To get a certified birth certificate in Texas, submit an application to the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Vital Statistics unit with acceptable ID and a $22 fee. You can order online through the state’s vital records portal, by mail with a notarized form, or in person at a local registrar in the county where the birth occurred. Only the person named on the record, immediate family, or an authorized legal representative can request a copy.
Who Qualifies to Order
Texas limits birth record access to “qualified applicants” under Texas Administrative Code Title 25, Section 181.1. You qualify if you are the person named on the certificate (and of legal age), a parent, child, sibling, current spouse, or grandparent.1Legal Information Institute. 25 Tex. Admin. Code 181.1 – Definitions
Legal representatives, attorneys-in-fact, and court-appointed guardians can also order, but they must attach proof of their authority: a court order, power of attorney, or notarized affidavit designating them as the registrant’s agent.1Legal Information Institute. 25 Tex. Admin. Code 181.1 – Definitions
Extended relatives such as cousins, aunts, and uncles don’t qualify unless they can show a direct and tangible legal interest in the record. If you don’t fit one of these categories, your application will be rejected.
Pick the Right Type Before You Pay
Both the long form and short form cost $22, so if there’s any doubt, order the long form. Passport offices and most government agencies specifically require it.2Texas DSHS. Record Types
- The long form is a reproduction of the original record and includes the history of any corrections or amendments. It’s required for a U.S. passport, most driver’s license applications, and dual citizenship claims.
- The short form shows only current information — name, date of birth, place of birth, sex, and parent names — with no amendment history. It’s generally accepted for school registration, employment verification, and insurance.
- A heirloom certificate is a decorative abstract meant for framing and is not a substitute for legal purposes.
- A birth verification letter confirms name, date, and county of birth but is not a legal substitute for a certified copy. Confirm the requesting agency will accept it before ordering.
- An Election Identification Certificate (EIC) copy is issued at no charge when used solely to obtain a voter ID from the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Statewide Texas birth records only go back to 1903. For earlier births, contact the county where the birth occurred or look to church and local government archives.
What You Need on the Application
Form VS-140 asks for the full legal name of the person on the certificate, the exact date of birth, the county of birth, and the full names of both parents including each parent’s name before first marriage. You also check a box indicating your relationship to the person named: self, parent, child, spouse, sibling, grandparent, legal guardian, or legal representative.3City of Borger. Birth Certificate Application
Getting these details wrong is the most common reason applications stall. If the parent names or county don’t match the state database, DSHS rejects the request. Check with a family member before submitting if you’re unsure.
Acceptable Identification
Texas uses a three-tier ID system, and you need to satisfy one of these combinations:
- One Group A (primary) ID, such as a current U.S. driver’s license, a state or federal ID card, a U.S. passport, or a military ID.
- Two Group B (secondary) IDs if you don’t have a primary. Examples include a signed Social Security card, an expired Group A ID, a Medicaid or Medicare card, a student ID, or a foreign passport with a U.S. visa.
- One Group B ID plus two Group C (supporting) documents, such as a recent utility bill, a paycheck stub, a bank statement, a voter registration card, or a marriage license.
DSHS publishes the full list of accepted documents on its Acceptable Identification page.4Texas DSHS. Acceptable Identification (ID)
How to Submit Your Order
Online
The fastest route is the state’s Online Vital Records Application (OVRA) at ovra.txapps.texas.gov. The portal walks you through identity verification and collects your application electronically.5Texas.gov. Order Vital Records You pay the $22 state fee plus a processing fee at checkout.
By Mail
Download Form VS-140 from the DSHS website and sign it in front of a notary — mail-in applications require a notarized signature.6Texas DSHS. Requirements for Mail/In-Person Orders Include a photocopy of your acceptable ID and a check or money order payable to DSHS Vital Statistics.
For regular processing, send the packet to:
Texas Vital Statistics
Department of State Health Services
P.O. Box 12040
Austin, TX 78711-2040
For expedited processing, send it by overnight carrier to the physical address:
Texas Vital Statistics, MC 2096
Department of State Health Services
1100 W. 49th Street
Austin, TX 787567Texas DSHS. Vital Statistics Mailing Addresses
Sending a regular application to the expedited address, or the reverse, causes delays. Match the address to the service you’re paying for.
In Person
You can also visit the local registrar’s office in the county where the birth occurred. The clerk reviews your application and ID on the spot, and the office can issue a copy from its own records or pull one from the state’s electronic system.8Texas DSHS. Local Registrars DSHS maintains a county-by-county directory of local vital record offices.
Fees and How Long It Takes
A certified copy is $22, long form or short form.9Texas DSHS. Costs and Fees Online orders add a portal processing fee. Mail and in-person orders are paid by check or money order to DSHS Vital Statistics.
Standard mail orders take roughly six to eight weeks from the day DSHS receives the application. Online orders are typically faster, and a local registrar can sometimes process an in-person request the same day. Expedited processing and overnight return shipping are available for an additional cost; those orders must go to the physical address by overnight carrier.
Certified copies are mailed to the address on your application and carry security features like color-shifting ink, watermarks, and a registrar’s seal that confirm authenticity for legal use. Expedited shipments come with a tracking number.
If You Need to Correct an Error
If a name is misspelled, a date is wrong, or parent information needs updating, you can file an amendment through DSHS. You’ll complete the amendment form from the DSHS website, have it notarized, provide a photocopy of acceptable ID, and attach supporting documentation that proves the correct information, such as a hospital record, marriage license, or court order.10Texas DSHS. Requirements for Changing Vital Records
The amendment form cannot have cross-outs, white-out, or correction tape. If DSHS rejects the application as incomplete, the case closes and you start over with a new submission. Court-ordered name changes require a certified copy of the judgment. After an amendment is processed, remember that the long form will show the correction history while a short form will reflect only the current information.
If You Need the Record Abroad
For a Texas birth certificate to be recognized by a foreign government, you’ll usually need an apostille. First, order a certified copy from DSHS and note “Apostille” as the reason for your request.11Texas DSHS. Records for Foreign Governments (Apostille) Then send the certified copy to the Texas Secretary of State, the only agency in Texas authorized to issue apostilles for Texas public records. The Secretary of State issues a universal apostille accepted in all countries, including those outside the Hague Convention.12Office of the Texas Secretary of State. Apostille/Authentication of Documents
The apostille fee is $15 per document, and the birth certificate must have been issued within the past five years to be processed.13Office of the Texas Secretary of State. Request a Universal Apostille If your certified copy is older than that, order a fresh one from DSHS first. For countries outside the Hague Convention, additional authentication from the U.S. Department of State may be required after the Texas apostille is issued.