How to get a Georgia birth certificate

In Georgia, order a certified birth certificate from the Georgia Department of Public Health, State Office of Vital Records.¹ The first copy costs $25² and each additional copy ordered at the same time costs $5². You can order online, by mail, in person or at a local office. Only the people the state lists below can order a certified copy.

Last checked November 5, 2026 against official sources.

On this page

Ways to order
What a Georgia birth certificate costs
How long it takes
Who can order a Georgia 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	$33 for one copy ($25⁴ plus $8³ processing fee); $5³ each extra copy + one extra charge	–	Card⁴
Online through VitalChek	$25² first, $5² each extra copy	–	Card⁴
Online through GO Certificates	$25² first, $5² each extra copy	–	Card⁴
By mail	$25⁵ first, $5² each extra copy	8 to 10 weeks³	Money order and certified check²
In person	$25² first, $5² each extra copy	–	Card, cash, certified check and money order²
At a local office	$25⁶ first, $5⁶ each extra copy (Fulton County)	–	–

Online

Run by: ROVER, operated by the Georgia Technology Authority and the Georgia Department of Public Health⁴
Fees: First copy $25⁴
Processing fee $8³
Each additional copy in the same order $5³
Expedited service $16⁴
Expedited service: $16. FedEx shipping with tracking only; does not reduce processing time⁴
Payment: Card⁴

Good to know

Digital IDs are not accepted⁴
Photo ID must be uploaded as pdf, jpeg, jpg, png or gif; unclear uploads delay the order with no refund³
No online order status check³
Fees kept if no record is found⁸

Go to the ordering site⁷

Online through VitalChek

Vendor: VitalChek⁹
Fees: First copy $25²
Each additional copy in the same order $5²
Payment: Card⁴

Good to know

Birth and death certificates only¹⁰
VitalChek assistance line 877-572-6343⁹

Go to the ordering site⁹

Online through GO Certificates

Vendor: GO Certificates⁹
Fees: First copy $25²
Each additional copy in the same order $5²
Expedited service: $16. FedEx shipping; does not reduce processing time⁹
Payment: Card⁴

Good to know

Birth and death certificates only¹⁰

Go to the ordering site⁹

By mail

Run by: State Office of Vital Records⁵
Fees: First copy $25⁵
Each additional copy in the same order $5²
Processing time: 8 to 10 weeks³
Expedited service: Not offered²
Payment: Money order and certified check²
Make payable to: State Office of Vital Records⁵
Mail to: State Office of Vital Records, 1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349
¹¹

Good to know

Do not send cash by mail; send a photocopy of valid photo ID⁵
Requests open more than one year are closed automatically¹¹

Open the application or mail instructions¹¹

In person

Run by: State Office of Vital Records¹²
Fees: First copy $25²
Each additional copy in the same order $5²
Payment: Card, cash, certified check and money order²
Office: State Office of Vital Records, 1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349
¹²

Good to know

No same-day cruise rush requests¹²

Open the official page¹²

At a local office

Run by: County vital records offices (county health department or probate court, varies by county)¹³
Fees: First copy $25⁶
Each additional copy in the same order $5⁶
Total charged $12.50¹⁴
Total charged $20¹⁴

Good to know

County registrars cannot issue pre-adoption originals¹⁶

Find a local office¹⁵

What a Georgia birth certificate costs

First certified copy: $25²
Each additional copy, same order: $5²
Expedite fee: $16⁴
If no record is found: The fee is kept as a search fee⁵
Fees in effect since: March 11, 2026²

Types of copies

Copy	Accepted for	Fee
Certified copy (security paper)³	Identity, citizenship and relationship, including passports and driver's licenses³	$25²
Pen in Hand certificate³	International travel; may be required for an apostille³	–
Plain paper copy¹⁷	–	–
Uncertified copy of original (pre-adoption) birth certificate¹⁶	Personal history only; not legal identification¹⁶	$25¹⁶
Not-on-file letter²	Many agencies accept it in place of a birth certificate³	$25⁵

How long it takes

These are the office's own published times. They count from the day the office receives your order. Mail and shipping time is extra unless the office says otherwise.

How you order	Processing time
By mail	8 to 10 weeks³

Who can order a Georgia birth certificate

The state names these people and bodies as able to order a certified copy. Each line gives the official wording.

The person named on the record¹⁷
Proof: Valid Photo Government Issued Identification (Please note that we do not accept electronic or digital forms of identification. A valid physical government issued photo ID is required for verification purposes.)¹⁸
A parent named on the record⁴
Proof: Valid Photo Identification, must be listed as the parent on the certificate¹⁸
Legal guardian and attorney or legal representative⁴
Proof: Certified copy of the Court Order establishing guardianship¹⁸
Grandparent⁴
Proof: Birth certificate of the registrant’s parent (proof of relationship)¹⁸
Child⁴
Brother or sister⁴
Proof for each of the 2 lines above: Birth certificate of the requestor, listing one of the same parents, and his or her valid government issued photo identification which includes signature¹⁸
Spouse⁴
Proof: Marriage certificate (copy), photocopy of the spouse’s signature, and a notarized letter from the spouse giving permission¹⁸
Government agency: The State Registrar may provide copies of or disclose information from Vital Records to authorized representatives of Federal, State or County agencies who request such data in the conduct of their official duties.¹⁷
Person named in a court order¹⁷
A person who demonstrates that a certified copy of the birth certificate is needed to establish a legal right or claim.¹⁷

Other kinds of copies

Genealogy copy Anyone: Further, a plain paper copy of the birth certificate of a deceased registrant may be issued to any person, so long as the fact of the registrant's death can be verified and the copy is clearly marked "deceased" in large letters on the face of the birth certificate.¹⁷

Records open to the public after: 100 years¹⁷

ID you need

Photo ID: Required⁵
Accepted ID: Georgia Driver’s license unexpired or expired for not more than one year
State of Georgia Identification Card unexpired or expired for not more than one year
State of Georgia Weapons Carry License with photo
Unexpired driver’s license issued by another U.S. State, jurisdiction or territory
Unexpired official Identification Card issued by another U.S. State, jurisdiction or territory
Unexpired U.S. Passport
Unexpired Foreign Passport
U.S. Military Identification, Military Dependent Identification, Veteran’s Identification
Unexpired Consulate Card
Unexpired Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)
Current School, University, or College Identification Card (unexpired with ID number and signature)
Department of Driver Services (DDS) Identification Card
Department of Corrections Identification Card⁵
Notarization: Not required for a standard request. Required for spouse permission letters (birth) and attorney letters.⁵
ID copy with a mail order: Include a copy of your ID⁵

What the application asks for

Have these details ready before you fill in the form or start an online order.⁴

Full name on the certificate (middle name requested, not required)
Date of birth or death
City or county of the event
Father's full name if listed
Mother's full maiden name if listed
Your current state-issued driver's license or ID card
Your Social Security number
Your date of birth
Your address

Forms

Request for Search of Birth (3918) REV 2025⁵

Years held and older records

Years the issuing office holds: January 1919 to today¹⁸
Older records: County of birth or the Georgia Archives¹⁸

Special situations

Delayed registration: Delayed certificate with documentary evidence: $25 search fee (includes a copy) plus $10 processing fee¹⁹ Details
Births at home: Evidence is filed before the local registrar of the county of birth³ Details
Adoption: Adult adoptees apply only through ROVER for an uncertified original; standard timeline, no expedite, no pen-in-hand¹⁶ Details
Adoptees born abroad: Certificate of Foreign Birth prepared in the delayed numbering series¹⁷
Paternity: Paternity acknowledgment Form 3940 with notarized signatures¹⁷ Details
If no record is found: A certifying letter is issued and the fees are kept³
Use abroad: Ask for a Pen in Hand certificate³

Warnings from the office

Newborn certificates are not mailed automatically¹⁸
Hospitals cannot order for you and the first copy is not free³
False statements: up to $10,000 or five years³

The state office

Office: State Office of Vital Records¹
Phone: 404-679-4702¹⁵
Email: [email protected]⁷
Mailing address: State Office of Vital Records, 1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349
¹¹
Walk-in address: State Office of Vital Records, 1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349
¹²
Website: Official website²⁰

Questions people ask

How much is a certified Georgia birth certificate?

The first copy costs $25 and each additional copy ordered at the same time costs $5.²

How long does it take to get a Georgia birth certificate?

By mail: 8 to 10 weeks.³

Can I order a Georgia birth certificate online?

Yes. Online: ROVER, operated by the Georgia Technology Authority and the Georgia Department of Public Health. Online through VitalChek. Online through GO Certificates.⁴⁹

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

Write it exactly as the office prints it: State Office of Vital Records.⁵

What ID do I need?

The state accepts: Georgia Driver’s license unexpired or expired for not more than one year; State of Georgia Identification Card unexpired or expired for not more than one year; State of Georgia Weapons Carry License with photo; Unexpired driver’s license issued by another U.S. State, jurisdiction or territory; Unexpired official Identification Card issued by another U.S. State, jurisdiction or territory; Unexpired U.S. Passport; and the other documents listed above.⁵

Where are older Georgia birth certificates kept?

County of birth or the Georgia Archives.¹⁸

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.

About Vital RecordsGeorgia Department of Public Health, State Office of Vital Records
Birth CertificatesGeorgia Department of Public Health, State Office of Vital Recordsdated March 11, 2026
FAQs About CertificatesState of Georgia (georgia.gov)
Order certificates from the Georgia Office of Vital Records for births and deaths that occurred in…dph.georgia.gov/…how-do-i-order-georgia-birth-and-death-records-onlineGeorgia Department of Public Health, State Office of Vital Records
Request search birth form 3918Georgia Department of Public Health, State Office of Vital Records
Vital Records - Fulton County Board of HealthFulton County Board of Health
ROVER - Order Birth or Death CertificatesGeorgia Technology Authority and Georgia Department of Public Health (ROVER)dated October 6, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
Order a Birth or Death CertificateState of Georgia (georgia.gov)dated April 1, 2026
Order Certificate OnlineGeorgia Department of Public Health, State Office of Vital Records
Request Vital Recordsgeorgia.gov/request-vital-recordsState of Georgia (georgia.gov)dated June 1, 2026
Order certificates from the Georgia Office of Vital Records for births and deaths that occurred in…dph.georgia.gov/…s/how-do-i-order-georgia-birth-and-death-records-mailGeorgia Department of Public Health, State Office of Vital Records
Request Vital Recordsdph.georgia.gov/ways-request-vital-recordGeorgia Department of Public Health, State Office of Vital Recordsdated August 15, 2025
Vital records officeGeorgia Department of Public Health, State Office of Vital Records
Birth Records from the Chatham County Vital Records OfficeGeorgia Coastal Health District (Chatham County Vital Records)
Office LocationsGeorgia Department of Public Health, State Office of Vital Recordsdated March 20, 2024
Obtaining A Copy of Your Original (Pre-Adoption) Birth CertificateState of Georgia (georgia.gov)
GA R&R - GAC - Subject 511-1-3 VITAL RECORDSGeorgia Secretary of State, Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgiadated September 27, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
Georgia Department of Public Health pageGeorgia Department of Public Health, State Office of Vital Recordsdated October 21, 2026
Delayed certificate birth form (PDF)Georgia Department of Public Health, State Office of Vital Recordsdated March 1, 2018
Vital RecordsGeorgia Department of Public Health, State Office of Vital Records