How to get an Iowa birth certificate

Ways to order

Not offered: online directly with the vital records office.⁴

What an Iowa birth certificate costs

First certified copy

$20²

Each additional copy, same order

$20⁴

If no record is found

The fee is kept as a search fee²

Fees in effect since

July 1, 2026²

Types of copies

No-fee copies

• Service member who died on active duty: certified birth or death copy fee waived for one year from date of death²
• Wallet-card birth certificates issued May 1993 to October 2009 can be exchanged for no fee⁴

How long it takes

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

Who can order an Iowa 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 record: The registrant, if the registrant is of legal age, has reached the age of majority, or is an emancipated minor.²
• Spouse²
• Child²
• A parent named on the record²
• Brother or sister²
• Grandparent²
• Grandchild: Entitled persons include the person named on the record or that person's spouse, children, legal parents, grandparents, grandchildren, siblings, or legal representative or guardian.¹
• Step-parent or step-child if²
• Attorney or legal representative²
• Legal guardian²
• Executor or estate administrator²
• Funeral director²
• Other persons who demonstrate a direct tangible interest and entitlement when it is shown that the certified copy is needed to determine or protect a personal or property interest and the interest is for the benefit of the registrant.²

Who cannot order a certified copy

• Anyone: Vital records maintained at the state level are closed to inspection and are not open to public inspection.¹

Other kinds of copies

• Genealogy copy Genealogist or family researcher: The state registrar or county registrar may issue certified copies of a vital record for genealogy or family history to an applicant who can satisfactorily demonstrate a line of direct lineal consanguinity and to aunts, uncles, and cousins not past twice removed.²

Records open to the public after

75 years⁵

ID you need

Photo ID

Required¹

Accepted ID

• Driver's License
• State Photo ID
• Work Photo ID
• School Photo ID (current school year only)
• Military ID
• Passport or Visa (Foreign or US)
• Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551)
• Employment Authorization Card (Form I-766)⁹

Without that ID

Copies of two to three documents identifying the person, with matching names and current addresses⁹

Notarization

Required on mail applications; in person the application is signed in front of vital records staff⁴

ID copy with a mail order

Include a copy of your ID³

What the application asks for

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

• Event type
• Name as it appears on the record
• Date of event
• Place of event (city and/or county)
• Parents' full names
• Legal actions to the birth record
• Purpose for copy
• Applicant state and date of birth
• Relationship to person named on the record
• Name and address of recipient
• Number of copies

Forms

• Application to Order an Iowa Vital Record (470-5451) revision 07/26⁴
• Identity Documents for Entitlement / Notarization revision March 2025⁹
• Genealogy and Family History Entitlement Chart revision 04/2025¹⁰
• Application to Request a Noncertified Copy of Original Certificate of Birth Prior to Adoption revision 01/01/2022⁷
• Commemorative Certificate Application revision January, 2024¹¹

Years held and older records

Years the issuing office holds

July 1, 1880 to today³

Older records

State Historical Society of Iowa holds county and state historical records¹²

Special situations

If no record is found

A no-record letter is issued and the fee is kept¹

Stillbirth

Uncertified copy of a certificate of birth resulting in stillbirth: $15²

Fetal death

Certificate of nonviable birth: $15; only the patient may apply² Details

Adoption

Adult adoptees 18 or older may apply for a noncertified copy of the original birth certificate; $15; 6 to 8 weeks⁶ Details

Delayed registration

Births registered a year or more late are marked delayed; the state prepares delayed certificates for $15²

Name change

A marriage does not change a birth certificate¹³

Warnings from the office

• Do not pay a third party for the free form⁴

The state office

Office

Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Health Statistics¹

Phone

515-281-4944¹

Mailing address

Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Health Statistics, Lucas State Office Building, 1st Floor, 321 E. 12th Street, Des Moines, IA 50319-0075

³

Walk-in address

Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Health Statistics, Lucas State Office Building, 1st Floor, 321 E. 12th Street, Des Moines, IA 50319-0075

³

Hours

7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except state-observed holidays³

Website

Official website¹

Questions people ask