To get a certified copy of a Florida birth certificate, submit Application DH Form 726 with a copy of valid photo ID and the $19 fee to the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics. You can order online through VitalChek, by mail to the Bureau’s Jacksonville office, or in person at the Bureau or a county health department. Florida law restricts who can request the record, so the first question is whether you qualify.
Who Can Request the Record
Florida keeps birth records confidential for 125 years. Under section 382.025 of the Florida Statutes, only certain people can order a certified copy:1Florida Senate. Florida Code Section 382.025 – Certified Copies of Vital Records; Confidentiality; Research
- The person named on the certificate, if 18 or older. Emancipated minors and certified homeless youth also qualify on their own.
- A parent named on the record, or a legal guardian with court-issued guardianship documents.
- A legal representative acting for an eligible person.
- The spouse, adult child, grandchild, or adult sibling of a deceased registrant, with a copy of the death certificate. The copy issued will be marked “deceased.”
- Anyone authorized by a Florida court.
If you don’t fit one of those categories, an eligible person can sign a notarized Affidavit to Release a Birth Certificate (DH Form 1958) authorizing you to receive the record on their behalf.2Florida Department of Health. Affidavit to Release Birth Certificate You’ll submit photo ID copies for both yourself and the person granting authorization.
What to Gather Before You Apply
The application is DH Form 726, downloadable from the Florida Department of Health website or available at any county health department.3Florida Department of Health. Application for Florida Birth Certificate It asks for:
- The full name given at birth (not a later legal name)
- Date of birth
- City and county of birth
- Both parents’ full names before their first marriage
Include a copy of valid, unexpired photo ID: driver’s license, state ID card, passport, or military ID. For mail requests, photocopy both the front and back clearly. If your request depends on a court order, guardianship papers, or a death certificate, include copies of those as well.
Three Ways to Order
Online Through VitalChek
VitalChek is the only third-party vendor contracted by the Florida Department of Health.4Florida Department of Health. Order Certificates from VitalChek It accepts credit cards and adds a $7 service fee on top of the state’s fee, plus a mandatory $10 rush fee. UPS shipping costs extra. VitalChek verifies your identity and sends the request straight to the Bureau, so these orders receive priority handling. This is the fastest route.
By Mail
Send the completed DH Form 726, supporting documents, and payment to:
Florida Department of Health
Bureau of Vital Statistics
P.O. Box 210
Jacksonville, FL 32231-00425Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Where to Write for Vital Records – Florida
Payment must be a check or money order payable to “Vital Statistics.” For rush processing, add $10 and write “RUSH” on the outside of the envelope. Rush gets priority handling at the Bureau but does not include expedited shipping.
In Person
Walk-in service is available at the Bureau of Vital Statistics office in Jacksonville and at county health department locations across Florida.6Florida Department of Health. Birth Certificates – Florida Department of Health Same-day service is often possible if you bring everything required. Call the local county health department first to confirm hours and accepted payment methods.
Fees and Processing Times
The base fee at the state Bureau is $19, which covers the records search and one certified computer-generated copy.6Florida Department of Health. Birth Certificates – Florida Department of Health Each additional certified copy of the same record ordered at the same time is $4.7Legal Information Institute (Cornell Law School). Florida Admin Code Ann R 64V-1.014 – Fees for Vital Statistics Fees are nonrefundable, except that fees paid for additional copies are refunded if no record is found.8Florida Legislature. Florida Code 382.0255 – Fees
County health departments set their own fees, which tend to run higher than the state office; some counties charge $15 per copy. Ordering through VitalChek means paying the $19 state fee plus a $7 service fee and a $10 rush fee.
Standard processing at the state Bureau runs 3 to 5 business days once your envelope arrives, not counting mail transit.3Florida Department of Health. Application for Florida Birth Certificate Rush orders and VitalChek orders both receive priority handling. County walk-ins are often completed the same day.
Who Doesn’t Pay
Florida waives the entire fee for certified unaccompanied homeless youth, young adults who aged out of Department of Children and Families custody, inmates obtaining a state ID before release, and juvenile offenders receiving reentry services.8Florida Legislature. Florida Code 382.0255 – Fees
If You Need the Certificate for Use Abroad
A certified copy alone isn’t enough for most foreign uses. Countries that participate in the Hague Convention require an apostille, and in Florida those are issued by the Department of State, not the Department of Health. You first need a certified copy from the Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville bearing the State Registrar’s signature, then submit it to the Department of State with $10 per document.9Florida Department of State. Procedure for Notarial or Apostille Certification If your certified copy was issued by a Clerk of Circuit Court rather than the state Bureau, the apostille fee is $20 per document. Payment must be by check or money order. Build this extra step into your timeline if the certificate is going overseas.