How Do You Order a Birth Certificate in Pennsylvania?

The office and the records it holds

The Pennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Records, issues birth certificates for births that occurred in Pennsylvania since 1906. A birth certificate is printed on specialized security paper and contains a raised seal. The Department states it will issue a certified "No Record Certification of Birth" if it cannot identify or find a record using the information provided, so provide as much information as possible to help locate the record. For a birth in another state, the Department directs applicants to the National Center for Health Statistics website for contact information. Pennsylvania's statewide birth and death records program began in 1906; once a Report of Live Birth reaches 105 years of age, the record becomes available through the Pennsylvania State Archives.

Fee: $20 per copy, plus $10 online

The cost for a birth certificate is $20 each regardless of the quantity ordered. The Department states the fee is established under Pennsylvania's Administrative Code of 1929, that payment is deposited upon receipt of the application, and that fees are not refundable. If ordering online, a $10 service fee must also be paid; the Department states the online service fee is non-refundable. Payment may be made by credit card if ordering online or in person at a Vital Records Public Office. If applying by mail, payment must be by check or money order made payable to "birth and death records." Cash is not accepted.

Fee waivers are available for members of the U.S. Armed Forces. To qualify, the applicant or the applicant's spouse, including a widow or widower if not remarried, must be in active service or discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, under Act 137 of 2024, with documentation to support the status. Fee waivers are limited to ten copies per applicant per calendar year, and apply only to the applicant's own birth certificate, a spouse's birth certificate, or a dependent child's birth certificate, with supporting documentation required for a dependent child over 18. The fee waiver covers only the cost of the birth certificate; it does not apply to online service fees. Fee-waived paper applications are also available for eligible applicants experiencing homelessness and for young people involved in the foster system or juvenile justice system, through a qualified advocate, according to the Department's youth-applicant guidance. Confirm waiver eligibility with the Department before filing.

Online: the state's only authorized vendor

For online services, a birth certificate may be ordered online, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, from Pennsylvania's only authorized vendor at mycertificates.health.pa.gov. In addition to the standard $20 birth certificate fee, a $10 processing fee applies, and payment is by credit card. Delivery options are first class mail through the United States Postal Service or pickup at a Department office.

The Department is explicit about vendor status, and this guide states it exactly as the Department states it, without recommending any vendor: VitalChek is the only authorized vendor who collects orders on the Department's behalf. All other online service providers convert orders to a paper application, so expect a delay in service if another online service provider is used. The Department processes requests for all orders; online providers collect the order and submit it to the Department for processing. If a problem arises with an order placed through another vendor, the Department directs the applicant to contact that vendor directly.

By mail

Complete an Application for Birth Certificate and mail it to the address below. All certificates are mailed using First Class Mail. The requirements are: complete the application, show valid identification, sign the application, be an eligible applicant, and pay the fee. The mailing address stated on the Department's page is Division of Vital Records, Birth Certificate Processing Unit, PO Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103. Processing times are based on the application receipt date and do not include delivery time; processing may take longer if the Department must resolve application issues, for genealogical requests, or for applications involving a subpoena, court order, or power of attorney. The Department links a separate processing-times page for current times for online, telephone, and mail applications; check that page before ordering, because no processing-time figure is stated on the ordering page opened for this guide and none is claimed here.

In person

For walk-in services, the Department directs applicants to its Public Office page for office locations and hours. If a birth certificate is needed quickly, the Department states to make the request in person at one of its six branch offices or online at mycertificates.health.pa.gov. The six public offices are in Erie, Harrisburg, New Castle, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Scranton, according to the Department's office listings summarized in reference sources; the Philadelphia office is by appointment only according to the same summaries. Confirm the office address, hours, and appointment requirement on the Department's Public Office page before traveling, because hours and appointment rules were not stated on the ordering page opened for this guide. No same-day promise for in-person orders is stated on the ordering page, and none is claimed here.

Who can order, and what to show

An eligible applicant must complete the application, show valid identification, sign the application, and pay the fee. Eligible applicants must be 16 years of age or older for in-person and mail applications; online applicants must be 18 years or older due to online payment and identity requirements. Eligible applicants include the person named on the birth certificate; spouse; parent or step-parent; brother, sister, half-brother, or half-sister; son or daughter; step-son or step-daughter; grandparent or great-grandparent; grandchild or great-grandchild; power of attorney; and attorney or legal representative of the person named. If the person listed on the birth certificate is deceased, a family member who is not listed above must also submit a copy of the death certificate to be eligible to receive the birth certificate.

Source

• Pennsylvania Department of Health, Birth Certificates
• Pennsylvania Department of Health, FAQ Youth Applicants

Facts verified 2026-11-03. Processing times and public-office hours are omitted because they were not stated on the Department pages opened for this guide; check the Department's processing-times and Public Office pages before ordering. VitalChek is named only as the state's own published authorized vendor, never as a recommendation.

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 the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Records.