How to Request an Original Birth Certificate in California

To request a birth certificate in California, submit Form VS 111 (Application for Certified Copy of Birth Record) along with the $31 fee either by mail to the California Department of Public Health – Vital Records (CDPH-VR) or in person at the county recorder’s office in the county where the birth occurred.¹ California does not release the original record on file; you receive a certified copy, which carries the same legal weight as the original for uses like passports, school enrollment, and proof of citizenship. Mail-in requests to the state take roughly five to seven weeks, while county offices often process in-person requests the same day.²

Decide Which Type of Copy You Need

California issues two versions of the certified birth certificate, and picking the wrong one will send you back to the start.

An authorized certified copy is what you need for anything involving identity: driver’s license, passport, employment eligibility, Social Security. It looks like a standard birth certificate with no special markings. Only certain people can request one.

An informational certified copy contains the same birth details but is printed with a legend across the face reading “INFORMATIONAL, NOT A VALID DOCUMENT TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY.” Some information may be redacted, and it cannot be used to prove identity. Anyone can order an informational copy.³

Who Can Request an Authorized Copy

California law limits authorized copies to the following requesters:

The person named on the certificate (the registrant)
A parent or legal guardian listed on the certificate
A child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner of the registrant
An attorney representing the registrant or the registrant’s estate
A person appointed by a court to act on behalf of the registrant or estate, such as an executor or someone holding power of attorney
A licensed adoption agency seeking the record to comply with California Family Code requirements
A law enforcement officer or government representative conducting official business as authorized by law

If you don’t fit any of those categories, an informational copy is still available to you.³

What to Gather Before You Apply

The application is Form VS 111. You can download it from the CDPH-VR website or pick one up at the county recorder’s office in the county where the birth occurred.¹ Before filling it out, have these details ready:

The registrant’s full name at birth
Date of birth (or approximate date)
City and county of birth in California
Both parents’ first and last names at birth

For an authorized copy, the application includes a Sworn Statement (Form VS 20) that you must sign under penalty of perjury in front of a notary public. The notarized statement confirms you are legally eligible to receive the record, and CDPH-VR will not process your request without it.⁴ California caps notary fees at $15 per signature, so the notarization itself is cheap. This step is where most incomplete applications fall apart, so don’t mail anything until the sworn statement is signed and stamped.

How to Submit the Request

You have three routes, and they differ in speed and cost.

By Mail to CDPH-VR

Send the completed VS 111, the notarized Sworn Statement (for authorized copies), and payment by check or money order made out to “CDPH Vital Records” to:

California Department of Public Health
Vital Records – MS 5103
P.O. Box 997410
Sacramento, CA 95899-7410⁵

Do not send cash. CDPH-VR states that it cannot be responsible for fees lost or misdirected in the mail.² The state office does not have a public counter, so you cannot walk this in.⁵

In Person at the County Recorder

Request the copy directly at the county recorder or registrar office in the county where the birth was recorded.¹ Many counties process the request the same day, which makes this the fastest option. Bring a government-issued photo ID (driver’s license, passport, or permanent resident card). County fees are generally $31 per copy, matching the state fee.

Online Through a Third-Party Vendor

Some counties partner with online vendors such as VitalChek. Online ordering is convenient but adds service and shipping fees on top of the $31 base. If your county offers in-person service, that is almost always cheaper and just as quick.

Fees and Processing Times

The state fee is $31 per copy, effective January 1, 2026, following the fee increase under Assembly Bill 64. Each additional copy ordered at the same time is another $31.²

For complete mail-in requests, CDPH-VR estimates five to seven weeks from the date it receives the application. Incomplete requests are far slower: roughly 12 to 14 weeks for CDPH-VR to mail you a letter asking for what’s missing, then another 8 to 10 weeks after you send it back.⁶ Confirm the fee and the notarized sworn statement are both in the envelope before it goes out.

In-person requests at the county are often handled the same day.

Free Copy for People Experiencing Homelessness

Under California Health and Safety Code Section 103577, county registrar and recorder offices must issue one certified birth record at no charge to a person who verifies their status as homeless. A homeless services provider — a government or nonprofit agency funded to serve people experiencing homelessness, a licensed attorney, a school liaison, or a law enforcement officer designated as a homeless liaison — must sign an affidavit verifying the applicant’s status.⁷ The waiver is only available at county offices, not through CDPH-VR at the state level.

Sealed Adoption Records Are Handled Separately

If you were adopted and are trying to obtain the original pre-adoption birth certificate, the standard VS 111 process will not work. The original is sealed when the adoption is finalized and a new certificate is issued with the adoptive parents’ names. An adult adoptee has to petition the superior court in the county where they live (if in California) or where the adoption was granted, and must show “good and compelling cause” for unsealing the record. Access is at the court’s discretion.⁸ Only after a court order is granted do you submit that order and the certified copy fee to CDPH-VR to receive the original.⁹

1
California Department of Public Health. Vital Records Obtaining Certified Copies of Birth Records
2
California Department of Public Health. Vital Records Fees
3
CDPH – CA.gov. Authorized Copy vs. Informational Copy
4
California Department of Public Health. Application for Certified Copy of Birth Record VS 111
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CA.Gov. Contact CDPH Vital Records
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California Department of Public Health. Vital Records Processing Times
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California Legislative Information. California Code HSC 103577
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California Legislative Information. California Code HSC 102705
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California Department of Social Services. How To Obtain Original Birth Certificate From the Superior Court