Florida Birth Certificate replacement copies

The Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics is responsible for managing its citizens vital records. This includes birth certificates, death certificates, marriage and divorce certificates.

You will need your birth certificate for many different reasons in the U.S., including applying for a passport or driver’s license, enrolling in school, and even getting married. If you need to use your birth certificate in another country, you must have a certified copy of your birth certificate with an apostille. While the vital records office keeps the only original copy of your birth certificate, they do issue certified and informational copies.

If you need a Florida birth certificate replacement, you should also be aware that vital records are not public records. So, only the certificate holder and a select few other individuals can access a certified copy. However, nearly anyone can apply for an informational copy.

A certified copy of a birth certificate is an official, legally-valid copy that contains the registrar’s raised, embossed, impressed or multicolored seal, the registrar’s signature, and the date the certificate was filed.

An informational copy of a birth certificate will clearly state that it is “Informational, not a valid document to establish identity.” It cannot be used for any official purposes.

The Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics has been keeping vital records since 1850, however, records before 1917 were not consistently recorded.

If you need to get a replacement of your birth certificate you can apply online. It is no longer necessary to go to a vital records office in person.

You should be aware that, starting October 1st, 2021, you must have a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or ID card to fly within the U.S. or enter a federal facility. There are some additional requirements to get a REAL ID. You will have to prove both your citizenship and identity, and the easiest way to do this is with a certified copy of your birth certificate.

Get Birth Certificate

How do I get a Birth Certificate copy in Florida?

A birth certificate is a legal document that shows proof of identity, proof of citizenship, and allows you to apply for things like a passport, a social security card and a driver’s license. To obtain your Florida (FL) birth certificate, simply fill out our online application and follow the custom submission instructions we will provide. Your Florida birth certificate will be issued by the vital records office and mailed straight to your home.

You must apply for a certified copy of your birth certificate through the state you were born in. If you were born in Florida, then that is where you should request your birth certificate from. You can get your birth certificate from the Florida (FL) vital records office, or from the county health department.

To apply for a copy of a Florida birth certificate, you will need to fill out an application and mail it to the Florida vital records office. You will also need to prove your identity by including a clear photocopy, of both sides, of one of the forms of photo ID listed below, along with your completed application form.

• U.S. driver’s license
• State-issued ID card
• U.S. or foreign Passport
• Military ID card

Mail your complete application package to:

Department of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics

ATTN: Vital Records Section

P.O. Box 210,

1217 North Pearl Street

Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042

Who can request a Florida birth certificate?

Birth records are restricted in Florida. You can only apply for a birth certificate for yourself or your immediate family member. You may also apply on behalf of an individual if you are their legal guardian or legal representative, are a member of law enforcement conducting official business, or you have a court order.

If you are not one of parties listed above, your application must include a notarized Affidavit to Release a Birth Certificate (DH Form 1958) and copies of both yours and the certificate holder’s photo IDs.

Your Florida birth certificate is an important form of identification that you may need in order to start a new job, apply for or renew a passport or driver’s license, apply for government benefits, or sign up for school or sports.

Request Now

Florida Birth Certificate apostille

If you need to use your birth certificate outside the U.S., you will need to have an apostille issued by the Secretary of State. An apostille is attached to an original or certified copy of a document to verify that it is legitimate and acceptable for use in other countries that are a part of the Hague Apostille Convention.

The Florida Department of State can issue an apostille on your birth certificate, however, you must have a certified copy of your birth certificate before requesting the apostille. You can apply for an apostille in-person or through the mail by submitting your birth certificate and a completed apostille application to the Florida Department of State, stating that it is for certification as Apostille or Exemplified. You must indicate which country you need the apostille for and pay $10 per apostille.

You by apply for mail at the:

Department of State

Division of Corporations

Apostille Certification

P.O. Box 6800

Tallahassee, FL 32314 – 6800

Or in-person at:

Department of State

Division of Corporations

Apostille Certification

Clifton Building, 2661 Executive Center Circle

Tallahassee, FL 32301

Also, you should know that Florida considers email addresses to be public records. So, if you do not want your email address to be a part of a public record, do not use it to contact the State Department.

Florida Birth Certificate copy cost

Florida charges a $9 fee to apply for a birth certificate. You must include the full payment with your application.

Florida Birth Certificate processing times

Our online service lets you skip the long lines and red tape at your local government office, saving you time and hassle. Simply complete our short application, wait for our experts to assemble your application package, then follow the included instructions to submit your application to the Florida vital records office. Once it’s processed, the vital records office will mail your birth certificate to you.

In most cases, birth certificate applications in Florida are processed within 3-5 business days. However, applications may take longer during peak request periods. Florida does offer a rush service option where you can pay extra to receive priority processing.

If you need a certified copy of your Florida birth certificate, we recommend applying early to avoid delays. This will ensure that you get your certificate in time to apply for travel documents and passports, enroll in school or sign up for a sport, or start a new job.

Apply Now