How to get a Minnesota birth certificate

Ways to order

Not offered: online directly with the vital records office.¹

What a Minnesota birth certificate costs

First certified copy

$26²

Each additional copy, same order

$19²

Expedite fee

$20²

If no record is found

The fee is kept as a search fee³

Fees in effect since

Form revision 10/2026²

Types of copies

No-fee copies

• Homeless youth 24 or younger born in Minnesota: $0, certificate expires after six months, one per request⁸
• Veterans Administration birth certificate: $0, for VA purposes only²

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 a Minnesota 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 record¹³
• A parent named on the record¹³
• Child¹³
• Spouse¹³
• Grandparent¹³
• Grandchild¹³
• Attorney or legal representative¹³
  Proof: Copy of court order¹³
• Health care agent of the subject (birth certificates)¹³
  Proof: Valid health care power of attorney¹³
• Executor or estate administrator¹³
  Proof: Sworn affidavit that the copy is required for estate administration¹⁴
• Attorney or legal representative¹³
  Proof: MN license number, or copy of out-of-state license¹³
• Government agency¹³
  Proof: Employee ID¹³
• Person named in a court order¹³
  Proof: Copy of court order, not a subpoena¹³
• Person or entity that requires the certificate for determining or protecting a personal or property right¹³
  Proof: Documentation of the claim; application goes to the state registrar¹³
• Authorized representative of any eligible requester¹³
  Proof: Signed statement from the eligible requester¹³
• Confidential record: age 16 or older, or a homeless youth¹³

Other kinds of copies

• Informational copy Anyone: If a birth record is public (see details below), anyone may buy a noncertified (informational only) birth record.¹³

Records open to the public after

100 years¹⁴

ID you need

Photo ID

Required¹³

Accepted ID

• Unexpired picture driver's license (MN, another state or U.S. territory; temporary license or learner's permit not acceptable)
• Unexpired state picture identification card
• Unexpired federal, state, or local government employee picture identification card
• Unexpired aircraft pilot's license (FAA)
• Unexpired United States military picture identification card
• Unexpired United States passport
• For an applicant who is not a registrant: unexpired Canadian passport
• For an applicant who is not a registrant: unexpired passport from another jurisdiction with form I-94 or an unexpired I-551 stamp
• For an applicant who is not a registrant: listed USCIS documents (naturalization certificate, certificate of citizenship, permanent resident card, employment authorization document and others)¹⁵

Without that ID

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.¹⁶

Notarization

Required for an application not made in person (mail or fax); not needed when signing in front of county staff.¹⁵

What the application asks for

Have these details ready before you fill in the form or start an online order.¹⁵

• First, middle and last name
• Sex
• Date of birth
• County of birth
• Mother's first, middle and maiden surname
• Father's first, middle and last name
• Applicant name, address, phone, date of birth, signature, date signed and relationship

Forms

• Birth Certificate Request revision 10/2026²
• Noncertified Birth Record Request revision 01/2024¹⁰
• Verify a Minnesota Birth Record revision 01/2024¹¹
• Statement to Identify revision 9/2021¹⁶

Years held and older records

Years held

1900 to present at MDH; pre-1900 from the county of birth³

Older records

County where the birth occurred⁸

Special situations

People without housing

Free certificate for a homeless youth; may be used even if the record is confidential and the youth is under 16.¹⁷

Adoption

After adoption MDH replaces the record for a $40 fee and seals the original.¹²

Adoptees born abroad

The district court collects $40 and sends a Certificate of Adoption so MDH can establish a Minnesota birth record.¹²

Paternity

A filed Recognition of Parentage adds the father at no filing cost; same-sex couples cannot use the form.¹⁸

Births at home

Parents who give birth outside a hospital or birth center must make sure the birth is registered.¹⁹

Delayed registration

Registration more than a year after birth is handled by MDH for $40.⁸

Dual citizenship

Minnesota no longer issues long-form certificates. MDH recommends a certificate, a noncertified record (image of the paper record for pre-2001 births) and its policy memo.⁸

Stillbirth

Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth: $16, MDH only.⁸

If no record is found

A certified statement is sent if no record is found; the fee is not returned.⁸

Warnings from the office

• False information is a crime.³

The state office

Office

Office of Vital Records¹

Phone

651-201-5970¹

Email

[email protected]¹

Mailing address

Minnesota Department of Health, Office of Vital Records, PO Box 64499, St. Paul, MN 55164-0499

²

Hours

8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except state holidays¹

Website

Official website³

Questions people ask