To get a Florida birth certificate, you order it from the state’s Bureau of Vital Statistics by mail, in person at a county health department, or online through the state’s contracted vendor VitalChek. The first computer-generated copy ordered directly from the Bureau costs $19, and processing takes three to five business days after the Bureau receives your request.1Florida Department of Health. Birth Certificates Every order requires a completed application, a copy of valid photo ID, and payment, and you must be legally eligible to receive the record.
Who Can Request the Record
Florida birth records are confidential for 125 years from the date of birth under Section 382.025, Florida Statutes.2The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 382.025 – Certified Copies of Vital Records, Confidentiality, Research Within that window, only a limited group of people can obtain a certified copy:
- The registrant, if at least 18, a certified homeless youth, or a minor whose legal disabilities of nonage have been removed by a court.
- A parent listed on the record, or a court-appointed guardian with certified documentation of the appointment.
- A legal representative acting on behalf of an eligible person.
- A spouse, adult child, grandchild, or adult sibling of the registrant, but only after providing the registrant’s death certificate.
- Law enforcement and state or federal agencies for official purposes.
- Anyone authorized by a court order from a judge with proper jurisdiction.
The post-death rule for family trips up a lot of requesters. A sibling or grandparent has no independent right to a living person’s birth certificate. If you don’t fit any eligible category, your options are a notarized affidavit from someone who is eligible authorizing you to receive the record, or a court order.2The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 382.025 – Certified Copies of Vital Records, Confidentiality, Research
What You Need To Apply
The application is Form DH 726, “Application for Florida Birth Certificate,” downloadable from the Florida Department of Health website or available at any county health department.3Florida Department of Health. Application for Florida Birth Certificate It asks for:
- The registrant’s full legal name at birth
- Date and county of birth
- Full names of both parents, including the mother’s name before marriage
- Your relationship to the registrant
- The reason for the request
You also need valid photo ID. A driver’s license from any state, a state ID card, a U.S. passport, or a military ID all work. The ID must be current and clearly show your name.4Legal Information Institute. Florida Administrative Code 64V-1.0131 – Certifications of Vital Records, Information Required for Release, Applicant Identification Requirements Mail a legible photocopy; for in-person visits staff will view the original.
Print clearly. Illegible handwriting is one of the most common reasons orders stall. Notarization is not required for a standard request, but it is required if you are authorizing someone else to pick up the record through an affidavit.
What It Costs
Every order includes a non-refundable $9 search fee, which the state keeps whether or not a matching record is found.1Florida Department of Health. Birth Certificates On top of that, pricing depends on how you order.
Bureau of Vital Statistics by mail. The first computer-generated certificate is $19, which rolls in the search fee, $1 shipping, and processing. Each additional copy of the same certificate ordered at the same time is $4.1Florida Department of Health. Birth Certificates Payment must be by check or money order payable to the Bureau of Vital Statistics. No cash by mail.
County health departments. Counties set their own prices. Some charge $12 for the first copy and $8 for additional copies; others charge more. Same-day walk-in service for a photocopy certificate may carry a $10 rush fee where it’s offered.1Florida Department of Health. Birth Certificates Most offices take credit cards, checks, and money orders. Call ahead to confirm fees and payment methods.
Online through VitalChek. VitalChek is the only contracted online vendor, and the Department of Health specifically warns against any other site because the application contains sensitive personal information. VitalChek charges $7 on top of the $19 state fee, so a single online order starts at $26.1Florida Department of Health. Birth Certificates
Commemorative certificates. A decorative commemorative version runs $34 and includes a standard computer-generated certificate in the same order. Commemorative certificates aren’t accepted for legal or official purposes, so they function as keepsakes only.5Florida Department of Health. Application for Florida Commemorative Birth Certificate
How To Order
By Mail
Send the completed DH 726, a photocopy of your ID, and payment to:
Florida Department of Health
Bureau of Vital Statistics
P.O. Box 210
Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042
Normal processing is three to five business days after the Bureau receives your application. Amended records take longer, and shipping time is separate from processing, so add a few days for delivery.3Florida Department of Health. Application for Florida Birth Certificate
In Person at a County Health Department
Most of Florida’s 67 county health departments issue birth certificates at a vital records counter. For births from 1917 forward that are already digitized, many offices can print a certified copy the same day. Staff verify your ID and take payment on the spot. County offices generally can only issue computer-generated certificates for records already in the statewide electronic system; older or complicated records may still have to go through the Bureau in Jacksonville.
Online Through VitalChek
Through VitalChek’s secure portal you upload a digital copy of your photo ID, enter the birth details, and pay by credit card. Orders typically ship within five to seven business days, and you get an email confirmation with a tracking number.1Florida Department of Health. Birth Certificates Some county health departments also take VitalChek orders for local processing.
Correcting or Amending the Record
If you’re ordering a copy and spot a mistake, or you already know the record has an error, the Bureau handles corrections separately. To fix factual mistakes like a misspelled name or wrong date, you submit Form DH 429 (Application for Amendment to Florida Birth Record) and Form DH 430 (Affidavit of Amendment of Certificate of Live Birth), with the affidavit signed before a notary. If the registrant is 18 or older, the registrant signs; for a minor, a parent or guardian signs. Any correction to the registrant’s name requires both listed parents to sign.6Legal Information Institute. Florida Administrative Code 64V-1.002 – Birth Certificate Amendments, Who May Apply, Fees The amendment fee is $20, non-refundable, and includes one certified copy of the corrected record.7Florida Department of Health. Amendments and Corrections
Adding a father where the mother was unmarried at birth and no father is listed uses Form DH 432 (Acknowledgment of Paternity), signed by both parents before a notary or two witnesses, along with Form DH 429, both parents’ photo ID, and the $20 fee.8Florida Department of Health. Acknowledgment of Paternity
After a Florida court orders a legal name change, the clerk of court sends a report to the Bureau, typically within 30 days, and the Bureau amends the record by attaching that report. For an out-of-state name change, submit a certified copy of the court order with Form DH 429, photo ID, and the $20 fee.7Florida Department of Health. Amendments and Corrections
If You Need the Certificate for Use Abroad
A foreign government will usually require an apostille on top of the certified copy. The Florida Secretary of State, through the Division of Corporations, is the only authority in Florida that issues one. Submit the original certified copy (photocopies are not accepted), the Department of State’s Apostille Request Form, a self-addressed stamped envelope or pre-paid air bill, and a check or money order payable to the Florida Department of State. The fee is $10 per document, or $20 if the certificate was certified by a Clerk of the Court rather than the Bureau of Vital Statistics, because a Certificate of Incumbency is then required. Cash and credit cards are not accepted.9Florida Department of State. Authentications (Apostilles and Notarial Certifications)
Mail the request to the Division of Corporations, Apostille Section, 2415 N. Monroe Street, Suite 810, Tallahassee, FL 32303. The apostille process is entirely separate from ordering the certificate, so order the certified copy first and build in extra time.