Order a California Birth Certificate Copy Online

To get a birth certificate in California, request a certified copy from CDPH-VR or the county where the birth occurred. Choose the issuing office before preparing your paperwork, as local application instructions and fees can differ.

Complete the application with the name on the birth record, date and place of birth, and parents' names. Select an authorized or informational copy and provide your contact and delivery details.

For a mailed authorized-copy request, complete the sworn statement and have it notarized.

For an in-person county request, follow that office's identification and sworn-statement requirements.

Prepare payment for the issuing office's fee. If applying directly to CDPH-VR by mail, send your completed application, required sworn statement, and payment to the following address.

California Department of Public Health Vital Records – MS 5103 P.O. Box 997410 Sacramento, CA 95899-7410

For in-person service, contact the county office where the birth occurred. CDPH-VR does not currently have a public counter.

You can request an authorized copy if you are the person named on the record or an eligible family member. California also allows requests from certain legal representatives and officials.

Eligible requesters include the following people:

• Person named on the birth certificate.
• Parent or legal guardian.
• Child, grandparent, grandchild, or sibling.
• Spouse or domestic partner.
• Person entitled to the record under a court order.
• Attorney or licensed adoption agency acting for the purposes specified in California Family Code sections 3140 or 7603.
• Law enforcement or government representative conducting authorized official business.
• Attorney representing the person or their estate, or a person or agency authorized by statute or court appointment to act for them.

You must declare your eligibility under penalty of perjury. Depending on your authority to request the record, supporting documents, such as a court order, may be required.

Before completing your application for a California birth certificate, gather the information needed to identify the record and confirm your eligibility.

• Person's full name as recorded at birth.
• Their date of birth and city or county of birth.
• Parents' names as shown on the record, including the mother's maiden name where requested.
• Your full name, contact details, and mailing address.
• Your relationship to the person named on the certificate.
• Type and number of copies requested.
• Payment for the certificate and any applicable service or delivery charges.

For a mailed authorized-copy request, you also need a notarized sworn statement. An informational-copy request does not require that statement. Follow the chosen office's instructions for any additional documents.

If applying in person, check the county's photo ID requirements before visiting. Online ordering services may also require identity verification.

Check names and dates carefully before submitting your California birth certificate application. Incomplete or inaccurate details can prevent the office from locating the record.

The CDPH-VR fee is $31 per certified birth certificate copy, effective January 1, 2026. County fees can differ, so your government fee depends on the office fulfilling your request.

The Los Angeles County fee applies to that county's service, rather than all California birth certificate requests.

Your total may also include notarization, delivery, online processing, and EaseGov's preparation-service fee. These charges are separate from the government certificate fee. Review the applicable charges before paying.

For direct CDPH-VR requests, the fee covers the record search. If no record is found, you receive a Certificate of No Public Record and the search fee is retained.

CDPH-VR's published average processing time for a certified-copy request is 4–6 weeks, beginning when the office receives your request. Allow additional time for application preparation and mailing.

Can you get a California birth certificate the same day?

You may be able to get a California birth certificate the same day through an in-person county service. Availability depends on the county, record year, and whether the record is ready to issue.

For example, Los Angeles County provides authorized copies at scheduled appointments for births from 1962 onward, except 1972–1977. Its older records, 1972–1977 records, and all informational copies are mailed within 20 business days.

If you have an urgent deadline, confirm the county's record availability and appointment requirements before visiting. An online application does not guarantee same-day issuance or delivery.

Look for the State File Number near the top left corner of the certificate. California's birth registration guidance places the state-assigned number there, while the local registration number appears at the top right.

The California birth certificate state file number and the local registration number identify the record in different systems. Use the number requested by the organization reviewing your certificate, and follow the printed label on your document.

If the number is missing or illegible, contact the issuing office for help. Do not substitute a different number simply because it appears nearby.

If you need to use your birth certificate abroad, ask the receiving authority whether an apostille is required. The California Secretary of State issues apostilles to authenticate public officials' signatures on documents for use outside the United States.

To request an apostille for a California birth certificate, follow these steps:

The apostille fee is $20 per document. In-person requests also carry a $6 handling fee for each different public official's signature being authenticated. Birth certificate fees are separate.