Birth and Death Records
Check the status of your order
The NYC Health Department issues certificates to people who are born or who die in New York City (The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island). We do not issue certificates for Nassau, Suffolk or other counties in New York State. You can also correct an issued birth or death certificate.
How to Order
- Online through VitalChek. This is the fastest way to get a certificate.
- Note: You cannot request a certificate correction online.
- If you ordered a certificate through an unauthorized vendor you could be charged unnecessary fees to get a certificate.
- By Mail. Note, mailed requests take longer to process than online and in-person requests.
- In Person. All in-person orders require an appointment. Before going to apply in person, you must schedule an appointment online.
- If you are unable to schedule an in-person appointment to purchase a birth or death certificate, or there is no appointment available, and you have an emergency request related to health care coverage, government services, military, housing or employment, call 311 or email nycdohvr@health.nyc.gov.
- For help scheduling an appointment for a correction or amendment, call 311 or email correctionsunit2@health.nyc.gov.
- 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. You will receive an email confirming whether your in-person emergency appointment to purchase the birth certificate is approved.
You cannot order certificates by email.
Note: Certificate corrections can only be made in person or by mail, and each method takes the same amount of time to process.
Check Status
You can track the status of your order online. The Office of Vital Records is not liable for correspondence delayed or lost in the mail.
Processing Times
In addition to the below processing times for each type of order, delivery by mail may require two more weeks.
- Applications Online: Two to three weeks
- Applications for Birth or Death Certificates Requested by Mail: Six to eight weeks
- Corrections by Mail or In Person: 12 weeks
- Complimentary Certificates for Newborns (born within the past 30 days): Four weeks after birth
- Pre-adoption Certificate by Mail or Online: Six weeks
If the relevant processing time has passed and you have not received your request, email nycdohvr@health.nyc.gov for orders or correctionsunit2@health.nyc.gov for corrections. You can also call 311.
More Vital Records Information
- Birth Certificates: Information for new and expectant parents, as well as third-party requests.
- Pre-Adoption Birth Certificates: How to request a copy of a pre-adoption long-form birth certificate of an adopted person.
- Death Certificates: Information on who can order a death certificate and how to report a death.
- Birth Certificate Corrections and Death Certificate Corrections: Commonly requested corrections and how to correct someone else's certificate.
- Fees: Each certificate costs $15 per copy. See the Fees page for information on additional costs.
Contact Us
- Call 311, or 212-NEW-YORK (212-639-9675) if you are calling from outside NYC.
- Questions about certificates for newborns (born within the past 30 days): 646-632-6563 or email birth@health.nyc.gov
- Email:
- Questions about a certificate request: nycdohvr@health.nyc.gov
- Questions about correcting or amending a certificate (include the order number, date you submitted it and how you placed the order): correctionsunit2@health.nyc.gov
- In your email, be sure to include how you submitted the order (online, mail, in-person), the order number (if known, but required for online orders), the date the order was submitted and the reason for email.
- Online: Chat with an operator, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- Visit in person: All in-person orders require an appointment. You can schedule an appointment here.
Office of Vital Records
45 Lafayette Street