How to get an Arkansas birth certificate

In Arkansas, order a certified birth certificate from the Arkansas Department of Health, Vital Records.¹ Local health units also offer vital records services.¹ The first copy costs $12¹ and each additional copy ordered at the same time costs $10¹. You can order online, by mail, in person or by phone. Anyone may order a certified copy. The fastest published option is in person: same day¹.

Last checked November 5, 2026 against official sources.

On this page

Ways to order
What an Arkansas birth certificate costs
How long it takes
Who can order an Arkansas birth certificate
ID you need
What the application asks for
Forms
Years held and older records
Special situations
Warnings from the office
The state office
Questions people ask
Sources

Ways to order

How	Cost per copy	Processing time	Payment
Online	$12¹ first, $10¹ each extra copy, plus $5² standard processing fee and $1.85³ identity verification fee	7 to 14 business days¹	Card¹
By mail	$12¹ first, $10¹ each extra copy	–	Check and money order¹
In person	$12¹ first, $10¹ each extra copy	Same day¹	Cash, card, check and money order¹
By phone	$12¹ first, $10¹ each extra copy	–	Card¹

Online

Run by: ADH's 'Vital Records' online service at ar.gov/vitalrecords (vitalrecords.egov.com). ADH sends technical problems to the 'Tyler Arkansas Help Center'.⁴
Fees: First copy $12¹
Each additional copy in the same order $10¹
Standard processing fee $5²
Identity verification fee $1.85³
Processing time: 7 to 14 business days¹
Expedited service: Expedited shipping only; no official page offers faster processing. Shipping prices are not published.¹
Payment: Card¹

Good to know

Electronic identity verification through LexisNexis: name, address, date of birth and driver license number.⁵
Proof of relationship documents must be attached where applicable.⁵
Orders can be refunded only before processing starts.⁶

Go to the ordering site³

By mail

Fees: First copy $12¹
Each additional copy in the same order $10¹
Payment: Check and money order¹
Make payable to: Arkansas Department of Health¹
Mail to: Arkansas Department of Health, Vital Records, Slot 44, 4815 West Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72205
¹

Good to know

Include a copy of acceptable ID; no cash or temporary checks.¹

Open the application or mail instructions¹

In person

Fees: First copy $12¹
Each additional copy in the same order $10¹
Processing time: Same day¹
Payment: Cash, card, check and money order¹
Make payable to: Arkansas Department of Health¹
Office: 4815 West Markham St., Little Rock, AR 72205
¹
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00am until 5:00pm; closed state holidays¹

Good to know

Not guaranteed same day for non-routine requests.¹

Open the official page¹

By phone

Fees: First copy $12¹
Each additional copy in the same order $10¹
Expedited service: Expedited shipping; price not published.¹
Payment: Card¹
Phone: 866-209-9482¹

What an Arkansas birth certificate costs

First certified copy: $12¹
Each additional copy, same order: $10¹

Types of copies

Copy	Accepted for	Fee
Certified copy of the birth record¹	–	$12¹
Birth card certification⁷	–	–
Adopted person's original birth record (adoption file)⁸	–	$100⁹

No-fee copies

One free copy of a birth or death certificate for the Veterans Administration to determine eligibility for benefits (form VR-40).¹⁰

How long it takes

These are the office's own published times. Mail and shipping time is extra unless the office says otherwise.

How you order	Processing time	Counted
Online	7 to 14 business days¹	Before shipping
In person	Same day¹	–

Who can order an Arkansas birth certificate

Anyone may order a certified copy.⁷

The office also names these requesters and conditions. Each line gives the official wording.

The person named on the record¹¹
A parent named on the record¹¹
Child¹¹
Spouse¹¹
Grandparent¹¹
Grandchild¹¹
Legal guardian¹¹
Attorney or legal representative: The term "authorized representative" shall include an attorney, physician, funeral director, or other authorized agent acting in behalf of the registrant or his or her family.⁷

Who cannot order a certified copy

The natural parents of adopted children, when neither has custody, and commercial firms or agencies requesting listings of names and addresses shall not be authorized to obtain copies or abstracts of the record.⁷

Records open to the public after: 100 years⁷

ID you need

Photo ID: Required³
Accepted ID: United States issued Driver's License or Identification card
United States Territories Driver's License or Identification Card
Tribal Identification Card that contains bearer's signature
U.S. Military Identification Card that contains bearer's signature
Passport-United States or Foreign issued
Visa - in a passport and the bearer's signature is on the passport not the Visa
Resident Alien Card (Form I-551)
Employment Authorization Card (Form I-766)
Employment Authorization Card (Form I-688A)
Temporary Resident Card (Form I-688)¹²
Without that ID: Without valid photo ID: at least two other documents that together show current address and signature, such as a signed Social Security or Medicare card, car registration or title, voter card, filed federal tax form, or bank statement or utility bill.¹²
Notarization: Notarized statements do not replace government ID unless the notary verified identity through documents required by state law.¹²
ID copy with a mail order: Include a copy of your ID¹

What the application asks for

Have these details ready before you fill in the form or start an online order.³

Full name at birth
Date of birth
Sex
Age at last birthday
Place of birth (city or town, county, state, hospital or street address)
Full name of father
Full maiden name of mother
Original name if adopted
Filing date if a delayed certificate
Relationship to the person
Reason for the request
Whether the person is still living
Signature and contact information

Forms

Years held and older records

Years the issuing office holds: February 1, 1914 to today²
Older records: Some city records on microfilm at the Arkansas State Archives¹⁵

Special situations

Delayed registration: Filed after one year but within four years: registered on the standard form and marked 'Delayed'. Later filings use a delayed certificate with documentary evidence.⁷
Adoption: Adoptees at least 21 can request their adoption file for $100; ADH needs a notarized request and proof of identity.⁸ Details
Adoptees born abroad: A child born abroad and adopted through an Arkansas court can get an Arkansas certificate of foreign birth, which does not confer citizenship.⁷
Sex marker: A court order is needed; see amendments.¹⁶
Stillbirth: A separate birth certificate resulting in stillbirth application exists, at $12.00 first copy and $10.00 additional.¹³ Details
If no record is found: ADH keeps $12.00 as the search fee and refunds the rest, except the online processing fees.¹

Warnings from the office

Knowingly false statements on an application can bring a fine of up to $10,000, up to five years in prison, or both.³

The state office

Office: Arkansas Department of Health Vital Records Office¹
Phone: (501) 661-2134¹⁷
Email: [email protected]¹
Mailing address: Arkansas Department of Health, Vital Records, Slot 44, 4815 West Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72205
¹
Walk-in address: 4815 West Markham St., Little Rock, AR 72205
¹
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm, except state holidays¹
Website: Official website¹⁸

Questions people ask

How much is a certified Arkansas birth certificate?

The first copy costs $12 and each additional copy ordered at the same time costs $10.¹

How long does it take to get an Arkansas birth certificate?

Online: 7 to 14 business days. In person: same day.¹

Can I order an Arkansas birth certificate online?

Yes. Online: ADH's 'Vital Records' online service at ar.gov/vitalrecords (vitalrecords.egov.com). ADH sends technical problems to the 'Tyler Arkansas Help Center'.⁴

Who do I make the check or money order payable to?

Write it exactly as the office prints it: Arkansas Department of Health.¹

What ID do I need?

The state accepts: United States issued Driver's License or Identification card; United States Territories Driver's License or Identification Card; Tribal Identification Card that contains bearer's signature; U.S. Military Identification Card that contains bearer's signature; Passport-United States or Foreign issued; Visa - in a passport and the bearer's signature is on the passport not the Visa; and the other documents listed above.¹²

Where are older Arkansas birth certificates kept?

Some city records on microfilm at the Arkansas State Archives.¹⁵

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from these official sources, checked on November 5, 2026. Tap a source number next to a fact to read the exact words.

Order birth recordsArkansas Department of Health
Pricing InformationArkansas Department of Health online portal
Application Birth Certificate Vital Records (PDF)Arkansas Department of Health
Order death recordsArkansas Department of Health
Select MunicipalityArkansas Department of Health online portal
Vital records supportArkansas Department of Health
2022 Vital Records Rule (PDF)Arkansas Department of Healthdated May 2, 2022
Adoption file requestsArkansas Department of Health
Request for an Adopted Person's Original Birth Record: Instructions (VR-505)Arkansas Department of Healthdated May 1, 2018
RESOURCE Application BC DC Veteran (PDF)Arkansas Department of Healthdated August 1, 2011
Eligible Individuals for Birth and or Death Certificates (PDF)Arkansas Department of Health
RESOURCE ID Requirements ENGLISH (PDF)Arkansas Department of Healthdated December 1, 2010
Application BC Stillborn Vital Records (PDF)Arkansas Department of Health
RESOURCE Vital Records Authorization Form (PDF)Arkansas Department of Healthdated February 1, 2017
Research faqs and tipsArkansas State Archives
Change sex and name on a birth recordArkansas Department of Health
2025 Apostille brochure folds (PDF)Arkansas Secretary of Statedated February 13, 2025
Certificates recordsArkansas Department of Health