To get a replacement birth certificate in Florida, order a certified copy from the Florida Department of Health’s Bureau of Vital Statistics by mail, in person at a county health department or the Jacksonville office, or online through VitalChek. The base fee is $9 for a computer-generated certified copy, mail-in processing runs three to five business days, and you’ll need to prove both your identity and your legal eligibility before the state releases the record.
Who Can Order a Copy
Florida keeps birth records confidential for 125 years, so not just anyone can request one. You can order a certified copy if you are:1Florida Department of Health. Birth Certificates
- The person named on the record, and at least 18, or a certified homeless youth, or someone whose disabilities of nonage have been removed by a court.
- A parent listed on the birth record.
- A legal guardian, with guardianship papers attached.
- A legal representative, such as an attorney, with documentation of the relationship.
- Anyone authorized by a court order, with a certified copy of that order attached.
If the person on the certificate has died, a spouse, adult child, grandchild, or sibling can request the record. Write “Registrant Deceased” on the application and include a photocopy of the death certificate. The copy you receive will be marked “Deceased.”1Florida Department of Health. Birth Certificates
What to Have Ready Before You Apply
Every request needs the same two things: a completed application and a photocopy of your valid photo ID. The application is Form DH-726, available in English and Spanish on the Department of Health website.2Florida Department of Health. Publications, Forms, and Applications
The form asks for the full name on the record, date and county of birth, and both parents’ full names before their first marriage. If you don’t know the exact date, you can ask the Bureau to search a range of years for an extra $2 per calendar year searched.1Florida Department of Health. Birth Certificates
Accepted photo IDs include a driver’s license, state ID card, U.S. passport, or military ID. Expired IDs are not accepted. For mail-in orders, the photocopy has to be clear and legible. If you’re ordering on someone else’s behalf, add whatever documents prove your eligibility: guardianship papers, a court order, or proof of your role as a legal representative.3Florida Department of Health. Application for Florida Birth Certificate (DH 726)
Three Ways to Order
The right channel depends on how quickly you need the certificate and where you live.
By Mail
Send the completed DH-726, a photocopy of your ID, and payment by check or money order payable to “Vital Statistics” to:
Florida Department of Health, Vital Statistics
P.O. Box 210
Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042
Do not send cash. International payments must be a cashier’s check or money order in U.S. dollars drawn on a U.S. bank. Standard processing is three to five business days for computer-generated certificates, plus mail time. Every order carries a $1 shipping and handling fee and goes out by standard U.S. mail unless you enclose a prepaid express envelope. Need it faster? Write “RUSH” on the outside of the envelope and add $10 for priority handling. The rush fee gets your order moved up the queue but does not upgrade the shipping method.3Florida Department of Health. Application for Florida Birth Certificate (DH 726)
In Person
The Bureau of Vital Statistics takes walk-ins at 1217 North Pearl Street in Jacksonville from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Bring your valid photo ID. Rush-processed computer-generated certificates can often be issued the same day for the $10 rush fee. Photocopy certificates may not be available the same day.3Florida Department of Health. Application for Florida Birth Certificate (DH 726)
You can also apply at a county health department, which can pull Florida birth records from 1917 to the present. County offices may charge their own administrative fees on top of the state fees, and accepted payment methods vary.1Florida Department of Health. Birth Certificates
Online Through VitalChek
VitalChek is the only online vendor the Bureau has approved. It’s the most convenient option if you’re out of state, and it’s the most expensive: VitalChek adds a $7 service fee and a mandatory $10 rush fee on top of the state fee.4Florida Department of Health. Order Certificates from VitalChek
What It Costs
Florida issues two kinds of certified copies. Computer-generated certificates are printed on security paper. Photocopy certificates are reproduced from the original record. Both carry the state’s embossed seal and are accepted by state and federal agencies. The computer-generated version is the standard and cheaper option; the photocopy version costs more and takes longer.
Fees when ordering directly from the Bureau of Vital Statistics:1Florida Department of Health. Birth Certificates
- First computer-generated copy: $9 (includes a non-refundable $9 search fee)
- Each additional computer-generated copy on the same order: $4
- First photocopy certificate: $14
- Each additional photocopy certificate: $4
- Rush processing: $10
- Shipping and handling for mail orders: $1
The search fee is non-refundable even if no matching record turns up.
A straightforward mail-in order for one computer-generated copy runs $10 total ($9 plus $1 shipping). The same copy through VitalChek costs roughly $26 ($9 state fee, $10 mandatory rush, $7 VitalChek service fee), before any shipping VitalChek charges. County health department offices and tax collector offices may add their own administrative surcharges.
Free Copies for Homeless Youth
Florida waives the birth certificate fee for certified unaccompanied homeless youth. Under state law, a homeless youth qualifies to request their own record even if they are under 18.5Florida Senate. Florida Code Title XXIX 382.025 – Certified Copies of Vital Records; Confidentiality; Research The same status also unlocks a free state ID card through the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
If You Need It for a REAL ID
Most people ordering a replacement need it for a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles only accepts birth certificates issued by a county health department or the Bureau of Vital Statistics. The keepsake certificate you may have received from the hospital will not be accepted.6Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Document Help
Both the computer-generated and photocopy certificates from the Bureau are printed on security paper with the embossed state seal, so either version works for REAL ID.
Births Before 1917
Florida did not begin keeping centralized vital records until 1917. The Bureau can only search for births from that year forward. Some earlier city and county records have been deposited with the state office, but coverage is spotty. Delayed birth records dating as far back as the 1860s exist for some counties, and the FamilySearch Library holds copies of original birth and death records for certain Florida counties from that era if the state office comes up empty.