You can get a free birth certificate in PA if you fall into one of five groups: veterans and their immediate families, people currently experiencing homelessness, foster or juvenile justice-involved youth ages 16 to 24, individuals affected by opioid use disorder, and residents impacted by a governor-declared natural disaster. Each group uses its own application form from the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Division of Vital Records, and the standard $20 fee is waived when you submit the right supporting documents.1Pennsylvania Department of Health. Vital Records Forms
Who Qualifies and What Proof You Need
Veterans and Military Families
Since Act 137 of 2024, the waiver covers all veterans discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, not only those with honorable discharges. That change brought in veterans with general discharges and other non-dishonorable separations who used to be excluded.2Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. More Veterans Now Eligible for Free Birth and Death Certificates
The waiver covers up to 10 free copies. Active-duty service members, eligible veterans, and their spouses, widows or widowers, and dependent children can all use it, including when the veteran is deceased.2Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. More Veterans Now Eligible for Free Birth and Death Certificates
To claim it, use the standard birth certificate application (Form H105.102) and complete the military fee waiver section. Enclose a copy of the Military ID or DD214 (or equivalent) showing the character of service.3Pennsylvania Department of Health. Application for a Birth Certificate A spouse applying based on the veteran’s service needs to document the relationship as well.
People Experiencing Homelessness
There’s a separate application form for anyone currently without stable housing who cannot afford the $20 fee. You attest on the form that you are homeless and financially unable to pay.4Pennsylvania Department of Health. Application for a Birth Certificate with Fees Waived for an Individual Who is Experiencing Homelessness
You also need a verification letter on official stationery from one of three people: a director of a facility where you’re receiving services, a social worker helping you obtain government services, or an attorney representing you. That person confirms both your identity and your housing status.4Pennsylvania Department of Health. Application for a Birth Certificate with Fees Waived for an Individual Who is Experiencing Homelessness Shelters and social services agencies generally know the process.
Foster and Juvenile Justice-Involved Youth
Individuals ages 16 to 24 who are or were involved with the foster care or juvenile justice system qualify through their own waiver form. You attest to that involvement and to your inability to pay.5Pennsylvania Department of Health. Application for a Birth Certificate with Fees Waived for Foster and Justice Involved Individuals The waiver often matters most for young adults aging out of foster care who need ID to secure housing or work.
Opioid Use Disorder and Natural Disaster Waivers
Pennsylvania also waives the fee for people affected by opioid use disorder who need identification documents, and for residents affected by a governor-declared natural disaster who need replacement records. Each has its own form on the Department of Health’s vital records forms page.1Pennsylvania Department of Health. Vital Records Forms
Are You Allowed to Request This Record?
Pennsylvania limits who can order a certified birth certificate. You qualify if you’re the person named on the record, that person’s spouse, parent or step-parent, sibling (including half-sibling), child or step-child, grandparent, great-grandparent, grandchild, great-grandchild, power of attorney, or an attorney or legal representative with supporting documentation. Step-parents need to include a marriage certificate showing the relationship.6Pennsylvania Department of Health. Birth Certificates
If the person on the certificate is deceased, other family members can request the record by also submitting a copy of the death certificate.6Pennsylvania Department of Health. Birth Certificates
What to Put in the Application
Every application needs the same core details: the full legal name on the birth record, date of birth, county of birth, and both parents’ full names, including the mother’s maiden name. The Division of Vital Records uses those to locate the file.
You also need unexpired government-issued photo ID showing your current mailing address, since the certificate ships to that address. For mail applications, send a legible photocopy, never the original. If your photo ID doesn’t show your address, or you don’t have an unexpired government-issued photo ID, you can submit two documents that verify your name and current mailing address instead.7Pennsylvania Department of Health. Acceptable ID
Add the waiver documentation for your category: DD214 or Military ID for veterans and military families, the provider verification letter for applicants experiencing homelessness, or the completed attestation section for foster and juvenile justice waivers. Fill every field legibly, and make sure the name on the application matches the name on your ID. Mismatches are the most common reason applications come back.
How to Submit
Mail the completed application, ID copy, and supporting documents to:
Division of Vital Records
P.O. Box 1528
New Castle, PA 161038Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Where to Write for Vital Records – Pennsylvania
You can also apply in person at a vital records public office. Locations include Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Erie, Harrisburg, Scranton, and New Castle. Hours vary by office, so call ahead.
One boundary worth flagging: the online ordering system at mycertificates.health.pa.gov, run through VitalChek, charges an additional $10 processing fee on top of the standard $20, and fee waivers generally cannot be applied through the online system.6Pennsylvania Department of Health. Birth Certificates If you qualify for a free certificate, submit by mail or in person. VitalChek is also the only online vendor Pennsylvania has authorized, so be cautious about other websites that appear to offer the same service.
How Long It Takes
Mailed applications take about two weeks to process under normal conditions.9Department of Health. Processing Times High-volume periods or incomplete paperwork push that out. Once the Division verifies your waiver eligibility and finds the record, the certificate ships by standard mail to the address on your application.
If nothing has arrived after three weeks, contact the Division directly. Delays usually trace back to mismatched names, missing parent information, or an incomplete fee waiver section.