How Do You Order a Birth Certificate in New York?
Order from the official New York records office, with the fee and ID that office asks for. Here is how, step by step.
The New York rule in one table
| Jurisdiction | Two offices. Five boroughs go to New York City Health. Anywhere else in New York goes to the New York State Department of Health | | New York City fee | 15 dollars per certificate, plus a channel processing fee: online 9 dollars and 30 cents, mail 7 dollars and 50 cents, in person 2 dollars and 75 cents | | New York City time | Online 2 to 3 weeks processing plus up to 2 weeks regular mail delivery. Mail about 2 to 3 weeks premium, or 8 to 12 weeks non-premium | | New York State fee, mail | 30 dollars per copy, regular handling | | New York State time, mail | 10 to 12 weeks from receipt, regular handling | | Online rule, New York City | Online orders are only available if your name is on the record |
What makes New York different
New York is the wrong office trap state, and it is the first thing to get right. Births in the five boroughs go to New York City Health, and births anywhere else in New York go to the New York State Department of Health in Albany. Ordering from the wrong office stalls the request, so start with the birthplace, not with the form.
The second New York difference is the channel math. In New York City, the certificate itself is 15 dollars everywhere, and the channel fee changes the total: 9 dollars and 30 cents online, 7 dollars and 50 cents by mail, 2 dollars and 75 cents in person. Online processing runs 2 to 3 weeks plus up to 2 weeks of regular mail delivery, and online orders are only available if your name is on the record. Outside the city, mailed regular handling costs 30 dollars per copy and runs 10 to 12 weeks from receipt, and the mailed application must include photo identification or two name and address documents, or it is rejected.
The process, step by step
- Decide the office first: five boroughs means New York City Health, anywhere else in New York means the New York State Department of Health.
- For New York City, order online only if your name is on the record. Otherwise use mail or in person.
- For New York State mail orders, include a copy of one valid photo identification, or two documents showing your name and address. An application without identification is rejected.
- Allow the channel time: New York City online 2 to 3 weeks plus delivery, or New York State mail 10 to 12 weeks regular handling.
Ordering in the other states
Birth certificate ordering follows the same shape in every state, but the office, the fee, and the wait change at the state line. See How to Order a Birth Certificate in Washington and How to Order a Birth Certificate in Oregon. For all seven states side by side, see the Birth Certificates by State directory.
Source
Fees, times, and office rules on this page come from New York City Health: the birth and death records fees page, and the New York State Department of Health: the mail requests page. Facts verified 2026-10-26.
This page explains how the process works and what the official rules say. It is general information, not legal advice. For a dispute about your specific situation, talk to a lawyer or your state agency.
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