Office of vital records nyc phone number

You can order a birth certificate in person if:

• Your name is on the record
• The birth took place in or after 1920

Orders for all other records must be made online or by mail.

Unless the record is of a deceased person, you can get it on the same day if you are ordering:

• Short form birth certificate
• Long form birth certificate with Letter of Exemplification

You can’t get the record on the same day if you’re ordering:

• Pre-adoption record
• Birth certificate of a deceased person

You will get the record by mail instead.

All in-person orders require an appointment.

Request a Long Form

To request a long form, you must include "time of birth" on your application for the reason for request.

Schedule an Appointment

If you are unable to schedule an appointment and have an emergency request related to travel, health care coverage, government services, military, housing, or employment, email nycdohvr@health.nyc.gov.

Include a clear copy of your unexpired ID and documents showing you have an emergency. Examples include a paid plane ticket, a letter from an employer with a job start date, or a letter from a government agency with an appointment date.

You will receive an email confirming whether your in-person emergency appointment to purchase the birth certificate is approved.

Location and Hours

The Office of Vital Records is open from Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 3:30 PM.

125 Worth Street, CN-4, Room 119
(use the Lafayette Street entrance)
New York, NY 10013

Cost

• $15 per copy
• $2.75 processing fee

You can pay by credit or debit card or with a check or money order in the exact amount. Cash isn't accepted.

Application

Online

You can download the application in multiple languages online.

By Mail

You can request a paper copy of the application.

Call 311 or 212-NEW-YORK (212-639-9675) for help.

If you are outside the United States and need an application mailed to you, email your request, your name, and your mailing address to dohmhliterature@health.nyc.gov. The form will be sent to you within five business days.

For Your or Your Child's Certificate

If you order a birth certificate online, you will be asked questions to verify your identity. If you pass the verification process, you don’t have to submit proof. If you fail, you will have the option to fax copies of documents to prove your identity.

If you order by mail, you must include:

• One photocopy of a Category 1 document (proof of identity), OR
• Two original Category 2 documents (proof of address)

If you order in person, you can get the record on the same day if:

• You submit a Category 1 document (proof of identity)
• The child is not deceased

The record will be mailed to you instead of given on the same day if:

• You submit Category 2 documents (proof of address), OR
• You submit a photocopy of a Category 1 document (proof of identity), OR
• The child is deceased

Category 1 Documents – Proof of Identity

Category 1 documents must be unexpired and include your photo and your signature.

• Driver's License or non-driver's ID from any U.S. state or territory
• IDNYC
• Public benefit card
• U.S. or foreign passport
• U.S. certificate of naturalization
• Military ID card
• Employee ID with photo, verifiable employer, and recent pay stub
• MTA reduced-fare Metro Card
• Student ID and current transcript from an accredited and verifiable institution
• Incarcerated person photo ID with release papers

Category 2 Documents – Proof of Address

If you don’t provide a Category 1 document, you must provide two proofs of your current address.

If you’re providing Category 2 documents, each must be:

• Original, not a copy
• Show your name and current address
• Be dated within the past 60 days
• Be a different type

• Utility or telephone bills (online bills can be downloaded from your provider)
• Letter from a government agency

If you order using Category 2 documents, the birth certificate will be mailed to the address listed on your documents.

For a Deceased Relative’s Certificate

You can request a birth certificate of a deceased relative. Orders can only be made by mail.

You must include the following documents:

• A copy of your valid, unexpired photo ID (see Category 1 examples above)
• Completed Family Tree/Link to Decedent form
• Proof of the person’s death
  • If the person died in NYC, provide a copy of the death certificate or the death certificate number
  • If the person died outside NYC, provide the original death certificate

  No Documents

  Contact Vital Records if you can’t provide Category 1 or Category 2 identification.

  Order Status

  You can track the status of an NYC birth certificate order.

  Please note the processing times for each type of order:

  • Online applications:
    • Short form: 2 weeks
    • Long form: 4 weeks
    • Pre-adoption certificates: 6 weeks

    Delivery by mail may take an additional 2 weeks.

    You can get the status of a birth certificate order if it was requested:

    • Online more than 5 weeks ago
    • By mail more than 15 weeks ago
    • In person more than 3 weeks ago

    Online

    By Phone

    Call 311 or 212-NEW-YORK (212-639-9675) for help.

    Deceased Relative

    You may order a birth certificate of a deceased relative if you are their:

    • Spouse or domestic partner
    • Parent (if deceased was 18 or younger)
    • Child
    • Sibling
    • Niece or nephew
    • Aunt or uncle
    • Grandchild or great-grandchild
    • Grandniece or grandnephew

    Orders can only be made by mail.

    You must include the following documents:

    • A copy of your valid, unexpired photo ID (see examples below)
    • Completed Family Tree/Link to Decedent form
    • Proof of the person’s death
      • If the person died in NYC, provide a copy of the death certificate or the death certificate number
      • If the person died outside NYC, provide the original death certificate

      Identification Documents

      Identification documents must be unexpired and include your photo and your signature.

      • Driver's License or non-driver's ID from any U.S. state or territory
      • IDNYC
      • Public benefit card
      • U.S. or foreign passport
      • U.S. certificate of naturalization
      • Military ID card
      • Employee ID with photo, verifiable employer, and recent pay stub
      • MTA reduced-fare MetroCard
      • Student ID and current transcript from an accredited and verifiable institution
      • Incarcerated person photo ID with release papers
      Long Form or Letters of Exemplification

      There are two main types of birth certificates.

      The short form is the most requested type of birth certificate. You can use it for most domestic purposes, such as obtaining a US passport, driver's license, housing, and school enrollment.

      This record includes:

      • Child’s first and last name
      • Date of birth
      • Sex or gender marker
      • Parents’ first and last names

      The long form, or vault copy, also includes:

      • Time of birth
      • Place of birth
      • Parents’ address and other information at the time of birth
      • Information about who delivered the child

      It's often required to:

      • Apply for dual citizenship
      • Get an Apostille of a public document for use in a foreign country
      • Marry, adopt, or purchase property in a foreign country
      • Get a Letter of Exemplification

      To request a long form, you must include "time of birth" on your application for the reason for request.

      Letter of Exemplification and Apostille

      If you need a Letter of Exemplification to get an Apostille, you should order a long form birth certificate. When you place your order for the birth certificate, make sure you clearly explain the reason for your request, and the Department of Health will determine if a Letter of Exemplification is also needed.

      There are three steps to get an Apostille for an NYC birth record.

      Step 1. Get a certified copy of the birth certificate with a Letter of Exemplification.

      • Online order: Visit VitalChek.com and select “Apostille/Authentication” from the request reasons dropdown.
      • Mail order: Answer “yes” to question 11b on the Birth Certificate Application.
      • In-person order: Schedule an appointment. At your appointment, select “Apostille/Authentication” from the request reasons dropdown at the customer kiosk.

      Step 2. Submit the record and Letter of Exemplification to the County Clerk of Manhattan so they can verify the signature on the record.

      There is a $3 fee. You can do this by mail or in person for priority requests. In-person services are by appointment only.

      To learn more, visit the County Clerk page to get contact information for the Manhattan County Clerk.

      Step 3. Submit the original documents, the verification, and a $10 fee to the New York State Department of State for authentication. You can do this by mail or in person for priority requests. In-person services are by appointment only. Be sure to specify the country where you are going to send the record.

      Contact the NYS DOS for more information or to schedule an appointment.

      • Agency: New York State Department of State
      • Division: New York State Department of State Local Office
      • Address: 123 William Street, 19th Floor, New York, NY, 10038-3804
      • Phone Number: (518) 474-4429
      • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 3:30 PM
      • Press 4 to be connected.