecordsOnline, by visiting the Oregon Health Authority in Portland, or by submitting a mail request.

In-person requests at the state vital records office are typically processed the same day during business hours. Online orders through VRO are reviewed within 24 hours and most customers receive their certified copy in 2 to 3 weeks.

You may also need to order a Oregon death certificate through our secure online service.

Same-day Oregon birth certificates are available for in-person requests at the Oregon Health Authority in Portland. Walk-in visitors can typically receive their certified copy within a few hours during regular business hours.

For those who cannot visit in person, ordering online through VitalRecordsOnline is the next fastest option. We review your application within 24 hours and most orders arrive within 2 to 3 weeks, with expedited shipping available at checkout.

Looking for a different document? Order a Oregon marriage certificate through our secure online service.

Eugene residents can obtain a Oregon birth certificate by ordering online through VitalRecordsOnline, or by submitting a request to the Oregon Health Authority.

Online ordering through VRO is the most convenient option, letting you complete the process from home with delivery by mail. Expedited processing is available for urgent needs.

Need another vital record? Get your Oregon divorce certificate through our secure online service.