Order a Texas Birth Certificate Copy Online

Start by confirming why you need the certificate and who will accept it. For a U.S. passport or dual citizenship, request a long-form copy. For school or sports registration, a short-form copy may meet the requirement.

Next, choose how to submit your request. You can apply directly through Texas.gov, send a mail application to DSHS, or visit a state or local vital records office. EaseGov provides an online starting point for preparing your application.

Fill in the birth details and your relationship to the person named on the record. Prepare acceptable identification and payment. For a mailed DSHS request, sign before a notary and include a photocopy of your accepted ID.

Standard mail applications go to this address.

Texas Vital Statistics Department of State Health Services P.O. Box 12040 Austin, TX 78711-2040

Expedited applications use a different street address and must arrive through an overnight mail service. If visiting a local office, check which certificate formats and birth years it can issue before traveling.

Access to Texas birth certificates is restricted to qualified applicants for 75 years after the birth. You can request your own record, and eligible immediate family members can request a copy for you.

Qualified immediate family members include the following relatives by blood, marriage, or adoption:

• Parent or guardian
• Brother or sister
• Grandparent
• Spouse
• Child

A legal representative or another applicant with a direct, tangible interest must provide documentation supporting their authority. A court order establishing guardianship is one example.

The direct Texas.gov online service has additional limits. Texas residents can order their own records or those of immediate family members. Out-of-state residents can order their own certificate or their child's certificate if listed as a parent. Other qualified applicants must use mail or in-person ordering.

Your immigration or citizenship status does not determine your right to obtain a birth certificate. You still need to meet the applicant and identification requirements.

Have the record information ready before starting your Texas birth certificate application. Enter names as recorded, including parents' names before marriage where requested.

• Your reason for requesting the certificate.
• Full name of the person whose certificate you need.
• Date of birth and the Texas city or county of birth.
• Parents' full names, including the mother's maiden name.
• The certificate format, number of copies, and required payment.
• Your name, address, telephone number, and relationship to the person on the record.

For a mailed request, include the original completed application, your notarized signature, a photocopy of acceptable identification, and payment. DSHS accepts a check or money order payable to DSHS Vital Statistics. Avoid cross-outs, correction tape, and whiteout.

For an in-person request, bring the original accepted ID. Common primary IDs include a U.S. state driver's license, state or federal ID card, military ID, or U.S. passport.

If you do not have a primary ID, DSHS accepts specified combinations of secondary and supporting documents. The options are two Group B documents, or one Group B document plus two Group C documents. Check the official accepted-ID list before applying.

For a direct Texas.gov order, identity verification uses your state-issued driver's license or ID number, Social Security number, and relationship to the certificate holder. These are the requirements of the state's online service.

DSHS charges $22 per standard certified copy, whether you choose long form or short form. An heirloom copy costs more.

Regular DSHS orders are returned by USPS First Class mail without an additional shipping charge. Local office fees may differ. For example, the City of Austin charges $23 per birth certificate.

Expedited DSHS processing also requires overnight submission and paid expedited return shipping. Return options listed by DSHS include $16 for domestic overnight mail or $22.95 for USPS Express delivery to a P.O. box.

For one $22 copy, expedited processing plus the $16 return option totals $63 in DSHS charges. Your outgoing postage, notarization, and any EaseGov service charge are additional.

State vital record fees are nonrefundable and nontransferable, including when a search does not locate the record.

The current DSHS average for a certified birth certificate ordered through Texas.gov is 20–25 business days.

The published average for a mailed certified-copy request is 25–30 business days.

Processing starts when DSHS receives the application and payment. Shipping time is additional. These state estimates do not represent EaseGov preparation time or a guaranteed delivery date.

In-person DSHS requests are usually completed the same day, although some take 24 hours or longer. Local office availability can differ. Confirm that the office can issue your required copy before visiting.

Expedited mail applications receive priority when the packet and fees meet DSHS requirements. Missing documents can cause rejection, and processing starts again if you resubmit a corrected application.

Use the DSHS order-status service to check a certificate request submitted to the state. The lookup accepts your order number and order date and offers another search option if those details are unavailable.

If your request was submitted through a local registrar, ask that office for an update. For help with an application prepared through EaseGov, contact our support team. Government processing updates come from the office handling the record.

A Texas birth certificate apostille authenticates the official's signature for use abroad. The Texas Secretary of State handles this step after your certified copy has been issued. DSHS does not forward certificates to that office for you.

The standard apostille fee is $15 per document. International adoption requests use a separate application and cost $10 per document, capped at $100 per adoption. These fees are separate from the birth certificate cost.

Texas issues a universal apostille. For countries outside the Apostille Convention, additional U.S. Department of State authentication is required. Check the destination's requirements before sending your documents.