Requesting A New York City Birth Certificate Through The Mail
Obtain An Original Birth Certificate
When an adoption is finalized, the state issues a new birth certificate to the adoptive parents. The adoptees original birth certificate is then sealed and kept confidential by the states vital records department. Half the states in the U.S. require a court order to unseal an original birth certificate. However, many states allow access to original birth certificates through:
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A request from the adult adoptee
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A request by the adoptee unless the birth parent filed an affidavit denying access
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Establishment of eligibility to obtain identifying information with the state
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A record of consent from both birth parents
Births From 1881 Thru 1897
Prior to 1898, the towns in the counties of Queens and Richmond kept birth records according to New York State laws. Starting in 1881, New York required that village, town, and city clerks record births. After New York City consolidated in 1898, many of these records were sent to the New York City Municipal Archives.
STEP ONE: Find Birth Information
The New York Archives as well as nine other repositories in New York hold copies of microfiche indexes to birth certificates. Contact one of these ten repositories to search the index. If you do not find your ancestor’s birth or if you want order a copy of the certificate, contact the New York City Municipal Archives.
STEP TWO: Obtain the Certificate
With an exact date , you can order a copy of the birth record for a fee from the following locations:
To Order Birth Certificates |
See list of restrictions for ordering birth records
If you do not want to order the birth record, you can search other records with birth information.
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Children Under The Age Of 16
If you are the parent/guardian of a child under the age of 16 you only need the childs birth certificate with parental information for most purposes, including a passport.
If you are applying for a passport make sure to check with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada for a list of acceptable documents.
If you already have a certified copy of birth registration, it may be accepted. Please check with the ministry, government agency or the person requesting the document before you order.
Order Your New York Citys Burroughs Birth Certificate Here

Use our simple step-by-step process. The average time to receive an expedited New York City birth certificate averages 10-15 business days. We keep all of your information confidential so it is a safe process, as the green area on the browser address bar and the Trustwave certification helps assure. Just fill out our form online with your name and address information, shipping and billing information, and verification information, and you could have your New York City Birth Certificate in just a few short days. We guarantee quick processing time either way and make it simple for you to get your New York City Birth Certificate when you need it.
This page is for areas including the five Burroughs, inclusive of Staton Island, Queens, Bronx, Brooklyn, Kings, Manhattan, Flushing. Elmhurst, Rego Park, Woodside, Astoria, Chelsea, Hollis, Forest Hills, Ridgewood, Jamaica, Jackson Heights, Richmond Hills. This is a partial list of the New York City area, for which youve come to the right place.
For Upstate New York, click the button below:
INCLUDED: Your birth certificate cost andspeedy UPS return of the birth certificate.
Each extra copy: $15.00
Your Average Process Time:**
From 10-15 business days for delivery right to your doorstep
**Note: NYC processing times and fees may vary or change without notice, although we do update on a daily basis.
Two charges will appear separately on your statement.
New York City Birth Certificate
Additional Requirements:
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Births From 1847 Thru 1849
In 1847, New York State passed a law requiring that doctors and midwives report births, marriages, and deaths to the trustees of local school districts. Due to the complexities of this law, it quickly fell into disfavor and few communities reported births after 1850 . Most records that exist for this time period have been collected by the New York City Municipal Archives.
PART A: You know the village, town, or city of birth
Try 1st: Most of the records for Manhattan as well as the towns in Kings, Queens, and Richmond counties have been microfilmed by FamilySearch. Search the Catalog for the name of village, town, or city to see if it is available at your local FamilySearch Center.
Try 2nd: Order a copy of the birth record from New York City Municipal Archives.
If you do not want to order the birth record, you can search other records with birth information.
PART B: You do not know the village, town, or city of birth
If you do not know the village, town, or city of birth, learn more about the family using census, land, probate, and church records.
How To Obtain A Copy Of Your Birth Certificate
Home » Things to Do »How to Obtain a Copy of Your Birth Certificate
On Long Island, birth certificate records are maintained by the town, city, or village where the individual was born. It is important to have a copy of your birth certificate at all stages of life, such as when you are registering your children for school or sports, or helping them obtain a driver’s license. You will also need a copy of your birth certificate when you get married, get a passport, or if you need to get a new social security card.
A copy of your birth certificate can be obtained by contacting the clerk in your specific municipality of birth – which may mean the particular township that your place of birth falls under .
In this guide, you will find what pieces of identification you will need if you request your birth certificate from the town clerk or if you order it online, as well as what you will need if your name has changed. There are also fees incurred for each copy of your birth certificate that you request, which becomes much more expensive when you order your birth certificate online. Whether you’re planning on visiting the clerk at your town of birth or you are ordering your birth certificate online, be ready and know the rules and regulations involved in getting your paperwork.
Persons Who May Obtain a Birth Certificate:
Acceptable IdentificationOne of the following items:
- State issued drivers license or non-drivers license
- Military ID card
Nassau County Town & City Clerks
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What Documents Do I Need To Get My Birth Certificate
To apply for a certified copy of a birth certificate in New York, you will need:
- A completed birth certificate application Our experts will review your form and check for errors.
- Photocopies of both sides of a government-issued
- Payment of $30 for the state
Safe and Secure
We take your privacy seriously. Our online service is completely secure and all of your data will be encrypted.
Personalized Service
We have a team of highly trained experts who will personally review your application and make sure that it is correct and will get you what you need. Your application will be accepted the first time and processed without delays.
ID Verification
Your application package will include detailed information and instructions. If your state requires you to send proof of identification, we will let you know and show you exactly what you need to send in with your application.
New York Vital Records: Key Facts
There are a couple of crucial facts all researchers should know about locating vital records in New York State.
Fact #1: New York State did not require local governments to report births, marriages, and deaths until 1880.
The history of New York State vital record-keeping is complex and convoluted. For the most part, New York State did not force local governments to track birth, marriage, and death events until the 1880seven after that, many smaller municipalities were not stellar in their compliance.
If you’re looking for a birth, marriage, or death record prior to 1880, you should check with local records offices first, but you may need to ultimately seek a vital record substitute.
Fact #2: Where you look for a vital record will change depending on the year and location of the event you’re investigating.
New York vital records are not all stored in the same location or by the same authority. You will need to investigate sets of vital records in Albany, New York City, or other locations depending on the time period of the event you’re investigating.
This guide includes the following sections:
For an even more comprehensive overview of New York State vital records, see the NYG& B Guide to Birth, Marriage & Death Records available in print in our online store.
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Certified Copy Of Birth Registration
When a child is born in Ontario, their parent or guardian must register their birth with the Government of Ontario. A certified copy of birth registration is a copy of the original registration and:
- includes all details of the registration
- is endorsed as authentic by the Office of the Registrar General
- is printed on legal sized paper
- contains a raised seal for security and verification purposes
- contains any changes that have been made to the birth registration including any name changes and corrections of information
You can use a certified copy of birth registration to apply for ID that requires more detailed information, such as:
- adopting a child abroad
Its important to protect your personal and sensitive information not
How Long Does It Take To Get A Birth Certificate In New York
Online requests for birth records made via the NYC third-party service provider are reviewed within 24 hours on weekdays and shipping time is dependent on the delivery period. The standard delivery is via the US Postal Service, while requesters are charged additional fees for using UPS express mail delivery. Note that express mail delivery is not available for P.O. Box addresses.
Internet requests for birth certificates in New York State are processed within 5 – 10 business days of receipt. Mail requests ordered with priority handling are processed within 2 – 4 weeks from when they are received while mail requests ordered with regular handling are processed within 10 to 12 weeks.
In New York City, mail orders take 20 weeks to complete. This period does not include the mailing time which can take an additional 10 to 15 business days. For further inquiries, call 311 for calls within New York City or 639-9675 for persons calling from outside of New York City to contact the Vital Records Office in New York City. Online requests take about 10 business days to complete. Although UPS express orders are typically shipped by overnight mail, the mailing process can take an additional 10 to 15 business days. Certified copies can be obtained the same day for in-person requests while requests for long-form birth certificates or vault copies take two weeks to complete.
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New York City Birth Certificate Processing Times
When you are completing your application, be careful with all the details you enter, as all information must be accurate. You will have to include a valid copy of an official photo ID such as your drivers license, military ID, work ID, or passport, etc. As well as the payment to cover the processing fees.
The New York City Health Department usually takes between 4-6 weeks to process your application from the moment it has been received.
Although it is not currently possible to obtain an NYC birth certificate the same day, you can pay an additional fee for the rush service if you need the certificate urgently.
The Status Of An Order

Are birth certificates public record in new york. Birth Records prior 1910. Download the mail-in application to obtain a copy of a birth certificate. The State Department of Health and local registrars of vital statistics are authorized to furnish uncertified copies of vital records for genealogical purposes.
Birth Death Marriage Divorce Records. Cuomo signed legislation on November 14th 2019 allowing adoptees for the first time to receive a copy of their birth certificate when they turn 18-years-old. A parent of the person named on the birth certificate.
See the New York City section of this guide for more information. A US birth certificate is a government-issued document that officially registers the birth of a child in the United States. A parent of the person named on the birth certificate whose name appears on the birth certificate A spouse child or other person who has an order from a New York State Court to obtain a copy of a birth certificate For births in the five boroughs of New York City contact the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
Order Birth or Death Certificates Online. Questions about ordering a birth or death certificate or. Birth records are also available from the local Registrar of Vital Statistics where the event occurred.
31 Chambers Street Room 103. Birth records start at 1878 to current and are available at the Buffalo City Clerks Office located on the 13th floor of City Hall in room 1302.
Pin On Birth Certificate Examples
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How To Order A Birth Certificate In New York
Ordering a birth certificate replacement in New York is possible with Vital Records Online.
First, you need to fill out an easy application. Second, you will need to pay the state fee and the service fee. Third, you will need to send the application package to theNew York Health Department, Finally, you will be receiving your birth certificate by mail. The entire process can be done without leaving home.
Parent Grandparent Or Great
Only the person on the record, the parents on the record or a person with a New York State Court order may order a certified copy of a birth certificate.
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Births From 1866 Thru 1897
The city of Brooklyn started keeping birth records in 1866. At the time, the towns of Flatbush, Flatlands, Gravesend, New Lots, and New Utrecht were not a part of Brooklyn. These towns reported their births starting in 1881 to the New York State Department of Health until they were annexed by Brooklyn.
STEP ONE: Find Birth Information
An online index for Brooklyn births from 1880 thru 1897 does exist. Births from earlier time periods are available on microfilm. If you do not find your ancestor’s birth or if you want order a copy of the certificate, contact the New York City Municipal Archives.
Try 1st: |
See list of restrictions for ordering birth records
If you do not want to order the birth record, you can search other records with birth information.
PART B: You don’t know the year or have a certificate number
If you do not know the exact year and certificate number, the New York City Municipal Archives will search for the record for a fee.
See list of restrictions for ordering birth records
If you do not want to order the birth record, you can search other records with birth information.
Births in Flatbush , Flatlands , Gravesend , New Lots , and New Utrecht
STEP ONE: Find Birth Information
STEP TWO: Obtain the Certificate
With an exact date , you can order a copy of the birth record for a fee from the following locations:
To Order Birth Certificates |
See list of restrictions for ordering birth records