To get a birth certificate in Texas, you order a certified copy from the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Vital Statistics Section or a local registrar. Each certified copy costs $22, and you can apply online, by mail, or in person. Standard processing runs about 20–25 business days for online orders and 25–30 business days for mail-in requests.1Texas DSHS. Processing Times Not everyone is allowed to request a copy, so check eligibility before you pay.
Who Can Request a Copy
Texas limits access to birth records. A “qualified applicant” is the person named on the record, an immediate family member by blood, marriage, or adoption, a legal guardian, or an authorized legal representative.2Cornell Law Institute. Texas Administrative Code 25-181.1 – Definitions Law enforcement and government agencies can also qualify when they have a direct, tangible interest tied to a statutory duty. Friends, employers, and other third parties without legal authorization cannot obtain someone else’s certificate.
Birth records stay closed for 75 years from the date of birth. After that, the record becomes public and anyone can access it through state archives.3Texas Department of State Health Services. Request Procedures for Vital Statistics Data
Identification You Need to Provide
Every application requires proof of identity. Texas uses a tiered system, and you satisfy it with any one of three options:4Texas DSHS. Acceptable Identification (ID)
- One document from Group A, which covers common photo IDs: a U.S. state driver’s license, state ID card, military ID, U.S. passport, license to carry a handgun, or federal law enforcement employment ID. Immigration documents like a Permanent Resident Card or Employment Authorization Document also qualify.
- Two documents from Group B if you don’t have a Group A ID. Group B includes a current student ID, an expired Group A document, a signed Social Security card, a DD-214, a Medicaid or Medicare card, or a foreign passport with a valid U.S. visa.
- One Group B document plus two from Group C, as a fallback for applicants with limited documentation.
Mail and in-person applications need a clear photocopy of your ID (bring the original if you visit an office). Online orders verify your identity electronically using your driver’s license or state ID number and Social Security number.5Texas DSHS. Requirements for Online Orders
Ordering Online
The fastest way to start is the Texas.gov vital records portal. You complete a digital application, provide your ID details for electronic verification, and pay by credit or debit card. The fee is $22 per certified copy.6Cornell Law Institute. Texas Administrative Code 25-181.22 – Fees Charged for Vital Records Services
There is one important limit. If you are out of state, you can only use the online portal to order your own birth certificate or your child’s certificate when you’re listed as a parent on the record. Anyone else ordering from outside Texas has to use the mail process.5Texas DSHS. Requirements for Online Orders
Ordering by Mail
Mail applications use Form VS-140, a downloadable PDF from the DSHS website. You’ll need the full name on the birth record, date of birth, city or county of birth in Texas, and both parents’ names (including maiden names).7Texas Department of State Health Services. Mail Application for Birth Record Missing or wrong information can get the application rejected, and a resubmission resets your processing clock.
The application must be signed and notarized. Texas Health and Safety Code § 191.0031 requires notarization for mail-in vital records requests. Include a photocopy of acceptable ID and a check or money order for $22 payable to DSHS – Vital Statistics. Cash is not accepted by mail.
Send standard mail to:8Texas DSHS. Vital Statistics Mailing Addresses
Texas Vital Statistics
Department of State Health Services
P.O. Box 12040
Austin, TX 78711-2040
For expedited processing, use an overnight carrier (FedEx, UPS, or similar) and send it to a different physical address:
Texas Vital Statistics, MC 2096
Department of State Health Services
1100 W. 49th Street
Austin, TX 78756
Expedited service adds a $25 processing fee, and you pay for overnight return shipping: $16 for standard overnight or $22.95 for USPS Express Mail to a P.O. Box.9Texas DSHS. Costs and Fees
Ordering in Person
Local registrar offices, county clerks, and district offices across Texas accept walk-in applications. You can request the record from the county or city where the birth occurred, and some offices can also pull records from anywhere in the state.10Texas DSHS. Order Records Locally This is the best route when you need the document quickly, because many offices can print it the same day.
Local offices set their own hours, payment methods, and procedures. Call ahead before you go. At the DSHS office in Austin, paying by credit card adds a $2.25 processing fee.9Texas DSHS. Costs and Fees Bring your original ID for verification, not a photocopy.
Fees and Processing Times
A certified copy costs $22, whether you order the long form (used for passports) or the short form (often accepted for school registration).9Texas DSHS. Costs and Fees Each additional copy ordered at the same time is another $22.6Cornell Law Institute. Texas Administrative Code 25-181.22 – Fees Charged for Vital Records Services
Current DSHS processing times:1Texas DSHS. Processing Times
- Online (Texas.gov): 20–25 business days
- Mail-in: 25–30 business days
- Expedited: processed ahead of standard applications, though DSHS does not publish a guaranteed turnaround
These estimates cover processing only, not shipping. Incomplete applications are rejected and returned, and resubmissions start the clock over. If the state finds no matching record, you’ll receive a “No Record Found” letter instead of a certificate.
If the Certificate Has an Error
Ordering a copy won’t fix a misspelled name, wrong date, or incorrect parent information. Corrections go through a separate amendment process using Form VS-170, with filing fees that depend on what you’re changing: $15 for a standard correction such as a name spelling or date, and $25 for adding, removing, or replacing a parent, or issuing a new certificate based on sex or a parent’s race. A certified corrected copy is still $22 on top of the filing fee.11Texas Department of State Health Services. Correcting a Birth Certificate You’ll need original or certified supporting documents proving the correct information; photocopies are not accepted.
Using the Certificate Abroad (Apostille)
If you need to use a Texas birth certificate in another country, most foreign governments require an apostille authenticating the signatures and seals. This is a two-step process, and DSHS handles only the first step.12Texas Department of State Health Services. Records for Foreign Governments (Apostille)
First, order a certified copy from DSHS and write “Apostille” as your reason for the request. Then send that certified copy to the Texas Secretary of State’s office with the $15 apostille fee per document.13Texas Secretary of State. Request a Universal Apostille The two offices operate independently, so DSHS cannot process the apostille fee for you.