To get a long-form birth certificate in Indiana, submit State Form 49607 to the Indiana Department of Health’s Division of Vital Records (or to the local county health department where the birth occurred) along with valid identification, proof of your relationship to the person on the record, and the $10 fee. Ask specifically for the long-form version, because Indiana issues two sizes of certified birth certificate and the shorter one is the default for most requests.
What Makes the Long-Form Version Different
Indiana issues two certified birth certificates, both legally valid. The standard certificate is 8.5″ x 5.5″ and lists the child’s name, sex, birthplace, date of birth, parents’ names and birthplaces, filing date, and certificate number. That version handles most everyday paperwork: driver’s license, school enrollment, Social Security card replacement, and a U.S. passport application.1Indiana Department of Health. Births
The long-form is 8.5″ x 11″ and adds the parents’ dates of birth, the exact time of birth, the attending physician or midwife, the certifier’s name, and the hospital or birth facility. Those additional fields are why certain agencies and foreign governments insist on it. Common situations that call for the long-form include international marriage, dual citizenship, immigration and visa applications, apostille requests, pre-adoption proceedings, and lineage society applications such as the Daughters of the American Revolution.1Indiana Department of Health. Births
Indiana’s Division of Vital Records holds birth records for events in the state going back to 1907. If the birth occurred before that year, the state may not have a filed record on hand.
Who Is Allowed to Request One
Indiana restricts birth certificate access to people with a “direct interest” in the record. Under Indiana Code 16-37-1-10, the state registrar issues certified copies only after confirming that requirement is met.2Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 16-37-1-10 – Confidentiality; Disclosure of Data in Records; Conditions for Availability; Grounds for Denial The Department of Health defines direct interest as a documented financial or legal interest, or an immediate kinship connection to the person named on the record.3Indiana Department of Health. General FAQs
Eligible requesters, each of whom must present valid ID and proof of relationship, include:
- The person named on the record, if they are at least 18.
- Parents listed on the certificate.
- Grandparents, who must be the parent of someone listed as a parent and show proof.
- Siblings 18 or older, with proof of the sibling relationship.
- Children or grandchildren 18 or older, with proof.
- A current spouse, with a marriage certificate.
- Aunts and uncles, with proof of the family relationship.
- Step-parents, with a valid marriage certificate connecting them to a listed parent.
- Court-appointed legal guardians, with guardianship papers bearing the court seal.
- Attorneys, who present their own ID plus documentation on letterhead or court documents establishing direct interest.
- State, federal, and social agencies, with work identification plus court documents or signed client authorization.
Genealogy researchers can obtain records only if the person named has been deceased at least 75 years, and they must show proof of death.4Indiana Department of Health. Identification and Relationship Requirements
Identification You’ll Need
Every applicant must prove identity. Indiana accepts one valid primary ID, or, if that isn’t available, two secondary documents.
Primary means a current, valid, government-issued photo ID: an Indiana driver’s license or state ID card, a U.S. passport, or a military ID.4Indiana Department of Health. Identification and Relationship Requirements
If you don’t have a current primary ID, two secondary documents are required. The secondary list includes a signed Social Security card, voter registration card, vehicle registration, signed bank card, expired driver’s license, employment ID, previous year’s tax return, probation documents, and a certified marriage license application. Every secondary document must carry your signature.5Indiana Department of Health. Acceptable ID – Eligibility to Obtain a Birth Certificate An expired license counts as secondary, not primary.
What It Costs
Through the state Vital Records office, the first certified copy is $10, and each additional copy ordered at the same time is $4.6Indiana Department of Health. Order Certificates Local county health departments set their own fees, which tend to run higher; some counties charge $20 per copy. Confirm the fee with the specific county before you go. Online orders through the state’s authorized vendor also add a service fee on top of the $10 certificate cost.
How to Order
Complete State Form 49607, “Application for Search and Certified Copy of Birth Record.” You’ll be asked for the full name at birth, date of birth, county of birth, and both parents’ full names including the mother’s maiden name.7Indiana State Department of Health. Application for Search and Certified Copy of Birth Record Mismatches between what you write and what the original record says will delay processing, so take care with spellings and dates. Note on the application that you need the long-form (8.5″ x 11″) version.
By Mail
Print and complete the form, include a copy of your identification, and mail it with a check or money order to:
Indiana Department of Health
Vital Records
P.O. Box 7125
Indianapolis, IN 46206-71258Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Where to Write for Vital Records – Indiana
The state suggests allowing about two weeks for mail to reach the office and another 10 to 15 business days to process the order once it arrives.9Indiana Department of Health. Vital Records Plan on roughly four to five weeks total.
Online
Indiana uses VitalChek as its authorized online vendor. You complete a digital application, upload your ID, and pay by credit or debit card. VitalChek charges a service fee on top of the $10 state fee, and expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. With expedited processing and shipping selected, some users report receiving documents within a few business days.6Indiana Department of Health. Order Certificates
In Person at a County Health Department
County health departments issue certified copies for births that occurred in their county, and many can hand you the document the same day you visit.9Indiana Department of Health. Vital Records Bring your completed application, valid ID, proof of relationship if you aren’t the person on the record, and payment. Call ahead about hours, accepted payment methods, and whether the county’s fee runs above the $10 state base.
If You Need It for Use Abroad
The long-form is the version most foreign authorities want, and international use usually means you’ll also need an apostille to authenticate the document. The Indiana Secretary of State issues apostilles, and birth certificates are exempt from the standard $2 per-document authentication fee.10Indiana Secretary of State. Authentications
Download the Authentication Request Form from the Secretary of State’s website, submit it with your certified birth certificate, and identify the destination country. You can go in person by appointment (up to 10 documents processed while you wait) or mail your request with a self-addressed stamped return envelope, or a pre-paid airbill for overnight return. Mail payment is by check or money order; in person you can also pay by credit or debit card.10Indiana Secretary of State. Authentications
An apostille from the Indiana Secretary of State is valid only for use in foreign countries and cannot be used for any purpose inside the United States. If the destination country isn’t a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, you may need authentication from the U.S. Department of State instead, at $20 per document.