How to get a birth certificate without ID

Most states ask for a government photo ID, but many accept something else when you have none: two or more documents with your name, a parent’s ID, or a notarized statement. The list depends on the state where you were born.

Last checked November 6, 2026 against official sources.

On this page

What states accept instead
Breaking the loop
Social Security cards
Sources

What states accept instead

These are the alternatives each state publishes. Where a state is missing, its pages do not list alternatives; contact the office.

State	What the state accepts without a photo ID
Alabama	Expired, Government-Issued ID Utility Bill (No more than 6 months old) Work ID (If applicant is making personal request) Vehicle Registration or Vehicle Title Property Tax Bill Military Discharge (DD Form 214) Voter Registration Card Health Insurance Card Social Security Correspondence (not Card) U.S. Selective Service Card Recent DMV Receipt for Fines Paid Fishing or Hunting License Copy of Police Report or other official documents which support theft, in cases where individual's ID has been stolen Autism Spectrum Card Immunization (Shot) Record ¹
Alaska	Call (907) 465-3391 for assistance if you have none of the listed IDs.²
Arizona	Notarized signature on the application³
Arkansas	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.⁴
California	In person at a county, a statement sworn before the official replaces the notary. Electronic identity verification is permitted by statute where an official offers it.⁵
Colorado	Two documents from the Secondary list if you have no Primary list document; documents expired more than six months are not accepted. Or ask a spouse, parent, sibling or adult child with acceptable ID to request it (proof of relationship required).⁶
Connecticut	Social security card Social security card supplemented with either an employment identification card, a paycheck stub or a W-2 form (this alone fully satisfies the requirement) Automobile registration Copy of utility bill showing name and current address Checking account deposit slip or bank statement stating name and current address Voter registration card Valid government issued trade or professional license Valid government issued firearm permit Probation documents issued by a court or other government agency, pursuant to a criminal conviction Letter from a government agency verifying identity, dated within six months prior to the request Release documentation from a correctional institution containing a photograph of the former inmate and a release date within 12 months prior to the request Birth certificate of the requester Military discharge papers Current school or college photographic identification Government issued photographic identification that has expired within 12 months prior to the request ⁷
District of Columbia	Walk up kiosk passed no photo id: two alternate IDs from the list on the page; Walk up kiosk failed: three IDs, at least one primary; Vitalchek mail: 1 primary and at least 2 secondary, unexpired⁸
Florida	Rule: at least three secondary documents if valid unexpired photo ID is not available. DH forms: a foreign-issued ID needs two additional forms of ID.⁹
Hawaii	Requesting for someone else: letter from the registrant plus government ID of both registrant and requestor¹⁰
Idaho	Current government-issued picture ID with a signature Or two forms of current ID from the approved list, one with a signature Or a notarized signature on the request Or an immediate family member with current approved ID requests it (proof of relationship may be required) ¹¹
Illinois	ID expired under 6 months: add one document showing name and current address, created within the last 6 months. Expired over 6 months or no valid ID: two items, one from the list (medical card, auto insurance card, voter's registration card, paycheck stub with imprinted full information, bank, financial or credit card statement) plus current mail showing full name and legal mailing address. Social Security cards are not acceptable.¹²
Indiana	Two of: Signed Social Security Card, Department of Corrections I.D. Card or Printout that includes picture, College School I.D. w/ proof of current enrollment (transcript, letter from administration), Work I.D. Badge w/ proof of current employment (computerized paycheck stub, letter from employer), Voter Registration card with name and current address, Current Vehicle Registration with name and current address (not Title of Ownership), Military Discharge (DD214), Home Lease/Rental Agreement, Warranty Deed with name, current address and signature (s); Amish or religious: Letter from Bishop/Clergy plus one primary (Non-Photo I.D.) or two secondary (Signed Social Security Card or IRS form 4029, Baptismal Certificate, Marriage Certificate, School Records)¹³
Iowa	Copies of two to three documents identifying the person, with matching names and current addresses¹⁴
Louisiana	Two secondary documents, e.g.: college student photo ID with 100% fee-paid receipt for the current semester (counts as two) W-2 issued within the last two years plus original signed Social Security card with matching numbers (counts as two) Social Security card Original adoption papers Official certified deeds or title to property Certificate of vehicle title Insurance policy showing the applicant's name (health, home, life, auto) Payroll stub (not handwritten) showing name and Social Security number Current U.S. military dependent photo ID Original DD-214 Voter's Registration application (certified true copy) ¹⁵
Maine	Rule: photocopies of two items from the list; Items: utility bill, bank statement, car registration, copy of income tax return, personal check with address, previously issued vital record/marriage license, letter from gov't agency requesting vital record (e.g. DHHS, WIC), Dept. of Corrections ID card, Social Security card, DD214 form, hospital birth worksheet, license/rental agreement, pay stub or W-2, voter registration card, Medicare/Mainecare insurance card, private or public school photo ID, college photo ID, employee photo ID, disability award from SSA¹⁶
Maryland	Pay stub Current car registration Bank statement Letter from a government agency requesting a vital record Lease/rental agreement Utility bill with current address Copy of income tax return/W-2 form ¹⁷
Massachusetts	Photo ID from Work or School Personal Documents (Utility Bills, W-2 Form, Pay Stub, Library Card, Military ID, etc.) Massachusetts Issued ID Cards (RMV, SNAP, DTA, etc.) Correctional Facility ID ¹⁸
Minnesota	Witness who has known the applicant at least two years completes a Statement to Identify; the witness signs in front of a registrar with ID, or has the signature notarized.¹⁹
Mississippi	Social Security Card Utility Bill (showing address) Medicaid Card Snap/EBT card (showing address) Work Identification Veteran Universal Access ID Card ²⁰
Missouri	Count required: 2; Examples: Letter from government or social agencies, School yearbook, A W-2 form issued within last year in addition to a signed Social Security card (social security numbers must match), Social Security card or Social Security numident printout, Court certified adoption papers that includes adopted parent(s) name, Official certified deeds or title to property, Certificate of vehicle title or registration documents, Proof of auto insurance, Insurance policy (health, home, life, etc.), Medicaid/Medicare document or identification card, A payroll stub that includes a Social Security number of applicant (cannot be handwritten stubs), Military discharge document (DD-214), Cancelled duplicate check (must show name, address, signature, and name of institution), Utility bills which shows name and address of applicant (water, gas, electric, telephone), Shelter name band (including name of shelter)²¹
Nevada	Two documents from the secondary list (e.g. certified U.S. birth certificate, Social Security card, DD-214, voter registration card, vehicle registration, recent pay stub or W-2)²²
New Hampshire	Rule: Photocopies of two documents from the VR206 list, in the applicant's name; one must show the current mailing address; Documents: bank statement, car registration, DD-214, DOC identification card, hospital birth worksheet, income tax return, lease/rental agreement, letter from government agency, pay stub / W-2, personal check, previously issued vital record, social security card, utility bill, voter registration card, other²³
New Mexico	Two or more of: Social Security Card with Signature; Baptismal Certificate; School Records; Marriage Application; Social Security Numident; Voter’s Registration Card; Medical Records; Tax Form; Tribal ID; School ID ²⁴
New York	Utility or telephone bill Letter from a government agency dated within the last six months ²⁵
New York City	Two proof-of-address documents dated within the last 60 days (utility bill, telephone bill, official government mail, rent invoice or mortgage/lease letter, medical bill); certificate is mailed to that address²⁶
North Carolina	Temporary driver's license Current utility bill with current address (phone, gas, electric) Unexpired vehicle registration/title Bank statement with current address Pay stub with current address dated within the last 60 days Previous year W-2 Letter from government agency dated within the last six months and showing current address State-issued concealed weapon permit showing current address ²⁷
North Dakota	One primary ID, or two different secondary documents, or a notarized application.²⁸
Oklahoma	Two secondary IDs (at least one showing a current address dated within the last 6 months; certificate mailed to that address), or attestation by a second party with primary ID when the subject applies for their own record.²⁹
Pennsylvania	Two documents: Bank Statement, Credit Card Statement, Medical Records, Pay Stub, Social Security Statement, Utility Bill, Car Insurance, Lease/Rental Agreement, School Records/Student ID, Tax Return/W-2 form, Vehicle Registration; Last resort: two pieces of current mail³⁰
South Dakota	Social Security card Utility bill with current address Bank statement with current address Pay stub (must include your name, Social Security number plus name, and address of business) Car registration or title with current address ³¹
Tennessee	Current pay stub or W2 Vehicle registration with name and current address Voter Registration card Military Discharge (DD214) Utility Bill, Bank Statement or deposit slip with name and current address Health care coverage card Medical record Application page of an insurance policy Signed Social Security Card For those persons who have had their I.D. stolen, a copy a police report or other official documents which support the theft. ³²
Texas	Option 2: TWO (2) from Group B (secondary IDs, e.g. current student ID, expired Group A ID, signed Social Security card or Numident, DD-214, Medicaid/Medicare card, VA card, medical insurance card, foreign passport with U.S. visa); Option 3: ONE (1) from Group B and TWO (2) from Group C (supporting documents, e.g. recent utility bill, paycheck stub, bank statement, voter registration card, lease, school transcript); No id: An immediate family member with sufficient ID may obtain the record instead³³
Utah	Two secondary: Work identification - paycheck stub or W-2, School, university, or college identification card, Voter registration card, Social Security card, U.S. military separation/DD-214, Motor vehicle registration/title, Marriage license (certified copy with signatures, not an abstract), Court order or court documents, Jail/prison documents, Probation documents, Property tax receipt, Selective Service card, Hunting/fishing license, Insurance card or documents, Utility bill, Business license, Professional license; Family member with id: spouse, parent, grandparent, sibling, adult child³⁴
Vermont	Rule: Two documents together showing current address and signature; Documents: Employee Photo ID Card with a Pay Stub or U.S. Internal Revenue W-2 Form, School, University or College Photo ID with Report Card or other proof of current enrollment, Federal or State Corrections or Prisons issued ID, Social Security or Medicare Card with your signature, Pilot's license, Car Registration or Title with current address, U.S. Selective Service Card, Voter's Registration Card, Filed Federal Tax Form with current address and signature, Bank Statement, Property or Utility Bill with current address, U.S. or State Court documents with current address, A receipt from a licensed health care provider with name and current address, First class mail with name and current address³⁵
Virginia	Two documents from the secondary list (e.g., Selective Service card, DD214, certified school records, life insurance policy, Medicare/Medicaid card, driver's license/state ID/passport expired not more than 5 years, utility bill within 6 months, valid voter registration card, foreign photo ID). If you cannot meet the ID rules, VDH suggests an eligible immediate family member request the record.³⁶
Washington	At least two alternate documents (e.g., utility bill dated within 2 months, pay stub no more than 30 days old, Social Security card, vehicle registration) that contain matching first and last names and addresses, or together show full name, date of birth and photograph.³⁷
West Virginia	Social Security Card A utility bill (phone, electric, gas, water, etc.) with your name and current address Automobile registration with your name and current address Automobile insurance card with your name and current address Voter's Registration Card with your name and current address Checking account deposit slip or bank statement stating name and current address Paycheck stub or a W-2 form with your name and current address U.S. Selective Service Card U.S. military discharge papers (form DD214) Health care insurance card Unexpired welfare/social services identification card with photo, issued by a municipality Unexpired weapons or gun permit issued by federal, state or municipal government Veterans' Universal Access Identification Card ³⁸

Breaking the loop

If you need a birth certificate to get an ID and an ID to get a birth certificate, start with documents that do not need either: a Social Security card, school or medical records, a pay stub, a lease or utility bill, or a letter from a shelter or caseworker. Several states also let a parent named on the record order for you with their ID.

Social Security does not accept a birth certificate as proof of identity.³⁹ A replacement card is free.⁴⁰

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.

Id-requirements pageAlabama Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statisticsdated May 13, 2021
Alaska Birth Certificate Request Form (linked from the official orders page)Alaska Department of Healthdated April 1, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
Request for Copy of Birth CertificateArizona Department of Health Services, Bureau of Vital Recordsdated August 24, 2026
RESOURCE ID Requirements ENGLISH (PDF)Arkansas Department of Healthdated December 1, 2010
HSC Section 103526California Legislature, Legislative Informationdated January 1, 2022
ID and Eligibility Requirements, October 2024Colorado Department of Public Health and Environmentdated October 1, 2024
Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, Sec. 19a-41-1 et seqConnecticut Secretary of the State (Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies)dated January 3, 2011
Birth certificatesDC Health, Vital Records Division
Read FileFlorida Department of State, Florida Administrative Codedated July 31, 2016
Request for Certified Copy of Death Record (OHSM 136)Hawaii State Department of Health, Office of Health Status Monitoringdated September 13, 2005
Electronic FileIdaho Department of Health and Welfaredated May 23, 2025read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
Birth record application (PDF)Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Recordsdated August 1, 2026
Who is Eligible to Obtain a Birth Certificate?Indiana Department of Health
Identity Documents for Entitlement / NotarizationIowa Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Health Statisticsdated March 1, 2025
Section 636Louisiana Department of Health, Center for Vital Records and Statistics
Request DocumentsMaine DHHS, Maine CDC, Data, Research and Vital Statistics (DRVS)
ID RequirementsMaryland Department of Health, Vital Statistics Administration
Application for Vital Record (mail order form, DOCX)Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
Minnesota Department of Health form (PDF)Minnesota Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated September 1, 2021
Mississippi State Department of Health Revised 02/2026 Form No. 522Mississippi State Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated February 1, 2026
Order a Copy of a Vital Record | Missouri Department of Health and Senior ServicesMissouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Bureau of Vital Records
Attachment B - Identification ListNevada DPBH Office of Vital Records
VR206 Documentary Evidence RequiredNew Hampshire Secretary of State, Division of Vital Records Administrationdated September 25, 2025read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
List of Acceptable Documents for Obtaining a Birth RecordNew Mexico Department of Health
Birth Certificates - New York State Department of HealthNew York State Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Recordsdated January 1, 2023
How to Order Birth and Death Records - NYC HealthNYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
NC Birth Certificate App (PDF)NC DHHS Division of Public Health, Vital Records (application form PDF hosted on vitalchek.com, linked from vitalrecords.nc.gov/order.htm and forms.htm)dated February 1, 2025
SFN 8140 Request for Certified Copy of a Birth Record (10-2025)North Dakota Department of Health and Human Servicesdated October 1, 2025
Eligibility and Acceptable IDOklahoma State Department of Health, Vital Records
Acceptable idPennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Records
Vital Records Eligibility & IdentificationSouth Dakota Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated January 9, 2025
Identification RequirementsTennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
Acceptable Identification (ID)Texas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Section
Acceptable Identification ListUtah DHHS Office of Vital Records and Statistics
Application for Certified Copy of Vermont Birth or Death Certificate (May 2026)Vermont Department of Healthdated May 1, 2026
Application for Certification of a Birth Record (VS6B-07/26)Virginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated July 1, 2026
Acceptable Proofs of Identity Documentation (DOH 422-177, August 2021)Washington State Department of Health, Center for Health Statisticsdated August 1, 2021
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
Form SS-5 Application for a Social Security Card (12-2024)Social Security Administrationdated December 1, 2024
Replace Social Security cardSocial Security Administration

What states accept instead

Breaking the loop

Social Security cards

Sources