Health311Search all NYC.gov websites

Birth and Death Records

Print icon Print
Order a Certificate through vitalchek  

Check the status of your order

 

How to Order

Go to: Birth and Death Certificates | Corrections | Required Documents | Veteran's Fee Waiver

VitalChek: Only Authorized Online Vendor

For the fastest service, order certified copies online through VitalChek, which is the only vendor authorized by the Health Department to process birth and death certificate orders.

There are unauthorized vendors charging customers high fees for help getting a birth or death certificate. If you ordered a certificate through an unauthorized vendor and would like to file a complaint, visit the NYC Department of Consumer Protection or call 311.


You can order birth and death certificates online, by mail or in person. You cannot order by email. Certificate corrections can only be requested by mail or in person. All in-person orders require an appointment. Click here to schedule an appointment online.

If you are unable to schedule an in-person appointment and have an emergency request related to travel, health care coverage, government services, military, housing or employment, call 311, or email nycdohvr@health.nyc.gov for ordering a birth or death certificate, or correctionsunit2@health.nyc.gov for corrections. In your email, include current photo ID and documents showing that you have an emergency, such as a paid plane ticket, letter from an employer with a job start date, or letter from a government agency with an appointment date.

The Health Department recommends ordering birth and death certificates online. This is the fastest way to receive your certificate.

For information on how long it will take to process a request and how much it will cost, see Birth and Death Records: Fees and Processing Times.

If you are an attorney and are requesting a birth certificate on behalf of a registrant or parent of a registrant, see ordering instructions on our Birth Certificates page.


Birth and Death Certificates

Online

For the fastest service, order copies directly through VitalChek:

Online orders can be completed only if your name appears on the certificate or you are entitled to the certificate.

Mail

Applications must be mailed to the address on the application form:

NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
125 Worth Street, Room CN-4, Room 119
New York, NY 10013

Your application should also include the application fees and a current photo ID.

Standard first-class U.S. postal service mail is not tracked. Tracking can be done online at the customer's expense by any express mail courier service. If you requested a confidential medical report/cause of death, it will be mailed to you separately after the death certificate.

In-Person

All in-person orders require an appointment. Click here to schedule an appointment online. 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 or call 311. Our office is open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

In-person orders can only be processed for birth records from 1920 to present (if named on record) or death records from 1970 to present.

You must provide a photocopy of Category 1 identification or original copies of identification from Category 2. See below for more information on required documents.

Records for pre-adoptions, non-electronic records and older records will not be issued the same day as the request and should be submitted online or by mail.


Corrections

Mail

All applications must be mailed to the address listed on the application form:

NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
125 Worth Street, CN-4, Room 144
New York, NY 10013

Your application should also include the application fees and a current photo ID.

In Person

All in-person orders require an appointment. Click here to schedule an appointment online. 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 correctionsunit2@health.nyc.gov or call 311. Our office is open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.


Required Documents

The following types of ID are accepted for mailed or in-person requests.

Expand AllCollapse All

Identity Proof (Category 1)

Provide one of the following identity documents. The document must include your photo and signature and must not be expired.

  • Driver's license or non-driver's ID card
  • NYS benefit card
  • U.S. or foreign passport with a signature
  • IDNYC municipal ID
  • U.S. certificate of naturalization (must be the original
  • University or college ID with a current transcript
  • Inmate ID with current release papers
  • Job ID with a current pay stub
  • NYC Access-A-Ride card
  • NYC MTA Reduced-Fare Metro Card
  • Military ID card (must be for the person whose birth certificate is being requested

Residency/Address Proof (Category 2)

If you do not have any of the Category 1 documents, then provide any two of the following proof of address documents. The documents must be dated within the last 60 days and show your name and address. For example, you can submit one phone bill from the last 60 days and one letter from a government agency from the last 60 days. Alternatively, you could submit two phone bills, as long as they are both from the last 60 days. Your certificate will be mailed to the address on the documents provided.

  • Utility bill (online bills can be downloaded from your provider)
  • Telephone bill
  • Official government mail addressed to you
  • Rent invoice or mortgage or lease letter
  • Medical bill

If you cannot provide Category 1 or 2 identification, email nycdohvr@health.nyc.gov for orders or correctionsunit2@health.nyc.gov for corrections.

Veteran's Fee Waiver

If you are a U.S. veteran and were born in NYC, you may be entitled to receive a free birth certificate. If you are requesting a correction to your birth certificate, the $40 processing fee may also be waived. To qualify, your request must be related to one of the following reasons:

  • Benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs
  • Enlistment or induction in the U.S. armed forces
  • An application for a veteran’s bonus pursuant to any NYS law
  • Applications for allowances for dependents of U.S. armed forces personnel

You will need to provide any one of the following acceptable proofs of veteran status.

  • DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty
  • DD Form 2 (Retired) U.S. Uniformed Services ID Card
  • Veteran ID Card or Veteran Health ID Card
  • NYS driver’s license or non-driver’s ID with veteran designation
  • IDNYC card with veteran designation

Chat: For more help ordering a certificate, you can chat online with an operator, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.