How to Get a Birth Certificate in Illinois: Steps, Fees, and Waivers

To get a birth certificate in Illinois, submit an application with a valid photo ID and $15 to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) or to the county clerk in the county where the birth occurred. In person, you can usually walk out with the certificate the same day. By mail to IDPH, plan on about 12 weeks.¹

Who Can Request One

Illinois birth records are not public. Only people with a direct connection to the record can get a certified copy.² That means:

The person named on the record, if they are 18 or older.
A parent listed on the record.
A legal guardian or legal representative, such as an attorney, someone with power of attorney, or a court-appointed representative. Written proof of that authority has to come with the request.

Genealogy researchers who aren’t in one of those categories can still get an uncertified copy, but only if the birth was at least 75 years ago. Genealogical copies are $10 for the first and $2 for each additional copy ordered at the same time.³⁴

What to Gather Before You Apply

You need details about the person on the record: full name, date of birth, place of birth (city and county), and sex. You also need both parents’ full names as shown on the record, including the mother’s maiden name before her first marriage.¹

You also have to prove your own identity with a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID. A driver’s license, passport, FOID card, or military ID all qualify. The ID has to be legible and show your photo, name, date of birth, and expiration date.⁵

If your ID is expired by less than six months, add one document showing your name and current address dated within the last six months. If it’s expired by more than six months, or you have no photo ID, you need two such documents. Acceptable examples include a medical card, auto insurance card, voter registration card, a pay stub with your full printed information, or a bank statement.

Where to Apply

You have three options. Speed and cost vary.

By Mail to IDPH

Send your completed application, a copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order payable to the Illinois Department of Public Health to:

Illinois Department of Public Health
Division of Vital Records
925 E. Ridgely Ave.
Springfield, Illinois 62702-2737

Don’t send cash. Mail requests currently take about 12 weeks from the day IDPH receives your paperwork, and the office does not give status updates during that window.¹ If you need the certificate for a job, a passport, or a court date, mail is probably not the right channel.

In Person

The IDPH Division of Vital Records at 925 E. Ridgely Ave. in Springfield accepts walk-ins on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for birth and death records. Bring the completed application, your ID, and payment.¹

Your county clerk is usually the faster option if you don’t live near Springfield. County clerks keep records for births that happened in their county and can issue certified copies. Hours and fees vary by county, so call before you go. Some counties charge more per additional copy or add a credit card processing fee.

Online Through VitalChek

Illinois uses VitalChek for online orders, which lets you pay by credit card. VitalChek adds its own processing and shipping fees on top of the state’s certificate fee, so the total runs noticeably above $15. Online orders generally move faster than mailed requests to IDPH, though the exact wait depends on order type and current backlog.

Fees

IDPH issues two versions of a certified copy:⁴

Long-form certified copy, $15. A full copy of the original birth record, which is what you want for passports, driver’s licenses, and most official uses. Additional copies ordered at the same time are $2 each.
Short-form certified copy, $10. A computer-generated abstract with name, date of birth, sex, place of birth, parents’ names and ages, and a few other fields. Additional copies are $2 each. Some agencies don’t accept the short form, so if you aren’t sure what the requesting agency needs, ask for the long form.

County clerk pricing can differ from IDPH’s schedule, so confirm the fee locally if you’re applying at the county level.

Fee Waivers

Illinois waives the fee for two groups.

If you were released from the Illinois Department of Corrections on parole, mandatory supervised release, final discharge, or pardon, you qualify for one free search and one free certified copy. You’ll need a verification form completed by the Department of Corrections that confirms your date of birth and Social Security number, plus a valid state-issued photo ID. The waiver can be used once.⁶

All search and copy fees are waived for people experiencing homelessness. A qualifying agency has to verify your housing status. That can be a government-funded homeless services organization, a licensed attorney, a public school homeless liaison or school social worker, or a state-funded human services provider. Under this waiver you can receive up to four birth records per year.⁷

If You Need Something Other Than a Standard Copy

A standard request assumes the record is on file and correct. A few situations follow different rules.

Correcting an error. Mistakes in a name, date of birth, or parents’ information are handled through IDPH with an Affidavit and Certificate of Correction Request form, a photo ID, and supporting documents that were created before you turned 19 and show both your date of birth and the correct name. The fee is $15 for the first copy and $2 for each additional copy.⁸

Changing the gender marker. Since July 2023, you can change the gender designation by signing a sworn statement affirming your gender identity or intersex condition. No medical letter is required. Complete an Affidavit and Certificate of Correction Request form, have it notarized, and submit it to the Division of Vital Records. Available designations are M, F, or X. For applicants under 18, a parent or guardian files. The fee is $15 and includes one certified copy. If you’re also changing your legal name, include a certified copy of the court order.⁹

Adoptee access to the original record. When a child is adopted in Illinois, a new certificate is issued and the original is sealed. Adult adoptees born in Illinois who are 21 or older can request a non-certified copy of the original birth record for $15, using the Request for a Non-Certified Copy of Original Birth Certificate form with a photo ID. The copy has no state seal and isn’t for use as identification.¹⁰

A birth that was never recorded. If you were born in Illinois but no certificate was ever created, you can apply for a delayed birth registration with the local registrar in the district where you were born, on forms from the State Registrar. The process requires documents proving the facts of your birth, and older records carry more weight. The rules get stricter with age, so read the regulation before you start.¹¹

Using the certificate abroad. Most countries in the Hague Convention require an apostille to accept a U.S. birth certificate. In Illinois, apostilles are issued by the Secretary of State, not IDPH. Get the certified copy from IDPH or a county clerk first, then submit the Application for Authentication with $2 per document to the Secretary of State’s Index Department. Mail requests take 7 to 14 business days; walk-ins in Chicago or Springfield are generally processed while you wait. Do not have the birth certificate notarized before submitting it.¹²

1
Illinois Department of Public Health. Obtain Birth Certificate
2
Illinois Department of Public Health. Birth Records
3
Illinois Department of Public Health. Genealogy – Birth, Death, Other Records
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Illinois Department of Public Health. Fee Schedule
5
Legal Information Institute. Illinois Admin Code tit 20 1290.50 – Custodian Identification Procedures
6
Legal Information Institute. Illinois Admin Code tit 77 500.22 – Fee Waivers
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Illinois General Assembly. Section 500.22 Fee Waivers
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Illinois Department of Public Health. Correct Birth Certificate
9
Illinois Department of Public Health. Gender Reassignment
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Illinois Department of Public Health. Adoption
11
Legal Information Institute. Illinois Admin Code tit 77 500.30 – Delayed Records of Birth
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Illinois Secretary of State. Apostilles and Certifications