Birth Certificates

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The NYC Health Department issues birth certificates for all people who are born in New York City (The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island). We do not issue certificates for Nassau, Suffolk or other counties in New York State.

To order or correct a marriage certificate, visit the Office of the City Clerk.

You can order a birth certificate online, by mail or in person. You cannot order by email. We recommend ordering online through VitalChek, which is the fastest way to receive your certificate.

You may apply for a New York City birth certificate if:

• You were born in New York City
• You are listed on the birth certificate (as parent or registrant/child)
• You are 18 or older

If you were born outside of New York City, including elsewhere in New York State, the CDC has information on how you can order a certificate.

For more information on applying , see Birth and Death Records: How to Apply

Each certificate costs $15, and may have an additional processing fee. For more information on fees, see Birth and Death Records: Fees.

There are two types of birth certificates:

• Short Form: The short form is the most commonly requested certificate. It can be used for most domestic purposes. This form includes your child's first and last name, place of birth, date of birth, sex at birth and mother and father's first and last names.


• Long Form: The long form includes additional information and is generally used for international purposes, such as dual citizenship, international adoption, international marriage, time of birth and apostille certificates.

The following application is required for all orders of both short and long forms:

• Birth Certificate Application (PDF)
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If you are unable to schedule an appointment and have an emergency request related to travel, health care coverage, government services, military, housing or employment, call 311 or email nycdohvr@health.nyc.gov. In your email, include current photo ID and documents showing that you have an emergency, such as a paid plane ticket, letter from an employer with a job start date, or letter from a government agency with an appointment date. You will receive an email confirming whether your in-person emergency appointment to purchase the birth certificate is approved.

New and Expectant Parents

Parents receive a free birth certificate for newborns about four weeks after birth. Your baby's birth certificate will be based on information you provide at the hospital when you deliver. It will be automatically mailed to the parents listed on the certificate.

At the hospital, you will be asked to fill out a Mother/Parent Worksheet (PDF). You can complete this ahead of time and bring it to the hospital or give it to your midwife. The worksheet collects important information and helps your baby get a Social Security Card.

Be careful when you fill out your baby’s full name and your mailing address. Correcting a birth certificate can cost money or even require a trip to court. A mistake in the mailing address can delay delivery.

Married parents, regardless of sex, have the right to have both their names on their child's birth certificate. Some hospitals require proof of marriage. Check with the hospital to find out if you need to bring a copy of your marriage license with you.

An Acknowledgment of Parentage is a document that unmarried parents must both sign voluntarily to establish the child's legal father/parent.

Certified copies of an Acknowledgment of Parentage are free of charge. Complete the New York State Acknowledgment of Parentage application and submit by mail or in person.

For questions about certificates for newborns (born within the past 30 days),call 646-632-6563 or email birth@health.nyc.gov.

Resources for Expecting Parents

• Pregnancy
• Doula Care

Baby Name

There is no fee to add a child's given name to a birth certificate if you submit the application within 60 days of birth.

You may add a given name and submit corrections if you find missing or incorrect information at the hospital. There is no fee for changes made by the hospital if sent within 12 months of birth.

Once the baby is named, it is official. Changing a baby's name may require you to go to court and pay applicable fees. Visit the certificate corrections page for more details.

Types of Birth Certificates and Requests