Order Your Texas (TX) Birth Certificate Online
Don’t waste time applying at your local government office! Order your certified Texas (TX) birth certificate right now from the comfort of your own home.
Legal Disclaimer: Birth Certificate Copy is a privately owned website that is not affiliated with, owned, or operated by any government agency. Birth Certificate Copy is an independent preparer that assists with vital record applications. You can access the necessary forms and apply for vital records directly with the corresponding government office.
Texas Birth Certificate Ordering Process
1. Fill out our simple birth certificate application
Our streamlined application form takes just a few minutes to fill out, and you can complete it fully online. No trip to your local government office and no long lines to stand in.
2. Let our experts review your application and assemble your application package.
We’ll make sure your information is correct and that your application will be accepted. Your application package will include all of the documents and instructions you will need to get your birth certificate.
3. Get your Birth Certificate
You’ll send in your application package, then sit back and wait for your birth certificate to be mailed straight to your home.
Texas Birth Certificate Replacement
Your Texas birth certificate is an essential legal document that you will need in order to do things like:
- Apply for a passport, Social Security card, and other identification documents
- Enroll in school
- Get a marriage license
So, if your birth certificate has been lost, stolen, misplaced, or destroyed, you should apply for a Texas birth certificate replacement as soon as possible.
Fortunately, getting a certified copy of your Texas birth certificate no longer requires you to stand in line at your local vital records office.
You can apply online in just a few minutes and get your certified Texas birth certificate copy mailed straight to your home.
The Vital Statistics Section (VSS) of The Texas Department of State Health Services (DHSH) is responsible for filing and maintaining all Texas vital records, including birth certificates, death records and marriage records.
They also maintain the Texas Birth Index, which contains over 15 million records of Texas births from 1903-1997. The index includes information like the:
- Full name at birth
- Gender at birth
- Place and date of birth
- Parents’ names (if available)
- Birth certificate number (if available)
However, there are several other vital records offices in Texas that can issue birth certificate copies, including those in:
- Austin
- Bexar County
- Dallas
- El Paso
- Fort Worth
- Harris County
- Houston
- San Antonio
- Tarrant County
You can view the full list of Vital Records offices in Texas towards the end of this page
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.
How to Get Your Texas Birth Certificate Copy
If you need a copy of your Texas birth certificate, it’s a pretty straightforward process when you apply online. All you have to do is complete the online birth certificate application and mail it to the Texas vital records office. The application will ask for your:
- Full name at birth
- Gender at birth
- Place and date of birth
- Parents’ names, including maiden name(s)
- Reason for requesting the certificate
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. Passport
If you do not have any of the IDs listed above, Texas will also accept a:
- Mexican voter registration card
- Medicaid card or Medicare card
- DD Form 214 Certificate of Release
- Employee ID card
- Foreign passport or visa with Form I-94
- Foreign photo ID
If you are applying for a birth certificate for someone other than yourself or your child, you must include proof of your relationship to the person on record.
Mail your complete application package to:
Texas Vital Records
Department of State Health Services
P.O. Box 12040
Austin, TX 78711-2040
Who is eligible to apply?
Birth records are restricted in Texas. You can only apply for a birth certificate for yourself, your child, or an immediate family member. You may also apply on behalf of an individual if you are their legal guardian or legal representative, or you have a court order.
Your Texas 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.
Texas Birth Certificate Types
There are several different types of replacement birth certificates in Texas, so it’s important to make sure you’re applying for the correct one. The following section will cover the differences between the types of Texas birth certificates, including:
- Certified or long-form birth certificates
- Informational or short-form birth certificates
- Heirloom birth certificates
- Birth certificates for election identification
Long-Form Birth Certificates
A long-form copy is a certified copy of the original birth certificate. This type of copy is legally valid and can be used as proof of identity or citizenship. So, this is the type you will need to do things like apply for a passport or driver’s license. You will also need this type of copy to submit with your application to make corrections to your birth records.
A certified copy of a birth certificate will contain the registrar’s raised, embossed, impressed or multicolored seal, the registrar’s signature, and the date the certificate was originally filed. You can only order a certified copy on behalf of another person, if you meet certain eligibility requirements.
Short-Form Birth Certificate
Short form birth certificate copies are also referred to as informational copies or abstracts. As the name implies, they only contain basic information about the person on record on their birth.
Informational birth certificates clearly state on the document that they are “informational, not a valid document to establish identity.” So, they cannot be used for any legal purposes and will not be accepted as official documents. However, they are useful for genealogical purposes.
Heirloom Birth Certificates
Texas also offers what is called an heirloom birth certificate, which is another type of informational or abstract copy. Heirloom copies typically contain similar information to a short-form copy, however, they also feature decorative elements and are commonly framed and displayed as memorable keepsakes. They have no legal validity and cannot be used for any official purposes.
Birth Certificate for Election Identification
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) offers another type of birth certificate copy that is unique to the state. Citizens born in Texas can request a free copy of their birth certificate to specifically use to request an Election Identification Certificate (EIC).
However, the birth certificate copy will clearly state, “For Election Identification Purposes Only.” So, the fee waiver only applies to certified birth records needed for EICs.
You must apply in person at a Vital Statistics Unit (VSU), local registrar, or county clerk to qualify for the fee waiver, and this type of copy cannot be requested on behalf of someone else. In addition, you can only be issued this type of copy once during your lifetime.
Start Texas Birth Certificate Application
Texas Birth Certificate Apostille
Texas also provides apostilles for birth certificates to provide them with legal validity abroad.
If you need to use your Texas birth certificate outside of the country, you follow the steps below to get an apostille:
- Click the link above to order a certified copy of your Texas birth certificate
- On your application, mention “Apostille” as the reason for the request
- When you have received your certified copy, submit it to the Texas Secretary of State’s office, along with a completed apostille application and payment for the processing fees.
Texas Birth Certificate Fees
Texas charges a $22 fee to apply for a birth certificate. You must include the full payment with your application.
Processing Time for a Texas Birth Certificate
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 Texas 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 Texas are processed within 9-12 weeks. However, applications may take longer during peak request periods.
If you need a certified copy of your Texas 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.
Start Texas Birth Certificate Application
Texas Vital Records Office
Below you will find a full list of all vital records and health department offices in Texas that can issue birth certificate copies. You may experience faster processing times at a smaller county office than at a larger city or state office.
Texas Vital Records offices
Arlington Vital Records Bureau
101 W. Abram, 1st Floor
Arlington, TX 76010
Austin Vital Statistics (Travis County)
7201 Levander Loop, Building C
Austin, TX 78702
College Station City
1101 Texas Avenue
College Station, TX 77840
Collin County Clerk’s Office
900 E Park Blvd #140C
Plano, TX 75074
Columbus Birth Certificates
P.O. Box 219
Palo Pinto, TX 76484
Corpus Christi Department Of Vital Statistics
Main Health District Building
1702 Horne Road, Room 21
TX 78416
Dallas Bureau Of Vital Statistics
1515 Young St.
Dallas, TX 75201
Denton County Clerk
1450 E. Mckinney Street, Suite 1103
Denton, TX 76209
Edinburg City Office
415 West University Drive
Edinburg, TX 78541
El Paso County Clerk
500 E. San Antonio, Ste 105
El Paso, TX 79901-2496,
Galveston County Health District
9850-A Emmett F. Lowry Expy. Suite A-102
Texas City, TX 77591
Houston Health Department
8000 North Stadium Drive
Houston, Texas 77054
Laredo City Vital Statistics
2600 Cedar Ave
Laredo, TX 78040
Northeast Texas Public Health District
815 N. Broadway Avenue
Tyler, TX 75702
San Antonio Office Of The City Clerk
719 South Santa Rosa
San Antonio, TX 78204
Tarrant County Clerk
200 Taylor Street, Suite 301
Fort Worth, TX 76102
Texarkana City
220 Texas Blvd
Texarkana, TX 75504,
Webb County District Clerk’s Office
1110 Victoria St 203
Laredo, TX 78040
FAQs about Texas Birth Certificates
How do I apply for a birth certificate copy in Texas?
Our online application is the fastest way to apply for a certified copy of your Texas birth certificate. All you have to do is:
- Fill out the Texas birth certificate application online. Our experts will review your application and make sure it is error-free, so your birth certificate can be issued directly.
- Print, sign and pack your completed form, along with photocopies of your government-issued photo ID (see acceptable ID’s above).
- Mail your application to the Texas vital records office, along with all required documents and
The Texas Bureau of Vital Statistics will process your application and send your birth certificate to your home address.
Where to get a birth certificate in Texas?
You can apply for your Texas birth certificate copy online, by mail, or in-person at a vital records office.
However, the fastest way to apply and ensure that your birth certificate is issued on the first try is to:
- Click the link above to complete the application form online.
- Let our experts review your application and make sure everything is correct.
- Follow the personalized instructions we provide to ensure you submit your application correctly.
How much is a birth certificate in Texas?
To get a certified copy of a Texas birth certificate, you will have to pay the state fee of $22.
Birth certificate application fees must be paid when submitting your application.
We recommend that you order multiple copies of your birth certificate, to ensure that you always have one available when you need it.
How to change the name on a Texas birth certificate?
If you need to change or correct the name on a birth certificate in Texas, you must:
- Order a certified copy of the TX birth certificate that needs to be correct (the easiest way is to click the link above).
- Fill out and notarize Form A VS170 Application to Amend Certificate of Birth. (If the change is for a minor, both parents must sign in front of a notary.)
- Provide any required affidavits or evidence of the name change or corrected spelling.
- Pay the processing fees.
- Request a certified copy of the amended birth certificate by clicking the link above.
Safe and Secure
We take your privacy seriously. Our online service is completely secure and all of your data will be encrypted.
Personalized Service
We have a team of highly trained experts who will personally review your application and make sure that it is correct and will get you what you need. Your application will be accepted the first time and processed without delays.
ID Verification
Your application package will include detailed information and instructions. If your state requires you to send proof of identification, we will let you know and show you exactly what you need to send in with your application.
Get Your Birth Certificate Now!
You can order your birth certificate using our secure online service and completing our simple application process in just 5 minutes. We will save you time and hassle and thanks to our expert assistance you know you’ll get exactly what you want.