Florida Birth Certificate Application PDF: Form DH 726

The Florida birth certificate application, form DH 726, is a free PDF you can download from the Florida Department of Health and submit by mail to the Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville, in person at a county health department, or online through VitalChek, the only vendor the state authorizes for internet orders. A standard computer-generated certified copy costs $9 by mail. Same-day walk-in and online orders add a $10 rush fee, bringing the total to $19.¹

One warning before you start. Searches for the application often surface form DH 727. That is the death certificate form, not the birth certificate form. The correct number is DH 726, and a Spanish version, DH 726S, is also available.¹

What the Form Asks For

DH 726 is titled “Application for Florida Birth Certificate.” It asks for the registrant’s full name at birth, exact date of birth, the Florida county where the birth occurred, and both parents’ names, including the mother’s maiden name. These details are what the Bureau of Vital Statistics uses to pull the record from its system. If you aren’t certain of the county, enter your best information and the bureau will check surrounding areas, though that slows processing.

Photo ID

Every application must include a clear photocopy of valid, unexpired government-issued photo identification. A driver’s license, state ID card, U.S. passport, or military ID all work. If you have none of those, the state may accept a naturalization certificate or alien registration card instead.

If the name on your ID doesn’t match the name on the record, include something that bridges the two: a marriage certificate or a court order changing your name. Without that bridge, the bureau cannot confirm you are the person on the certificate.

Signature and Notarization

If you are the person named on the record or a parent listed on it, signing the form yourself is enough. Anyone else, including a legal representative or an authorized family member, has to sign in front of a notary public and attach documents showing their authority or relationship.

Who Can Sign the Application

Florida birth records are confidential for 125 years from the date of birth under Florida Statutes Section 382.025, so only certain people can order a certified copy.² Confirming your eligibility before you send money matters, because the search fee is nonrefundable even if the bureau denies the request.

The person named on the record, once they reach legal age (18 in Florida). Certified homeless youth and emancipated minors also qualify.
A parent listed on the certificate, a court-appointed guardian, or an attorney with documented authority.
If the registrant has died, a spouse, adult child, grandchild, or adult sibling, provided they include a certified death certificate.
Law enforcement, state or federal agencies acting officially, or anyone presenting a court order.

Legal representatives who are not the registrant or a parent must prove their authority with notarized documents or a court order attached to DH 726.²

Which Type of Certified Copy to Request

DH 726 asks which version of the certified copy you want, and the right answer depends on when the person was born.

A computer-generated certification is a digital printout of the key facts from Florida’s electronic birth registration database. It is accepted by every government agency for passports, Social Security, driver’s licenses, and the like.
A photostatic certification is an image of the actual original paper document filed at the time of birth. Genealogy researchers and anyone needing to see the original handwritten or typed registration tend to request this version.

For births from 2004 forward, only the computer-generated version exists because Florida moved to fully electronic registration. For births between 1917 and 2003, both types are available. For births before 1917, only the photostatic copy exists. For nearly every legal purpose, the computer version is sufficient and cheaper.

Fees to Include

All fees are nonrefundable, including the search fee charged when no record is found.³ For mail orders to the Bureau of Vital Statistics:

First computer-generated certification: $9
First photostatic copy: $14
Each additional copy on the same order: $4
Shipping and handling: $1
Same-day or expedited service: add $10

Mail orders accept money orders and cashier’s checks. Personal checks are generally not accepted. The state bureau does not take credit cards by mail.

Through VitalChek, the first copy is $19 (base price plus the rush fee), with a $7 VitalChek service fee on top, additional copies at $4 each, and extra for UPS shipping with signature confirmation. Credit and debit cards are accepted.⁴

County health department fees vary. Some counties route the service through the tax collector’s office and tack on an administrative fee. One county, for example, charges $21.25 for the first copy and $8 for each additional. Call ahead to confirm the price and accepted payment methods at the office you plan to visit.

Where to Send or Submit the Form

By Mail

Send the completed DH 726, a photocopy of your ID, any supporting documents, and payment to:⁵

Department of Health
Bureau of Vital Statistics
P.O. Box 210
1217 Pearl Street
Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042

Standard mail processing takes several weeks. Because you’re including a copy of your photo ID and payment, using certified mail or a tracked service is worth the small extra cost.

In Person

County health departments that offer walk-in vital records service can access the state registry and print the certificate on the spot once they verify your identity and payment. The $10 rush fee applies. Not every county office offers walk-in birth certificates, so confirm by phone before you go.¹

Online Through VitalChek

VitalChek handles the entire request online with a credit or debit card. The Department of Health specifically warns against other online vendors, which often charge inflated fees and may not deliver legitimate certified copies.¹

When You Don’t Pay the Fee

Florida waives all birth certificate fees for a small number of applicants: certified homeless youth, young adults who were in the custody of the Department of Children and Families when they turned 18, inmates obtaining a state ID before release, and juvenile offenders receiving services through the Department of Juvenile Justice. If you qualify, you still submit DH 726 with your ID and supporting documentation, but no payment is required.³

1
Florida Department of Health. Birth Certificates
2
The Florida Senate. Florida Code 382.025 – Certified Copies of Vital Records; Confidentiality; Research
3
The Florida Senate. Florida Code 382.0255 – Fees
4
Florida Department of Health. Order Certificates from VitalChek
5
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Where to Write for Vital Records – Florida