Get your Certified Pennsylvania Birth Certificate

It is important to have certified copies of your Pennsylvania birth certificate for significant life events. Birth certificates help verify your identity and citizenship and include essential details such as your original name, birthplace, birth date, and parents' names. Birth certificates are widely recognized and are often mandated by government agencies and businesses for legal matters, family affairs, school enrollment, employment, and travel purposes.

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

Pennsylvania birth certificates feature distinct details that validate their authenticity. Although the appearance may vary depending on the year they were issued, they will display standard features set by the PaDOH guidelines, such as the state seal, the individual's name, the registrar's signature, and secure paper to prevent unauthorized duplication.

Official (long-form) birth certificates are intended explicitly for legal purposes and differ from informational short-form copies, generally used for commemorative or personal 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.

If you lose your birth certificate:

1. Promptly report it to the police and request a replacement copy. A birth certificate can be used for identity fraud if it falls into the wrong hands.
2. Submit an application 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 PaDOH.
   a. For in-person applications: Present the completed application and required documents to a Vital Records Office during hours of operation.
   b. For applying by mail: Send your application, documents, and a check or money order for the replacement fee to the PaDOH at:
   Pennsylvania Department of Health,
   Division of Vital Records
   P.O. Box 1528,
   New Castle, PA 16103
   c. For online submissions: Complete the application and upload your documents through the VRO website (payable by credit card online).
3. The PaDOH will mail the certified copy(s) after processing.

The process for correcting or amending a Pennsylvania birth certificate varies depending on the specified changes required. An addendum (supplement) is created to accurately reflect any necessary corrections or modifications to the birth certificate, ensuring the original record remains unaltered.

Typically, amendments to birth certificates will require:

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

To obtain an apostille for a Pennsylvania birth certificate, you can submit a request directly to the Pennsylvania Secretary of State or utilize VRO's Express Apostille Service to order online. Apostilles are required when submitting a birth certificate to a foreign government as part of the 1961 Hague Convention and are exclusively issued by the Pennsylvania Secretary of State.

To manually obtain an apostille for your Pennsylvania birth certificate, complete the following steps:

1. Obtain a certified copy of your birth certificate: Ensure you have a certified copy of your Pennsylvania birth certificate issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
2. Complete the Apostille request form: Download and fill out the Apostille/Certification Request Form from the Pennsylvania Department of State website.
3. Pay the Apostille fee: Include a check or money order of $15.00 per document with your mail-in request. Checks and money orders should be made payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. (Cash is no longer accepted for walk-in service).
4. Submit your request by mail or in person: Send the completed form, certified copy, payment, and a self-addressed return envelope with pre-paid postage if mailing your request, to the following address:

By Mail or in person:

A long-form birth certificate (also called the "full" or "certified" copy) is a complete reproduction of the original Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania birth certificate depend on how you order and which delivery speed you choose. Standard government processing through the Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania 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.