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Pennsylvania Birth Certificate Search

A birth certificate is considered a vital record in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is legal proof of a person's identity, age, parentage, and citizenship. This document is issued after a live birth, provided the local registrar receives a report of the birth within 10 days (28 Pa. Code § 1.1).

A person's birth certificate is usually one of the documents they must provide when applying for a passport, driver's license, or social security card. Birth certificates are also required for sports enrollment, school admission, and employment in some cases.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health's Bureau of Health Statistics and Registries is the Commonwealth's official custodian of vital records, including all Pennsylvania birth records. The office maintains birth certificates dating from 1906 to the present. Birth certificates filed before 1906 are maintained at the county level. In addition to birth and death certificates, a local county health department will also maintain the marriage certificate, marriage license and divorce certificate of a resident in its jurisdiction.

What is a Birth Certificate in Pennsylvania?

A birth certificate in Pennsylvania is a legally recognized document that summarizes a birth event. It includes details such as the date and time of birth, place of birth, the full name of a newborn, parent information (full names and other details), and the birth attendant's information.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health (PA DOH) uses a unique security paper to print birth certificates and an embossed (raised) seal to authenticate the documents.

Are Birth Certificates Public Record in Pennsylvania?

No. Birth certificates are not public records in Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth restricts access to the records under the Vital Statistics Law to protect citizens' privacy and personal information.

Anyone who wants to access a Pennsylvania birth certificate must have a direct interest in the record. Eligible individuals include:

  • The person named on a certificate (the registrant)
  • Their relatives (parents, children, spouse, or siblings)
  • Certain government agencies
  • Authorized agents or attorneys representing the registrant or a family member

The Department of Health can also disclose a birth certificate upon a court order.

However, birth records 105 years or older are public records and maintained at the Pennsylvania State Archives or local (city/county) archives. These records can be obtained for genealogical research and ancestry purposes.

How to Get a Birth Certificate in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania citizens and other eligible parties can obtain birth certificates from the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The Department of Health accepts online, by mail, and in-person requests.

How to Order a Birth Certificate Online in Pennsylvania

The public cannot directly order birth certificates online from the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The Department collaborates with an independent vendor to process requests for birth certificates.

To complete an online order, an applicant must provide information such as their name, reason for the request, email address, phone number, electronic signature, and the registrant's date of birth. If the applicant is not the individual named on the certificate, they must provide their relationship to the certificate's owner. Afterward, the online vendor will electronically transmit the application to the Department for processing.

An additional processing fee of $10 is required for the online service, which is separate from the cost of obtaining the birth certificate. Although the PA DOH recognizes only one vendor for online birth certificate requests, other companies also provide comparable services.

The Department further explains how to order birth records online on its Birth Certificate page.

Where Can I Get My Birth Certificate in Person in Pennsylvania?

Individuals can make in-person requests for their Pennsylvania birth certificates at any of the state's six Vital Records Offices. These offices offer walk-in services and are open on weekdays, although business hours vary. People who placed an order online or via mail can also opt to pick up their birth certificates at any Vital Records Office.

How Do I Get My Original Birth Certificate in Pennsylvania

Upon receiving a birth certificate request through authorized means, the PA DOH will provide the requester with a certified copy of their original birth record, as long as it exists in their records. The requester can receive this document by mail or pick it up at the Vital Records Offices.

Applicants receive a "Certificate of No Birth Record" if the Department's search for the birth record returns no results. In that case, the requester must file a Delayed Report of Live Birth if they have documentary proof that they were born in Pennsylvania. Only individuals above the age of 18 can initiate this process.

Adoptees and their lineal kin can obtain original birth certificates from the Department if eligible. To be eligible, the adoptee must be 18 or older and either have graduated from high school, completed a General Educational Development program, or legally withdrawn from secondary schooling. The adoptee's descendants can request the document if the adoptee is deceased. The PA DOH will issue a non-certified copy of the original birth certificate, and the parents' names may be redacted, depending on whether they filed a Name Redaction Request (NRR).

How to Order a Replacement Birth Certificate in Pennsylvania

Individuals can order a replacement birth certificate in Pennsylvania in any of the following cases:

  • If the current birth certificate is misplaced: Individuals can head to the PA DOH's website or any Vital Records Office in the state to order a certified copy of their original certificate after fulfilling the application requirements.
  • If the birth certificate is needed for international purposes: Requesters must indicate in their application forms that they need the certificate for international purposes. If the foreign country requires the registrar's signature on the certificate, applicants must request an Apostille. Once they obtain the certificate, they must take it to the Pennsylvania Department of State's Bureau of Commissions, Elections, and Legislation for the Apostille.
  • If the birth certificate (or death certificate) does not have an embossed (raised) seal: Old birth certificates issued before 1975 usually do not have a raised seal, which is now a legal requirement for these documents. Individuals can order a certified copy of their original birth certificates to get an up-to-date version.
  • If the current birth certificate does not include a time of birth: When applying for a replacement birth certificate, requesters should choose "Other" under "Intended Use" and indicate they want to add their time of birth to the certificate. This request cannot be made via telephone or online, only in person or via mail using the Application for a Birth Certificate form.

What are the Documents Required to Get a Birth Certificate in Pennsylvania?

A completed application form is the first document required to obtain a certified copy of an original birth certificate in Pennsylvania. Another is an unexpired government-issued photo identification. If the applicant wants the certificate mailed, their ID must validate their address.

Accepted IDs include:

  • State-Issued Identification Card
  • Inmate Identification Card
  • Carry and Conceal Permit/License to Carry Firearms
  • Driver's License
  • Military Identification Card
  • Medical Marijuana Identification Card
  • United States or Foreign Government Passport

State-issued identification cards, carry and conceal permits, driver's licenses, and inmate identification cards can also serve as proof of address.

An ex-inmate presenting a recent inmate photo identification card must also provide additional documentation to verify their current mailing address. This documentation includes a letter from the institution that verified their current mailing address or a copy of their release papers.

If a requester does not have a government-issued ID, they can submit a Student ID. The ID must be from a verifiable and accredited college (with a current transcript) or high school (with a current report card). The requester must also provide a current academic year ID if still a student or an ID from the previous year if they have graduated. The student ID may also serve as proof of address if it contains the requester's current address.

Applicants can also submit other documentation if their IDs cannot serve as proof of address. These documents include the following:

  • Social Security Statement
  • Lease/Rental Agreement
  • Tax Return
  • Credit Card or Bank Statement
  • Utility Bill
  • Insurance Policy or Vehicle Registration

If the applicant is not the individual named on the birth certificate, they must provide proof of their relationship to the person named on the document.

Young persons aged 16 or 17 who do not have acceptable IDs must use a Qualified Advocate's letter to order a Pennsylvania birth certificate. A Qualified Advocate is any individual professionally responsible for youth welfare, regardless of whether they are volunteers or paid workers. The advocate's letter must bear a letterhead showing the organization's verifiable address. The letter's content must attest to the advocate's contact information, affiliation with any youth advocacy group, and relationship with the young applicant. The letter must also confirm that the name of the applicant matches the name on the birth certificate application.

What Do I Need to Get My Child's Birth Certificate in Pennsylvania?

The PA DOH usually gives parents a complimentary birth certificate after a baby is born, provided the birth is reported. Licensed birth facilities or midwives in the state are obligated to report the live birth to the Department within 10 days of the child's birth. Parents must, however, provide accurate mailing information to enable the Department to send the complementary birth certificate.

The time until the Department sends a complimentary birth certificate varies, but the office holds on to every birth certificate for 15 days after the child's birth. This measure allows the midwives or birth facilities to work out any typographical error in the information on the birth certificate before the Department prints the document.

Mothers who have unattended home births should contact the Department to find out how to register the baby's birth. A parent can also contact the Department to learn how to file a late birth report if their child's birth was not reported and the child is under 7.

Parents listed on the birth certificate can request certified copies anytime from the Department.

A different process applies for adoptive parents requesting the birth certificate of a child born in a foreign country. To obtain a Pennsylvania birth certificate, in this case, at least one parent must be a U.S. citizen and a Pennsylvania resident.

Adoptive parents can only file a report of birth with the PA DOH after a Pennsylvania court domesticates the adoption. To facilitate domestication, adoptive parents should contact a county court for guidance.

Following the recognition of the foreign adoption by a Pennsylvania court, the court will complete and send forms HD01273F (Certificate of Adoption of a Foreign-Born Child) and HD01275F (Statement of Citizenship and Residency) to the PA DOH. Courts are mandated to submit the prior month's adoptions by the 15th day of the current month.

The Department will then review the received forms for accuracy and completeness. Afterward, the office will establish a Pennsylvania birth record using the information in the forms. Subsequently, the adoptive parent(s) can request a copy of the certificate.

How Do I Find My Birth Certificate Number in Pennsylvania?

In Pennsylvania, the birth certificate number can be found in the upper right-hand corner of a birth certificate. The number is a unique identifier assigned to the birth certificate at registration. Typically, birth certificate numbers are 11-digit numbers, where the last six digits indicate the sequential number assigned upon registration.

How Much Does It Cost to Apply for a Birth Certificate in Pennsylvania?

Per Article VI-A, Section 609-A of Pennsylvania's Administrative Code of 1929, applicants must pay a fee of $20 to obtain a Pennsylvania birth certificate. Individuals using the Department's online service must also pay a $10 processing fee.

U.S. Armed Forces members on active duty or who have been honorably discharged (or their spouses) can obtain a fee waiver if the birth certificate they want to obtain belongs to them, their spouses (including widowers and widows if not married), or a dependent child.

Young people (aged 16 to 17) experiencing homelessness or who have been in the foster or juvenile justice systems may also be eligible for fee waivers. A Qualified Advocate letter must accompany the minor's application, however.

What is the Fastest Way to Get a Birth Certificate in Pennsylvania?

The fastest way to get a birth certificate in Pennsylvania is to walk into a Vital Records Office and request the document.

Still, individuals can order online or via mail. The processing time for online or mailed orders is approximately two weeks. However, the duration may vary by the type of request. For example, an adoptee's request to obtain a non-certified copy of their birth certificate may take 45 days to process.

What is a Long Form Birth Certificate in Pennsylvania?

A long-form birth certificate generally refers to the photocopy of the original birth certificate. It typically contains all the information in the original birth certificate, including:

  • The full name of the individual
  • Date and time of birth
  • Place of birth (city and county)
  • Full names of both parents, including the mother's maiden name
  • Gender
  • Parents' places of birth (city and state or country)
  • Parents' occupations
  • Parents' ages at the time of birth
  • The attending physician or midwife's name and signature
  • The registrar's raised or embossed seal

Long Form vs. Short Form Birth Certificate

While the long-form birth certificate contains all the information in an original birth certificate, the short-form version leaves out some information. In many cases, it will only show the child's name, place of birth, date of birth, and parents' names. The PA DOH does not issue short-form birth certificates.