How to Get a Duplicate Birth Certificate?
If you are preparing to apply for a new United States passport book or passport card, you are required to show proof of citizenship with your original state-issued birth certificate. For many passport applicants, the proof of citizenship will be a long form birth certificate. The long form birth certificate has more information than a shortened birth record. Your United States birth certificate must meet all of the following requirements:
- It must be issued your the city, county or state of birth
- Official document must list your full name, date of birth and your place of birth
- The document must also list your parent(s) full name(s)
- Your birth certificate must clearly show the date filed with the registrar’s office (within 1 year of birth)
- It must also include the registrar’s signature and the seal of the issuing authority
Note: Photocopies will not be accepted. If you do not have your original birth certificate available to include with your passport application, you can request a duplicate birth certificate from the Department of Vital Records. This may take several weeks, so there is a faster way to get your duplicate birth certificate.
Where Can I Get a Duplicate Birth Certificate?
Whether you need to expedite your passport application or you have several weeks to wait before your trip, your application will be denied without a valid birth certificate. Luckily, it’s easy to request a certified duplicate birth certificate from the vital records office in your state with the help of VitalChek online.
What you’ll need to know before requesting a duplicate birth certificate from VitalChek:
- Name as shown on your birth certificate
- City and state of birth
- Date of birth
- Parent(s) name(s) as listed on your birth certificate
- Reason for request
As an authorized, government-approved vital records service, VitalChek makes requesting a duplicate birth certificate online fast, convenient and safe. Simply fill out the easy online form, choose your shipping method, submit your payment and receive your documents in the mail with secure delivery. VitalChek will help ensure your vital documents such as a duplicate birth certificate are processed as quickly as possible. For travelers with upcoming travel plans, this is imperative as passport processing can take 4-6 weeks or longer. For expedited passport services, applicant’s can get their passports as fast as 24hours. But you’ll need to make sure you have all the required documents first. Your duplicate birth certificate is certainly one of them!
