Pennsylvania (PA) Birth Certificate Application Online

Before submitting your PA birth certificate application, make sure you have the personal information and supporting documents required by the state.

Prepare the following:

• Full name of the person whose birth certificate you’re requesting
• Date of birth and the Pennsylvania city or county where the birth occurred
• Parents' names as recorded on the original certificate
• Your name, contact information, and current mailing address
• Your relationship to the person named on the record
• Number of certified copies requested
• Acceptable ID and any supporting eligibility documents
• Payment for the state certificate fee and applicable service charges

If you cannot provide the usual photo ID, Pennsylvania allows certain alternative documents that establish your name and current address.

You may need additional paperwork if you’re applying on behalf of another person or requesting a record through legal authorization.

Check that all names, dates, and addresses match your supporting documents. Incorrect or missing information may delay the state office's ability to locate the record or complete your application.

Pennsylvania birth certificates are restricted records for 105 years after the date of birth. After this period, the records become publicly accessible through the Pennsylvania State Archives.

If the birth record is still restricted, you must meet the state's eligibility requirements to obtain a certified copy of a Pennsylvania birth certificate. The following people are eligible:

• The person named on the birth certificate
• Their spouse
• Parents and stepparents
• Siblings and half-siblings
• Children and stepchildren
• Grandparents and great-grandparents
• Grandchildren and great-grandchildren
• Authorized legal representatives and individuals with power of attorney

Additional documentation may be necessary to prove your relationship to the person named on the certificate or your authority to request the record.

For standard mail and in-person requests, you must generally be at least 16 years old. Online applicants must be at least 18.

If the person named on the certificate is deceased, other relatives may qualify by providing proof of death.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health charges $20 for each certified birth certificate copy. This statewide fee applies to standard requests, including replacement PA birth certificates.

Your total cost depends on how you submit your application and whether you use additional services.

If you use EaseGov, our application-preparation fee is separate from the government's certificate fee and any official online processing charges.

Pennsylvania generally charges the certificate search fee even if the requested record cannot be located.

It typically takes around 2 weeks to process mail applications and official online orders for PA birth certificates.

This estimate begins when the state receives a complete request. Postal delivery and any time needed to resolve incomplete documentation are additional.

Can you get a Pennsylvania birth certificate the same day?

Yes, same-day birth certificate service may be available at Pennsylvania Vital Records Public Offices.

Applications received before 2:30 p.m. may be processed on the same day, provided the office can verify the record and all requirements are satisfied.

Pennsylvania operates public offices in Erie, Harrisburg, New Castle, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Scranton. They generally operate Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., excluding holidays. The Philadelphia office requires an appointment.

Same-day issuance is not guaranteed. If you need your certificate urgently, confirm the office's service arrangements before visiting.

If you need a long-form PA birth certificate for an official procedure, check what information the receiving organization requires before placing your order.

For most identification purposes, including REAL ID applications, a certified Pennsylvania birth certificate is accepted. Previously issued short-form certificates may also be valid for REAL ID.

However, some organizations or foreign authorities may require additional information, such as parents' names or specific birth registration details.

Before ordering, confirm the organization's requirements and check with the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records that the certificate you receive will include the necessary information.

If you plan to use your Pennsylvania birth certificate in another country, you may need an apostille to authenticate the document for international use.

An apostille is separate from the birth certificate itself. It verifies that the public official's signature or seal on the document is genuine.

To prepare for an apostille request:

If you need both a new certificate and an apostille, obtain the certified birth certificate first, then have the apostille applied to your certificate.

EaseGov can help you prepare your birth certificate request, but we do not help order apostilles.

Most applicants must pay the standard $20 state fee when requesting a replacement birth certificate in Pennsylvania. However, certain military applicants may qualify for a fee waiver.

Eligible applicants for a free PA birth certificate copy include:

• Active-duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces
• Qualifying veterans
• Eligible spouses and surviving spouses

The exemption typically covers certificates requested for the eligible applicant, their spouse, or dependent children. Pennsylvania limits this benefit to 10 copies per applicant per calendar year, and supporting documentation is required.

The waiver applies to government certificate fees. It does not eliminate online service charges or fees for independent application-preparation services such as EaseGov.

If you do not qualify for an exemption, you must pay the applicable fees to obtain a certified copy.