To get an Arkansas birth certificate online, use the Arkansas Department of Health’s vital records portal: the first certified copy costs $12 plus $6.85 in online fees, and the state takes 7 to 14 business days to process your order before it ships.1Arkansas.gov. Arkansas Vital Records You start from the Order Birth Records page on the department’s website.2Arkansas Department of Health. Order Birth Records
Who Can Order Online
Arkansas limits certified copies to a short list of people. Under Arkansas Code 20-18-305, the state registrar will issue a certified copy to the person named on the record, that person’s spouse, child, parent, guardian, or an authorized representative.3Justia. Arkansas Code 20-18-305 – Issuance of Certified Copies and Data From System of Vital Statistics Someone outside those categories can still obtain a copy by showing the record is necessary to protect a personal or property right. Guardians and authorized representatives should expect to upload documentation of their authority, such as guardianship papers or a power of attorney.
The statute does not set a minimum age for the person named on the certificate, so a minor can be the subject of the record, though a parent or guardian typically completes the application. Access to records less than 100 years old is restricted to eligible individuals; older records open up for broader access.4Vital Records. Ordering a Vital Record
What to Have Ready Before You Start
Gather the following before opening the portal, because the online form will ask for all of it:5Arkansas Department of Health. Arkansas Department of Health Office of Vital Records Birth Certificate Application
- Full legal name at birth (first, middle, last).
- Date of birth.
- City or county of birth.
- Father’s full name.
- Mother’s full maiden name.
You also need a valid government-issued photo ID that shows your photo, current address, signature, and a unique identifying number, such as a driver’s license or passport.
If You Do Not Have a Primary Photo ID
Two secondary documents can stand in for a primary photo ID. Acceptable combinations include a signed Social Security card with a bank statement showing your current address, a school ID card with a current report card, an employment ID with a pay stub, a car registration or title, a voter registration card, or a filed federal tax return. Each item must be current, and you need at least two.
Placing the Order
Open the Order Birth Records page on the Arkansas Department of Health website and launch the online portal.2Arkansas Department of Health. Order Birth Records The portal walks you through the birth information above, then prompts you to upload your identification. Review your entries carefully before moving forward. Errors can delay the order or get it rejected, and the processing fee is nonrefundable.
After the information screens, you complete an electronic signature and continue to payment. The portal accepts major credit and debit cards, including Visa and Mastercard. On submission, you receive an email confirmation with an order number in the format “ARXXXXXX” that you will use to track the request.6Arkansas.gov. Status Check
What It Costs
The state charges $12 for the first certified copy. Each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time costs $10.2Arkansas Department of Health. Order Birth Records Online orders add two more charges: a $5.00 standard processing fee and a $1.85 nonrefundable identity verification fee. Expedited shipping is offered at checkout for an extra cost, though the department does not publish shipping prices on its website.
If the office cannot locate a matching record, state law requires it to keep the $12 as a search fee, and the $5.00 online processing fee is also nonrefundable. Anything paid beyond those amounts is refunded.
How Long It Takes and How to Track It
Online requests take 7 to 14 business days from the date your order is approved, plus shipping time on top of that. The window is not guaranteed and can shift with volume.7Arkansas Department of Health. Vital Records Support An incomplete application stretches the timeline further, because staff have to follow up before processing starts.
To check progress, enter your “ARXXXXXX” confirmation number at the state’s status check portal.6Arkansas.gov. Status Check For questions the portal cannot answer, Vital Records can be reached at 501-682-1214, or by mail at 4815 West Markham Street, Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205.
If You Need It Faster or Cannot Use the Portal
The quickest route is in person. The Vital Records office at 4815 West Markham Street in Little Rock accepts walk-in requests for same-day issuance Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.5Arkansas Department of Health. Arkansas Department of Health Office of Vital Records Birth Certificate Application Bring the completed application, acceptable ID, and payment.
Mail orders use the same application form, the same $12 and $10 fee structure, and the same 7-to-14-business-day processing window, but you skip the $5.00 and $1.85 online fees. Include a copy of your ID and a check or money order payable to “Arkansas Department of Health.” The office does not accept cash or temporary checks. Send everything to:2Arkansas Department of Health. Order Birth Records
Arkansas Department of Health
Vital Records, Slot 44
4815 West Markham Street
Little Rock, AR 72205
Fixing an Error Is a Separate Process
The online order portal issues copies of what is already on file. If the information on the certificate is wrong, you need the department’s amendment process, which carries its own $15 fee on top of any replacement certificate.8Arkansas Department of Health. Change or Amend a Birth or Death Certificate If you catch an error and return the incorrect certificate within one year of issuance, the department may replace it without charging the certificate fee again.