How to Get a Free Copy of a Birth Certificate in Pennsylvania

In Pennsylvania, a fee waiver or free copy of a birth certificate, also known as a birth record, is available for a member of the U.S. armed forces. The fee is waived if the person is an active member of the U.S. armed forces or was honorably discharged from service.

If a baby was born at a hospital, the family will receive a free birth certificate after the hospital has registered the child’s birth. This birth certificate will be mailed to the mailing address entered on the birth mother’s worksheet.

An online order or a paper application for birth certificates mailed to the Division of Vital Records takes approximately two weeks to fill. A person who needs a birth certificate quickly should make a request in person at Vital Records branch office or online.

For a free birth certificate that is mailed after the hospital has registered the child’s birth, these processing times apply:

• 20 days if the birth mother is married and lists the spouse as the other parent. Time varies if the birth mother is married and lists someone else as the other parent.

• 20 days if the birth mother is single and does not name another parent.

• Up to 60 days if the birth mother is single and completes an Acknowledgement of Paternity to list the father.

The three primary ways to order a birth certificate are online, in person and through the mail. A person can order a birth certificate online from VitalChek at mycertificates.health.pa.gov.

The required payment is $20 for the birth certificate and $10 for the processing fee, and must be made by credit card. The person can choose between free first-class mail delivery through the U.S. Postal Service or pick up at a public office of the Division of Vital Records.

A person can also order a birth certificate in person from a Vital Records office. They should complete an application for a birth certificate to order a birth certificate by mail. They must submit the application form to the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Division of Vital Records, P.O. Box 1528, New Castle, Pennsylvania 16103.

The fastest way to get a birth certificate in Pennsylvania is to request it in person at a Vital Records office. A person can replace their lost or missing copy of a Pennsylvania birth certificate by ordering a copy from the Division of Vital Records.

An individual must be at least 16 years old or an emancipated minor to request a copy of their birth certificate. A parent or legal guardian may request a copy of a birth certificate for their minor child. The applicant must provide:

• Applicant’s first name, middle and last names.
• Applicant’s street address.
• Applicant’s daytime phone number.
• Relationship of the applicant to the person named on the birth certificate.
• Intended use of the birth certificate, such as school or employment.
• First, middle and last names at birth of the person named on the birth certificate.
• Age of the person named on the birth certificate.
• Date of birth of the person named on the birth certificate.
• Sex of the person named on the birth certificate.
• Place of birth of the person named on the birth certificate, including county, city, borough or township.
• Hospital name.
  
• New first, middle and last names of person on the birth certificate if they have changed since birth due to adoption, court order or another reason other than marriage.
  
• First name, middle name and last names to prior first marriage, and current last name of mother of person named on birth certificate.
• First name, middle name and last names to prior first marriage, and current last name of father of person named on birth certificate.

If the applicant does not have all of the information requested above, they should provide as much as possible.

They also must provide a legible photocopy of an acceptable form of identification, such as a valid driver’s license or other government-issued photo ID that includes their mailing address. If the applicant is applying by mail, the address on their ID must match their current mailing address.

The Division of Vital Records will not accept an expired ID. If the applicant does not have a valid government-issued photo ID they can provide two current documents that verify their name and current address. Acceptable documents include a utility bill, pay stub, bank statement, car registration, or lease or rental agreement.

The applicant must sign the application and pay the $20 per birth certificate fee. A person who orders online must also pay a $10 service fee and applicable delivery fees if they select UPS overnight shipping. An applicant paying by mail should make their check or money order out to “Vital Records.”

An applicant applying in person can pay by credit card, check or money order. If they are requesting a fee waiver because they or the parent of the child is a member of the U.S. armed forces, they should provide:

• Armed forces member’s name.
• Service number.
• Rank and branch of service.

An individual cannot get their original birth certificate, or OBC. The state requires that the OBC be on file at the Division of Vital Records office after the hospital submits it for registration. The state keeps the original copy to ensure the protection of a person’s identity. When a person applies to get their birth certificate, they apply to get a copy of the OBC.

Birth certificates dated 1906 or later are stored with the Division of Vital Records. Birth certificates that date earlier than 1906 can be requested through a county’s register of wills. Counties may differ in the years of archived birth certificates.

For example, Beaver County stores birth and death certificates dating between 1893 and 1906. A person can obtain a copy of a birth certificate from this period by sending a written request to the register of wills.

There is a $5 research fee per name being researched, with a maximum of three names per request. The applicant should make a check or money order out to the “Register of Wills” and send a self-addressed stamped envelope. They must provide:

• Their name, email address and daytime phone number.
  
• Name of the individual they are researching.
• Date or date range within five years if they are not certain of the exact date.
  
• Whether they are requesting a birth or a death certificate.

The register of wills will let the applicant know if the information is available. The cost of a birth or death record is $10. If the information is available, the applicant should send a check or money order, and the register of wills will send the information.