A Texas birth verification letter is a $22 document from the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) that confirms whether a birth was recorded in Texas. If a matching record exists, the letter lists the person’s name, date of birth, and county of birth.1Texas.gov. Order Vital Records You can order one online, by mail, or in person.
What the Letter Is, and What It Can’t Do
A verification letter is not a certified birth certificate. It carries only three pieces of information: name, date of birth, and county. No parents’ names, no file number, no hospital.1Texas.gov. Order Vital Records
Because of that, it won’t satisfy most official uses. You cannot use it to apply for a U.S. passport or to complete employment eligibility verification on Form I-9.2U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Form I-9 Acceptable Documents It works best when you just need confirmation that a birth was registered in Texas, such as genealogical research or a preliminary administrative check. If you need the legal document itself, order a certified birth certificate instead.
Who Can Order One
Texas restricts vital records. Only the person named on the record, immediate family members, or someone with legal authority can place an order.3Texas.gov. Texas Vital Records Birth records remain restricted for 75 years from the date of birth.4Texas Department of State Health Services. Birth Record FAQs
Verification letters are only available for births recorded from 1903 onward, when Texas began registering births at the state level.5Texas Department of State Health Services. Mail Application for Birth Record VS-140 Anything earlier isn’t in the system to verify.
How to Submit the Request
You have three options:
- Online. Use the state portal at ovra.txapps.texas.gov. You’ll provide valid identification, complete the application, and pay by credit or debit card.3Texas.gov. Texas Vital Records
- By mail. Complete Form VS-140, include a check or money order for $22.00 payable to DSHS Vital Statistics, and mail it to Texas Vital Statistics, Department of State Health Services, P.O. Box 12040, Austin, TX 78711-2040. Cash isn’t accepted by mail.6Texas Department of State Health Services. Vital Statistics Mailing Addresses
- In person. Local registrars and regional health offices accept applications during business hours.
For faster turnaround, DSHS offers expedited service for an additional $5.00. Expedited requests must be sent by overnight mail to the physical address at 1100 W. 49th Street, Austin, TX 78756 (MC 2096).6Texas Department of State Health Services. Vital Statistics Mailing Addresses
What You Need to Provide
Form VS-140 covers both certified birth certificates and verification letters.5Texas Department of State Health Services. Mail Application for Birth Record VS-140 You’ll need:
- Full name of the person on the record
- Exact date of birth
- City or county where the birth occurred
- Parents’ full names as they would appear on the original filing
Fill every field accurately. Incomplete or incorrect applications are returned, and when you resubmit, the processing clock restarts.7Texas Department of State Health Services. Processing Times One useful detail: verification letter requests do not need to be notarized. That requirement applies only to mail-in applications for certified birth certificates.5Texas Department of State Health Services. Mail Application for Birth Record VS-140
Cost and Processing Time
The fee is $22.00 per letter. It is non-refundable and non-transferable, even if no record is found or if the information you submitted turns out to be wrong. You are paying for the search, not for a guaranteed result.8Texas Department of State Health Services. Costs and Fees
DSHS publishes these average processing times for verification letters:7Texas Department of State Health Services. Processing Times
- Online orders through Texas.gov: 20–25 business days
- Mail-in orders: 25–30 business days
The clock starts when DSHS receives your application and payment, not when you mail it. Checking the form once more before sending it is the easiest way to avoid turning a one-month wait into a two-month one.
If DSHS Can’t Find a Record
If the search turns up no match, you’ll receive a “Not Found” letter, and the $22 is not refunded because the search was still performed.8Texas Department of State Health Services. Costs and Fees A missing record doesn’t necessarily mean the birth didn’t happen in Texas. Early registrations were inconsistent, and some births were never recorded at all.
If you believe the birth did occur in Texas, DSHS has a process for filing a delayed birth certificate after a Not Found result. The application costs $25, must be signed before a notary, and requires supporting documentation that varies by the person’s current age.9Texas Department of State Health Services. Delayed Birth Registration Only the person named on the record, a parent or legal guardian of a minor, or a legal representative can apply.
Using the Letter Outside the United States
A verification letter generally won’t work for international use. Foreign governments usually expect a certified birth certificate rather than a short confirmation, and only certificates less than five years old qualify for an apostille from the Texas Secretary of State, the only agency in Texas authorized to issue them.10Office of the Texas Secretary of State. Apostille/Authentication of Documents If an overseas agency is asking for proof of a Texas birth, order the certified birth certificate from the start.