How to Get a Birth Certificate for Your Newborn

The birth certificate is the first official document your baby will ever have, and almost everything else depends on it — the Social Security card, health insurance, and one day a passport. The good news is that for most families, the process starts automatically at the hospital. Here's how to get a birth certificate for your newborn, step by step.

Step 1: The hospital registers the birth

In most U.S. hospitals, a birth registrarvisits you in the delivery unit (or you fill out a form before discharge) to record the legal facts of the birth — the baby's name, parents, date, and place. The hospital submits this to your state's vital records office, which is what officially creates the birth certificate.

Step 2: The certificate is mailed to you

After the state processes the registration, a certified copy is typically mailed to you in a few weeks. Many states include one free copy; others charge for every copy. If you registered at the hospital, you usually don't need to do anything else to receive it.

Step 3: Order extra certified copies if you need them

You'll often want more than one certified copy — for insurance, benefits, and your own records. To order directly:

• Go to your state's vital records or department of health website.
• Complete the birth certificate request (online, by mail, or in person).
• Pay the fee — usually $10–$30 per certified copy, depending on the state.
• Provide ID; only parents and certain relatives can request a newborn's certificate.

Every state's office and fee is different. Our state-by-state guides link the exact official ordering page and list the published fee for your state.

How long does it take?

If the hospital filed it, expect the mailed certificate within a few weeks. Ordering a certified copy yourself ranges from same-day (in person) to several weeks (by mail), depending on the state and how you order.

Not sure where your state's vital records office is or what it charges? FirstDays links the official page for your state and tracks the whole checklist for you.