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Order South Carolina Birth Certificate
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Learn how to request a South Carolina birth certificate replacement from the South Carolina Department of Public Health Vital Records Office (SC DPH). The standard processing time is 2 to 4 weeks, and expedited processing takes 5 to 7 business days for an extra $5.00 fee. The state fee for mail-in orders is $12.00, while in-person or online orders cost $17.00. Additional copies can be requested during the same order for $3.00 each. Only authorized individuals, such as those on record, their parents, or legal representatives, can request copies.
You can now order South Carolina birth certificate through VRO’s online filing service. VRO offers a secure and simple way to order birth certificate. We handle the entire application process, ensuring accuracy and ease. Your application is securely delivered to the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) 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 SCDPH by following the specific steps and meeting certain requirements. Confirming the costs, eligibility, processing times, and requirements before placing your order is crucial to ensure the successful processing of your application.
Requesting a South Carolina birth certificate through our online filing service is quick and easy.
Starting from
$29+ state fees
Benefits of Ordering Online with VRO
required documents
All applicants must provide proof of identity when submitting their birth certificate application. Eligibility criteria and the necessary documents may vary depending on the submission method and the applicant. The South Carolina DPH defines the required information and documents. Refer to the table below.
Primary ID Requirements Options |
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Driver's License |
You may submit two secondary documents that have your name and current address (utility bill, bank statement, car registration, copy of income tax return) to the DPH. Alternatively, you can have an authorized third party submit a request on your behalf if they can provide proof of identity and their relationship to you (the record holder).
Cost & fees
The total costs of replacing a birth certificate in South Carolina depend on the method of application submission, whether in person, by mail, or online. The South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) charges a fee of $12.00 for a certified copy for mail-in orders and $17.00 ($12.00 + required $5.00 expedited processing fee) for in-person or online orders. Additional copies are available for a $3.00 fee per copy when requested simultaneously. When using VRO's online filing service, the fee starts at $29.00, plus the state fee. VRO provides a secure online solution for ordering birth certificate.
State Fee |
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$12.00 |
Rush Processing |
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Not available for mail-in orders |
Additional Copy |
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1 x $20.00 |
Processing time
Standard processing typically takes 2 to 4 weeks, while expedited orders take 5 to 7 business days. The total time to receive a South Carolina birth certificate replacement varies depending on the application submission method and the current processing times set by the South Carolina DPH. To avoid delays, we recommend using VRO’s easy online service, which helps prevent incomplete submissions and errors.
Processing Time |
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2-4 weeks |
Rush Processing Time |
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Not available for mail-in orders. |
Authorization
In South Carolina, only the individual listed on the birth record and authorized third parties can request a certified copy, and they must provide proof of their identity. Certified copies of SC birth records are subject to confidentiality, and access to these records is restricted for 100 years after birth. If you are applying on behalf of the record holder, confirm your eligibility to submit the request on their behalf. All applicants must include supporting documentation to verify their identity and relationship to the person listed on the birth record.
If the individual on record is deceased, immediate family members and/or their legal representative may obtain a certified copy of a birth record. Still, they must submit a certified copy of the death certificate with their request.
SC DPH does not require a notary to obtain authorized copies of South Carolina birth certificate.
Tracking
When you place an order with VRO, you can track the status of your application online while we are handling it. VRO verifies your documents before forwarding them to the South Carolina Department of Public Health—Division of Vital Records (SCDPH—DVR) for further processing. Additionally, you can request mail tracking through VRO to monitor your application's journey to the health department for extra verification.
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 South Carolina DPH.
For mail-in applications, the SC DPH-DVR does not provide application tracking. Please check with SC DPH for tracking options for online and in-person application submissions.
The SC DPH-DVR does not provide tracking for the delivery of your vital records certificate to your address. Once the records leave the state office, the state is not responsible for lost or misdirected certificate.
Need more than a birth certificate? VitalRecordsOnline helps you order every South Carolina vital record through one streamlined application. Whether you're gathering documents for a passport, name change, estate settlement, or family history project, we handle the paperwork, verify everything is complete before submission, and track your order from start to delivery.
South Carolina Marriage Certificate — Required for name changes, spousal benefits, visa applications, divorce filings, and proof of marital status.
South Carolina Death Certificate — Needed for estate settlement, life insurance claims, pension transfers, Social Security notifications, and closing accounts of a deceased loved one.
South Carolina Divorce Certificate — Proves the legal dissolution of a marriage. Required for remarriage in some states, name restoration, and certain immigration or legal matters.
For use abroad, ask about our apostille service — we authenticate South Carolina vital records for international use in Hague Convention countries.
frequently asked questions
If you were born overseas on a U.S. military base, your birth would have been recorded with the U.S. Department of State rather than the state of South Carolina. You can request a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) or form FS-240 by contacting the U.S. Department of State. This document is evidence of U.S. citizenship (the equivalent of a U.S. birth certificate). The CRBA is accepted for various legal purposes, such as proving birth and citizenship, applying for a passport, and accessing social services.
If you need the original birth records, you must contact the hospital in the country where the birth took place.
Certified copies of your South Carolina birth certificate are important for numerous events in life. These copies are valid proof of your legal name, place, date of birth, and parents' names. They confirm your identity and citizenship. Both government and commercial entities recognize certified birth certificate copies and 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
You may also need to order a South Carolina death certificate through our secure online service.
Official birth certificates issued by the state of South Carolina will contain distinct features that validate their authenticity. The appearance of the birth certificate may vary based on the year of issue, but it will always contain details stipulated by state guidelines. Standard features will include the state seal, the individual's name, and the registrar's signature, which will be issued on secure paper to prevent forgery.
Confirming you have an official (long-form) birth certificate is essential. These are intended for legal purposes and differ from informational (short-form) certificates, which are generally used for family 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.
Need help understanding long form vs. short form certificates, costs, or eligibility? Visit our birth certificate information page.
If you lose your birth certificates
If you need to correct or change a South Carolina birth certificate, a separate document, an addendum (supplement), is issued to correct or change the birth certificate while preserving the original birth record from being altered.
Typically, amendments to South Carolina birth certificates will require:
If the amendment is not accepted, you must have a court order to make the request again. Name changes and adoptions require a court order. Contact the SC DHP for further information regarding amendment requirements.
You can order directly through the South Carolina Secretary of State or use VRO's Express Apostille Service for online orders to obtain an apostille for a South Carolina birth certificate. Apostilles are exclusively issued by the South Carolina Secretary of State and are often necessary when submitting a birth certificate to a foreign government as per the 1961 Hague Convention.
To manually obtain an apostille for a South Carolina birth certificate, complete the following steps:
Mailing Address
A long-form birth certificate (also called the "full" or "certified" copy) is a complete reproduction of the original South Carolina 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 South Carolina 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.
Looking for a different document? Order a South Carolina marriage certificate through our secure online service.
If you live in or near Columbia, you can request a birth certificate in person at the South Carolina DHEC Vital Records office located at 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201. You can also visit your local county health department for assistance. For a faster option, you can order online through VRO and have your certified copy mailed directly to your address. If you recently moved from a neighboring state, you'll need to contact that state's vital records office instead—for example, North Carolina, Georgia, or Tennessee.
Same-day birth certificates are only available if you visit the DHEC Vital Records office in Columbia in person and request expedited processing. Walk-in availability is limited, so calling ahead at (803) 898-3630 is recommended. If you're ordering online or by mail, standard processing typically takes 5–10 business days. VRO offers priority processing to help you receive your certified copy as quickly as possible. A birth certificate is often needed for time-sensitive documents like a REAL ID or when verifying your birth certificate number.
In South Carolina, the hospital where your baby is born will help you complete the birth registration paperwork before you leave. DHEC then processes the registration and typically issues the official birth certificate within 4–6 weeks. If you need a certified copy sooner, you can contact the DHEC Vital Records office or order through VRO once the record has been filed. Keep in mind that you'll need your baby's birth certificate for important milestones like applying for a passport or enrolling in health insurance.