You can get a free Oregon birth certificate if you fall into one of five specific categories: people experiencing homelessness, veterans with a pending VA benefits application, survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, residents affected by a declared emergency, and anyone receiving a corrected copy after a state error. Everyone else pays $25 for a computer-issued certificate or $30 for a full-image copy.1Oregon Health Authority. Order a Birth Certificate Qualifying means submitting the right proof with your order form, so the category you fit under shapes what paperwork you gather.
Who Qualifies for a No-Cost Copy
If You’re Experiencing Homelessness
Under ORS 432.450, the Oregon Health Authority runs a grant program that provides certified birth records at no cost or reduced cost to people experiencing homelessness.2Oregon State Legislature. Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 432 You don’t apply to the state directly. You work through a participating homeless service provider, and that agency helps you complete the order form, gathers the documentation, covers the payment on your behalf, and prepares an affidavit verifying your status to submit with the request.
To find a participating agency near you, call Oregon’s 211 information line.3211info. Oregon Health Authority Public Health Division – Birth Certificates
If You’re a Veteran With a Pending VA Application
ORS 432.435 requires the State Registrar to issue certified copies at no charge when the request is tied to a pending application for U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs benefits. You’ll need to submit proof that your VA application is in progress.2Oregon State Legislature. Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 432
If You’re a Survivor of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, or Stalking
Oregon residents who are survivors can get a certified copy without paying. You’ll need professional verification of your status, which usually takes the form of a letter from a qualified service provider.
If a State Emergency Was Declared Where You Live
When the governor declares an emergency, temporary rules can allow affected residents to receive up to three certified copies of each type of vital record (birth, death, marriage, and others) at no cost. These programs run during defined windows and apply only to people who lost property or a loved one because of the declared event. The 2020 wildfires are one example when this relief was activated.4Oregon Health Authority. Vital Records Fees for Oregonians Affected by State and Federal Emergency Declarations Frequently Asked Questions
If the State Made an Error on Your Certificate
When the state registrar confirms that a previously issued certificate contained an error, a corrected copy is issued at no charge. This covers mistakes on the state’s end. It does not cover corrections you’re requesting for the first time on your own record.2Oregon State Legislature. Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 432
How to Apply
Use Form 45-13A
The correct form is Form 45-13A, the Oregon Birth Record Order Form, available as a fillable PDF from the Oregon Health Authority. Be careful not to grab Form 45-21, which is a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Parentage Affidavit and has nothing to do with ordering a certificate.1Oregon Health Authority. Order a Birth Certificate
The form asks for the full name on the record, date of birth, the city and county of birth, and the parents’ names, including the birth parent’s last name before any marriages. Mark the correct exemption category on the form so staff know why no fee is enclosed.
Attach the Right Proof
The verification document depends on your category:
- Homelessness: an affidavit verifying your status, prepared with a participating service provider.
- Domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking: a letter from a qualified provider confirming your status.
- VA benefits: proof of a pending application with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Where to Send It
Mail your completed form and supporting documents to:
Center for Health Statistics
P.O. Box 14050
Portland, OR 97293-00505Oregon Health Authority. Contact Us – Vital Records and Certificates
You can also drop the packet off or bring it to an appointment at 800 NE Oregon Street, Suite 205, Portland, OR 97232. In-person service runs by appointment only, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and the office closes on government holidays. A drop box is available at the same location.6Oregon Health Authority. Find the Oregon Vital Records Office
One boundary worth flagging: the online ordering option through VitalChek does not support fee waivers, so fee-exempt requests have to go by mail, drop box, or in person.
How Long It Takes
Fee-exempt requests can take longer than standard orders because staff have to manually verify your supporting documentation. Oregon does not publish a specific turnaround estimate for mail-in orders, so plan on at least several weeks. If the office can’t locate a matching record, you’ll receive a notification explaining the issue.
If You Don’t Qualify
The standard fees for a certified copy ordered by mail or in person are $25 for a computer-issued (short form) certificate, $30 for a full-image (long form) certificate, and $25 for each additional copy. Pay by check or money order made out to OHA. Do not send cash.1Oregon Health Authority. Order a Birth Certificate
Watch out for third-party websites that charge inflated fees to “process” or “help apply” for Oregon certificates. The Oregon Health Authority has flagged these vendors as a recurring problem. The only legitimate online option is VitalChek accessed through the OHA website, and even that route runs about $47.50 for a first certificate after expedite and vendor fees are added on top of the $25 base cost.1Oregon Health Authority. Order a Birth Certificate