How Do You Order a Birth Certificate in Washington?

The Washington rule in one table

| Official office | Washington State Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics | | Fee, base | 25 dollars for a certificate and for a noncertified informational copy | | Fee, online or phone | 40 dollars and 50 cents through VitalChek, the only contracted vendor. Optional 3 dollar identity quiz brings the total to 43 dollars and 50 cents | | Fee, mail | Starts at 25 dollars, by check or money order | | Online time | Shipped within 3 to 7 business days of the Department receiving the order from VitalChek | | Mail time | 6 to 10 weeks. The Department page states both 6 to 8 weeks to ship and 8 to 10 weeks to receipt | | Informational copy | Available to anyone with the application and fee, watermarked as informational only |

What makes Washington different

Washington is the informational bypass state. A certified copy requires identity documents and proof of a qualifying relationship, but a noncertified informational copy is available to anyone with the application and fee. It carries the same birth information, watermarked Cannot be used for legal purposes, Informational only, and not on security paper. A family history reader who is not an eligible requester should use that route instead of trying to qualify for a certified copy.

The second Washington difference is the mail time discrepancy, stated plainly here so it cannot mislead. The Department ordering page gives 6 to 8 weeks to ship for mailed orders in its table, and 8 to 10 weeks to receipt in its how long section. Plan on 6 to 10 weeks by mail. Online and phone orders through VitalChek ship within 3 to 7 business days of the Department receiving the order, and in person orders through partner local health departments are mostly same day, where the location holds your record type and year.

The process, step by step

1. Decide certified or informational copy. A certified copy needs identity documents and proof of a qualifying relationship. An informational copy needs only the application and fee.
2. Order online or by phone through VitalChek, by mail starting at 25 dollars, or in person through a partner local health department.
3. For a certified copy, gather one government issued identification document not expired more than 60 days, or at least two documents from the alternative list, plus proof of relationship such as a linked vital record or certified court order.
4. Allow 3 to 7 business days for online shipping, or 6 to 10 weeks by mail.

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 Oregon and How to Order a Birth Certificate in Colorado. For all seven states side by side, see the Birth Certificates by State directory.

Source

Fees, times, and eligibility on this page come from the Washington State Department of Health: the ordering a vital record page and the certificates and informational copies FAQ. 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.