Birth Certificate Copies: Born Abroad And Adopted By Us Parents
If you were born in a foreign country and adopted by a U.S. citizen, you would not have received a U.S. birth certificate. The country in which you were born would have issued one. To get a copy, contact the nearest foreign embassy or consulate for that country. If you need an authenticated copy and it’s not in English, ask the embassy for help to get it translated.
If you were adopted from another country by a U.S. citizen, you should have copies of your naturalization/citizenship papers. If you don’t, submit an application for the replacement of a naturalization/citizenship document. For help, contact U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
How Can I Get My Birth Certificate Fast
To get a copy of your birth certificate fast, the most important thing to do is avoid making any errors on the application. This can slow down an already time-consuming process. Using an independent service can help with the application and expedite the process.
- A fast, online ordering process that you can complete in five minutes
- Clear easy instructions for meeting the ID requirements
- Working directly with the processing agencies for a faster process
- Live and open communication so you are immediately aware of any additional needs to order the birth certificate
- Error checking and review to prevent time-consuming mistakes
- No paperwork or staying on hold waiting for a response that never comes
When To Use A Certified Copy Or A Photocopy
You will need to purchase a certified copy of the death certificate for tasks such as:
- Notifying the Social Security Administration and other government agencies
- Closing or transferring credit cards and bank accounts
- Claiming a persons life insurance or pension
You may only need a photocopy for other tasks, such as canceling a subscription. Check with the agency or organization handling each account.
Also Check: Dc Vital Records Birth Certificate
How Do I Amend Or Change The Information On A Birth Certificate
The procedures and requirements to change information on a birth certificate depend upon the specific information to be changed and whether any previous changes have been made.
The information contained on birth records is assumed to be correct as it is. However, sometimes there is an error that was not addressed during the registration process . These corrections require you to provide one or more evidences as to what the correct information should have been . These evidences must meet certain regulatory and industry standard requirements.
All evidence submitted is for review purposes only and may be rejected by our office if there is reason to doubt its validity or adequacy to meet those requirements. If the evidence is approved, our office will prepare an affidavit for you to sign and have notarized. After the affidavit is correctly executed the amendment will be applied to the record. If proper evidence is not supplied, the amendment can only be completed upon receipt of a court order.
Bc Birth Certificates Printed Before 2008

Older birth certificates are still valid and accepted for most applications. However, in some cases where identity security is of the utmost importance, agencies may ask you to provide the more secure, polymer birth certificate. You cannot bring in your older certificate and get a new one free of charge because the fees for the certificate cover the costs of producing and issuing the new document.
What Identification Is Required
A photocopy of a valid government issued photo ID by either the applicant or an individual attesting for the applicant is required for issuance of certificates.
If you are mailing your application – Send a photocopy. Do not send your original ID. Photocopies must be legible.Primary Identification – NEED ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
- U.S. Issued Drivers license or Identification card
- U.S. Passport
- Foreign Issued Passport with Visa
- Government issued Military photo ID
- Tribal Photo Identification Card containing the bearers signature
- Oklahoma Self-Defense Act License or OK Concealed Carry permit
- Resident Alien Card
- Employment Authorization Card
- Employment Authorization Card
- Temporary Resident Card
- Oklahoma Dept of Corrections Consolidated Record Card
Registration Of Births Or Deaths Abroad
If youve registered a birth or death with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Overseas Registration Unit, you cannot get a copy from the GRO until the November of the following year.
If you need a copy sooner, email the name of the registered person, the registration date and reference number to:
- for birth registrations
- for death registrations
Youll get a reply telling you how to get your copy and the cost – usually £50 plus courier fees.
Request Online Or By Phone
VitalChek is our authorized expediting service.
We do not accept credit cards or online orders however, for your convenience, you may apply online through VitalChek, an independent company that we have partnered with to provide you this service.
We are now offering two options for ordering certificates through VitalChek. Customers can either order with 3-5 business day processing and Next Day Air delivery by UPS costing $44.50 or $39.50 or by choosing the option with 3-5 business day processing with regular U. S. Mail delivery costing $26.00 or $21.00 .
VitalChek can be reached either through the VitalChek Express Certificate Service or by phone at 877-284-0963. All major credit cards are accepted, including American Express®, Discover®, MasterCard® or Visa®.
NOTE:You will be re-routed to VitalChek’s secure website for order processing and payment. Additional service and shipping fees apply.
How To Get A New Birth Certificate
No matter the reason as to why you need a new birth certificate, you can obtain it in writing by petitioning your state government or Vital Records through the mail or you can get acertified copy online. You do have to prove that it is your birth certificate or your child’s birth certificate. Generally, people are not allowed to purchase a birth certificate unless they can prove that they are allowed to have it. If anyone was allowed to randomly buy a birth certificate that was not theirs or one that belonged to their child, it could pose a significant identity/security risk.
Obtain A Us Passport Overnight Or On The Same Day
Follow these steps to quickly have a new passport issued or to renew your passport in the United States of America:
The Fastest Way To Get An Original Birth Certificate
A birth certificate is an important piece of identification, often required to get a drivers license, apply to school or get a passport. The fastest way to get a birth certificate is usually through the department of health or the office of vital records in the state where you were born. Not surprisingly, of course, the fastest way to get a birth certificate is not always the most convenient, or the cheapest.
What Is On A Birth Certificate
Most of the time, your birth certificate is originally created at the hospital, shortly after you’re born. It contains much vital information about you, such as:
- Your full name.
- The time and date of your birth.
- The city or county of your birth.
- Your parents’ full names, including your mother’s maiden name, if applicable.
Some birth certificate forms may also include additional information, such as:
- The birthplaces of your parents.
- Your parents’ address, occupations, and ethnicities.
- The number of children your parents already have.
Online And Phone Order Processing Fees

Service | |
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TOTAL | $36.70/$56.70 |
* Includes one certificate if the record is located.â¯Search fees and expedite fees are non-refundable even if a record is not located when searching based on the information provided by the applicant.
** Documents will be shipped after the state search process is complete. Processing times may be found on the processing dates page.
You Are Buying From A Third
- We are not a government agency
- We are not affiliated with any government agency
- We are a private company
Third-party companies must have a statement on their website clearly identifying that they are not affiliated with the government. You can usually find these statements on the home page, about us page, or the terms and conditions page.
Types Of Birth Certificates
Note:We can only issue one of each type of birth certificate for a person. For security reasons, this means that if you or anyone who is authorized orders a replacement certificate, the previously issued certificate is no longer valid.
If you dont know which kind of birth certificate you need, please check with the government agency or person requesting the document before you order.
How To Order A Birth Certificate
Ordering a birth certificate replacement is possible with Vital Records Online.
First, you need to fill out an easy application. Second, you will need to pay the state fee and the service fee. Third, you will need to send the application package to the Health Department, Finally, you will be receiving your birth certificate by mail. The entire process can be done without leaving home.
Change Or Dont Display Sex Designation
You can now change your sex designation on your birth registration to:
- female , or
- non-binary
You also have the option to request a birth certificate that does not display the sex designation field. This option does not change your birth registration.
Learn more about changing or not displaying sex designation.
To Eliminate The Chances Of Rejection
We perform an intense analysis of each vital record application and ensure that they are perfect before it is sent out. As a result, we avoid mistakes, rejections, and unnecessary delays in your application for birth and death certificates. You get nothing short of an expert review as you order vital records with us.
How Can I Get A Delayed Birth Record Established
The process of establishing a delayed birth record can be long and require many documents to be submitted. Sometimes it is impossible to get the required documents and the only option is for someone to present what they have to a judge who will then decide what information to put on the birth certificate.
To establish a delayed certificate administratively requires 3 different documents verifying the birth facts claimed are submitted. The documents required are based on the age of the person whose birth certificate is being requested at the time of the application. For a person more than ten years of age, all documents submitted must have been established at least ten years prior to the date of application. For a person ten years or younger, the documents must be dated at least one year prior to the date of the application or within the first year of life. Each document must show the place and the date the document was filed to prove it meets the age criteria.
Only original or certified copies will be accepted and must show the following information.
Finding The Office Of Vital Statistics
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has an online directory of the center of vital statistics for each state . Select your state and then follow the information in the Birth section.
Where birth certificates are available from the state government, you will find the address, telephone number and website link, as well as information on the fee and what documentation is required. In some states, like Vermont, you can get birth certificates only from the town or city clerk in the municipality where the birth occurred. If for some reason you are unable to find the information you need here, search your state’s website or telephone directory for the office of vital statistics or department of health.
Incomplete Birth Certificate Applications

Other reasons that may delay your birth certificate application being processed is presenting your request with missing documents. Incomplete applications cannot be filled, so making sure you present the appropriate identification documents, clearly photocopied on both sides, also helps ensure your request is processed directly.
Rejected applications due to missing or incorrect documentation can be easily avoided by following our personalized instructions once you receive your revised complete application package.
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What Information Do You Need To Provide To Get A Birth Certificate
Certified birth certificate copies are not always easy to get. If you need to have a certified copy, you will need to prove your identity. This means that you will need to show the state why you are trying to get that birth certificate, whether you are applying for a newborn, yourself, or someone else in your family.
Not every state is the same, but most will require:
Getting Your Birth Certificate In Person
States such as Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, amongst others, offer same-day walk-in birth certificate issuance.
Quick birth certificates can be issued on the spot or in a few hours if you:
- Arrive sufficiently early within office hours and are willing to patiently wait in line
- Are eligible to obtain the birth certificate
- Carry all the necessary documents including correctly filled-out birth certificate application form, acceptable photo identification as well as clear photocopies of the necessary IDs
- Pay the appropriate fees in a payment form acceptable by the bureau some offices do not accept credit cards
- Are requesting a birth record that is stored on-site some may be stored in a separate location, which would lengthen the processing time
It is advisable to contact the local health department in the county where the birth occurred to get information on service hours, current turnaround time and walk-in service availability.
Death In The Us: How To Get A Certified Copy Of A Death Certificate
Contact the vital records office of the state where the death occurred to learn:
- How to order a certified copy of a death certificate online, by mail, or in person
- How to get a copy fast
- The cost for each certified copy
You will need to know the date and place of death. The state may also ask for other details about the person, how you are related to them, or why you want the certificate.
Who Can Apply For A Birth Certificate
Under the Vital Statistics Act, any of the following people can order a birth certificate:
- the person who is the subject of the birth certificate
- a parent of the person who is the subject of the certificate, if that person is under 19 or incapable
- a custodial guardian if the parent is incapable, and the subject of the birth certificate is under 19 or incapable
- a person who has the written permission of an eligible applicant
- an officer of the provincial or federal government in Canada who requires the certificate for an official purpose or
- any other person who satisfies the registrar general that the request for the birth certificate is made in good faith
Note: If you do not meet the eligibility requirements above, but require a birth document for legal purposes or for a federal application , you may qualify to obtain a .
How Much Does A Certified Copy Of A Birth Certificate Cost
The fee for the search of a birth certificate is $15.00 and will include the issuance of one certified copy to a qualified applicant if the certificate is on file. Additional copies will be issued at a cost of $15.00 each. The searching fee is not refundable or transferable. All fees expire one year from the receipt date. Online and phone orders are subject to a an additional service fee.
Please make your check or money order payable to OSDH.
Corrections or additions to birth certificates will require additional fees and the submission of required documentation. Instructions and assessment of fees will be made on an individual basis after your application has been received and reviewed.
BIRTH CERTIFICATES |
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Heirloom Birth Certificates |
$35.00 |