To order a Pennsylvania long-form birth certificate, submit Form H105.102 to the Division of Vital Records, write “long-form” or “vault copy” clearly on the application, include a photocopy of your government-issued photo ID, and pay the $20 fee ($30 total online). The state’s default output is the short-form computer-generated abstract, so the request has to say otherwise or you’ll get the wrong version.
What the Long-Form Is and When You Need It
The long-form is a full photographic reproduction of the original record filed at the time of birth, pulled from microfilm. It’s sometimes called the vault copy or full-image copy. It typically shows the attending physician’s or midwife’s signature, the hospital name, the parents’ ages and birthplaces, and the registrar’s signature.
The short-form abstract Pennsylvania issues by default is printed on security paper with a raised seal and lists only the core facts: name, date and place of birth, and parents’ names. Both versions are certified and both work for domestic identification, including REAL ID at PennDOT.
The reason to ask for the long-form is that many foreign consulates and immigration authorities refuse the short-form. People pursuing dual citizenship, coordinating international adoptions, or doing genealogical research are the usual requesters. If the certificate is only for use inside the United States, the standard abstract is almost always enough.
Who Can Order One
Pennsylvania birth records are not public. The Division of Vital Records checks eligibility on every application before releasing a copy. You can request your own certificate, and close family can request yours: spouse, parent or step-parent, sibling, half-sibling, step-child, son or daughter, grandparent, great-grandparent, grandchild, or great-grandchild. Someone with power of attorney or an attorney representing you can also apply with documentation.1Pennsylvania Department of Health. Birth Certificates
Step-parents and step-children have to prove the relationship with a marriage certificate. If the person named on the record has died, a family member who isn’t on the eligible list can still request the certificate by including a copy of the death certificate. Applicants outside the family circle have to show a legitimate legal interest and document it, or the request will be denied.
Age minimums matter: 18 to order online, 16 to order by mail or in person.
What to Put on the Application
The form is Form H105.102, “Application for a Birth Certificate,” on the Department of Health website. You’ll need:
- Full name at birth of the person on the record
- Date of birth
- Place of birth (city or county, and hospital if known)
- Parents’ full names, including the mother’s maiden name
If any of these details don’t match what’s on file, the Division may not be able to locate the record, and the application can be delayed or rejected.
Every applicant has to show a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID, such as a Pennsylvania driver’s license or a U.S. passport. For mail applications, send a legible photocopy of the ID with the form. If you’re requesting a relative’s certificate, include documentation showing the relationship, like a marriage license or your own birth certificate showing shared parentage.2Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Request a Birth Certificate
Write “long-form” or “vault copy” clearly on the application. Without that notation, the state produces the short-form abstract.
Three Ways to Order
Online
Pennsylvania’s only authorized online vendor is VitalChek, at mycertificates.health.pa.gov. The portal runs around the clock and accepts credit card payment. Applicants must be 18. The total is $30, which is the $20 certificate fee plus a $10 service fee.2Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Request a Birth Certificate The state warns against any other online fulfillment site, which may charge more and delay the order.
By Mail
Send the completed Form H105.102, a photocopy of your ID, and payment to:
Division of Vital Records
P.O. Box 1528
New Castle, PA 16103-15283Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Where to Write for Vital Records – Pennsylvania
The fee is $20 per certificate, paid by check or money order to “Vital Records.” Payment is deposited when the application is received and is non-refundable, even if the request is denied. Certificates come back by first-class mail.
In Person
Six public offices accept walk-in applications, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., closed holidays:
- Erie: 156 E. 14th Street, Erie, PA 16503
- Harrisburg: Forum Place, 1st Floor, 555 Walnut Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101
- New Castle: 105 Nesbitt Road, New Castle, PA 16105
- Philadelphia: 110 N. 8th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107 (appointment only)
- Pittsburgh: 411 Seventh Avenue, Room 360, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
- Scranton: Scranton State Office Building, Room 112, 100 Lackawanna Avenue, Scranton, PA 18503
Bring your original government-issued photo ID and any relationship documentation. The in-person fee is $20 and the minimum age is 16.4Pennsylvania Department of Health. Public Offices
Processing Time and Fee Notes
Current processing time for both online and mail-in orders is about two weeks from the date the Division receives the application.5Department of Health. Processing Times That window doesn’t include mail transit in either direction, so add days on each end for mailed requests. If your certificate hasn’t arrived within the stated window, call 724-656-3100.
The $20 fee applies regardless of how many copies you order or which method you use, and all fees are non-refundable. Members of the U.S. Armed Forces may qualify for a fee waiver; check the application form for the specific requirements before paying.
If You’re Using It Abroad, Plan for an Apostille
For use in another country, a long-form certificate on its own usually isn’t enough. Most foreign governments will reject a U.S. vital record without an apostille, the standardized authentication issued under the Hague Convention.
The Pennsylvania Department of State handles apostilles through the Office of Notaries, Commissions and Legislation. The fee is $15 per document, not per page. Requests can go by mail or by in-person appointment at the North Office Building, Room 201, 401 North Street, Harrisburg, PA 17120.6Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Certifications, Apostilles, and the Authentication of Documents
For a mail submission, include the original certified birth certificate, a cover letter or the Department’s “Request for Legalization of Documents” form, the name of the destination country, your contact information, and payment by personal check, money order, or cashier’s check payable to “Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.” Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope for return. If you want a courier return, enclose a prepaid air bill, but note that the Department does not accept FedEx or DHL for return shipments. Cash isn’t accepted at in-person appointments.
Mail-in apostille processing takes two to three weeks, not counting transit. The sequence matters: order the long-form certificate first, wait for it to arrive, then send it for the apostille. Stacked back to back, the two steps can easily run a month or more before you have a document a foreign authority will accept.