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Birth certificate for a REAL ID

For a REAL ID, a birth certificate proves identity when it is a certified copy filed with the state office of vital statistics, or the equivalent agency, in the state where you were born.1

Last checked against official sources.

On this page
  1. Who needs a REAL ID
  2. Documents for proof of identity
  3. Other documents you bring
  4. Getting the birth certificate
  5. First-copy fees by state
  6. Sources

Who needs a REAL ID

Anyone 18 or older flying domestically or visiting certain federal facilities needs a REAL ID or another acceptable ID.2 Enforcement began on May 7, 20253. A valid passport is an accepted alternative.4

Documents for proof of identity

Federal rules list the documents a state may accept to prove identity and date of birth; a certified birth certificate is one of them.1

  • Valid, unexpired U.S. passport
  • Certified copy of a birth certificate filed with a State Office of Vital Statistics or equivalent agency in the individual's State of birth
  • Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) issued by the U.S. Department of State, Form FS-240, DS-1350 or FS-545
  • Valid, unexpired Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551)
  • Unexpired employment authorization document (Form I-766 or I-688B)
  • Unexpired foreign passport with valid U.S. visa and approved I-94
  • Certificate of Naturalization (Form N-550 or N-570)
  • Certificate of Citizenship (Form N-560 or N-561)
  • REAL ID driver's license or identification card
  • Other documents DHS designates in the Federal Register

Other documents you bring

Social Security number
Social Security card; W-2; SSA-1099; non-SSA-1099; pay stub with name and SSN1
Proof of address
Two documents showing your address1
If your name changed
If your name differs from your source document (marriage, adoption, court order), the state must require documents from a court, government body or other entity it accepts.1

Each state's driver licensing agency publishes its own list built on these rules; check it before your visit. If your name changed by marriage, bring a certified marriage certificate: see marriage certificates by state.

Getting the birth certificate

Order from the vital records office of the state where you were born. Fees and times by state are in birth certificates by state, and the office finder tells you which office holds an older record.

First-copy fees by state

Alabama$155$65
Alaska$306$256
Arizona$207$208
Arkansas$129$109
California$3110$3110
Colorado$2511$2011
Connecticut$3012$3013
District of Columbia$2314$2314
Florida$915$415
Georgia$2516$516
Hawaii$1017, plus $2.5017 administration fee$417
Idaho$1618$1618
Illinois$1519$219
Indiana$1020$420
Iowa$2021$2022
Louisiana$1523$1524
Maine$1525$625
Maryland$1026$1027
Massachusetts$3228$3229
Minnesota$2630$1930
Mississippi$1731$631
Missouri$1532$1533
Nevada$2534$2535
New Hampshire$1536$1036
New Jersey$2537$237
New Mexico$1038$1039
New York$3040$3041
New York City$1542$1543
North Carolina$2444$1544
North Dakota$1545$1546
Ohio$21.5047$21.5048
Oklahoma$1549$1549
Pennsylvania$2050$2050
South Dakota$1551$1552
Tennessee$1553$1553
Texas$2254$2255
Utah$2556$1056
Vermont$1057$1058
Virginia$1559$1559
Washington$2560$2561
West Virginia$1262$1263
Guam$564$564

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from these official sources, checked between November 5, 2026 and November 6, 2026. Tap a source number next to a fact to read the exact words.

  1. 6 CFR 37.11 Application and documents the applicant must provide (REAL ID)Office of the Federal Register / GPO, eCFR: 6 CFR 37.11 (Department of Homeland Security)dated November 3, 2026
  2. About REAL IDTransportation Security Administration (tsa.gov)dated December 11, 2025read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
  3. 6 CFR 37.5 Validity periods and deadlines for REAL IDOffice of the Federal Register / GPO, eCFR: 6 CFR 37.5 (Department of Homeland Security)dated November 3, 2026
  4. U.S. Department of Homeland Security (dhs.gov): Real idU.S. Department of Homeland Security (dhs.gov)dated May 11, 2025read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
  5. Birth-certificates pageAlabama Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statisticsdated August 21, 2025
  6. Vital Records OrdersAlaska Department of Health, Health Analytics and Vital Recordsdated October 24, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
  7. ADHS Vital Records: Fee SchedulesArizona Department of Health Services, Bureau of Vital Records
  8. ADHS Vital Records: Online Ordering OptionsArizona Department of Health Services, Bureau of Vital Records
  9. Order birth recordsArkansas Department of Health
  10. Vital Records FeesCalifornia Department of Public Health, Vital Recordsdated January 29, 2026
  11. Fee schedule, effective 1/1/2026Colorado Department of Public Health and Environmentdated January 1, 2026
  12. Birth certificatesportal.ct.gov/dph/vital-records/birth-certificatesConnecticut Department of Public Health, State Vital Records Office
  13. Request for a Certified Copy of a Birth Record from the State (Rev 12-21)Connecticut Department of Public Health, State Vital Records Officedated December 1, 2021
  14. DC Birth Application (PDF)DC Health (form hosted by VitalChek; linked from the DC Health vital records page)dated June 1, 2022
  15. Birth certificatesfloridahealth.gov/certificates-records/birth-certificatesFlorida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics
  16. Birth CertificatesGeorgia Department of Public Health, State Office of Vital Recordsdated March 11, 2026
  17. Vital Records Ordering and TrackingHawaii State Department of Health, eHawaii.gov
  18. Section 160208Idaho Administrative Code
  19. Birth record application (PDF)Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Recordsdated August 1, 2026
  20. Vital Records: Order CertificatesIndiana Department of Health
  21. Iowa Admin. Code 641 Ch. 95 Vital Records: General Administration (IAC 6/10/26)Iowa Legislaturedated July 1, 2026
  22. Form 470-5451 Application to Order an Iowa Vital Record (07/26)Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Health Statisticsdated July 1, 2026
  23. Service feesLouisiana Department of Health, Center for Vital Records and Statistics
  24. Birth CertificateLouisiana Department of Health, Center for Vital Records and Statisticsdated January 1, 2026
  25. Request DocumentsMaine DHHS, Maine CDC, Data, Research and Vital Statistics (DRVS)
  26. Maryland Department of Health: FeesMaryland Department of Health, Vital Statistics Administration
  27. Application for Certified Copy of Maryland Birth RecordMaryland Department of Health, Vital Statistics Administrationdated October 1, 2021
  28. Vital records service feesMassachusetts Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
  29. Application for Vital Record (mail order form, DOCX)Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
  30. Minnesota Department of Health form (PDF)Minnesota Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated October 1, 2026
  31. Birth certificatesmsdh.ms.gov/…s/public-health-services/vital-records/birth-certificatesMississippi State Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated November 4, 2026
  32. Notice of Fees | Missouri Department of Health and Senior ServicesMissouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Bureau of Vital Records
  33. Frequently Asked Questions | Missouri Department of Health and Senior ServicesMissouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Bureau of Vital Records
  34. Birth/Death Vital Records - FAQsNevada DPBH Office of Vital Recordsdated January 8, 2026
  35. Application for a Certified Copy of Birth CertificateNevada DPBH Office of Vital Records
  36. VR201 Application for a Certified Copy of a Vital Record (Rev. 7/2025)New Hampshire Secretary of State, Division of Vital Records Administrationdated July 1, 2025read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
  37. Department of HealthNew Jersey Department of Healthdated June 15, 2026
  38. NMSA 1978 Ch. 24 Art. 14 Vital Statistics ActNew Mexico Compilation Commission (NMOneSource), NMSA 1978 Chapter 24 Article 14
  39. Birth Record Search Application (form 607)New Mexico Department of Health
  40. Birth Certificates - New York State Department of HealthNew York State Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Recordsdated January 1, 2023
  41. Doh 4380 (PDF)New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Recordsdated September 1, 2019
  42. Birth and Death Records Fees and Processing Times - NYC HealthNYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
  43. Premium Mail Service ApplicationNYC Department of Health and Mental Hygienedated April 1, 2025
  44. NC Vital Records fees pageNC DHHS Division of Public Health, Vital Recordsdated July 13, 2026
  45. Certified Copies of Birth RecordsNorth Dakota Department of Health and Human Services
  46. SFN 8140 Request for Certified Copy of a Birth Record (10-2025)North Dakota Department of Health and Human Servicesdated October 1, 2025
  47. How to Order CertificatesOhio Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statisticsdated December 31, 2024
  48. HEA 2701 & HEA 2709 (PDF)Ohio Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statisticsdated January 1, 2025
  49. Birth Certificate Request Form (Oct 2026)Oklahoma State Department of Health, Vital Recordsdated October 1, 2026
  50. Birth certificatespa.gov/agencies/health/programs/vital-records/birth-certificatesPennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Records
  51. Vital records feesSouth Dakota Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated January 9, 2025
  52. South Dakota Vital Records Request (application)South Dakota Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
  53. Tennessee Department of Health: FeesTennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
  54. Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Costs and FeesTexas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Section
  55. Mail application for birth record VS 140 1.2026 (PDF)Texas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Sectiondated January 1, 2026
  56. Fee Schedule (Effective July 1, 2026)Utah DHHS Office of Vital Records and Statisticsdated July 1, 2026
  57. Order Vital RecordsVermont Department of Healthdated June 30, 2026
  58. 18 V.S.A. chapter 101 (Vital Records), full chapterVermont General Assemblydated May 9, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
  59. Online Application for a Vital RecordVirginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated October 5, 2026
  60. Chapter 70.58A RCW Vital Statistics (full text)Washington State Legislature
  61. Birth Certificate Order Form (DOH 422-182, July 2025)Washington State Department of Health, Center for Health Statisticsdated July 1, 2025
  62. Certificate RequestsWest Virginia Department of Health, Bureau for Public Health, Health Statistics Center (Vital Registration Office)
  63. Application for Certified Copy of West Virginia Birth Certificate (birthfm26.pdf)West Virginia Department of Health, Bureau for Public Health, Health Statistics Center (Vital Registration Office)dated January 9, 2009
  64. Office of Vital Statistics | DPHSSGuam Department of Public Health and Social Services, Office of Vital Statisticsdated September 15, 2025read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page