How to get a New Hampshire birth certificate

Ways to order

What a New Hampshire birth certificate costs

First certified copy

$15³

Each additional copy, same order

$10³

If no record is found

The fee is kept as a search fee¹

Types of copies

No-fee copies

• Federal, state or local government agencies: copies by special arrangement without regard to the RSA 5-C:10 fees²
• Free copies for U.S. Veterans Administration claims are marked for that use only²
• Law enforcement, court officials and the attorney general: certified copies at no charge²

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.

Who can order a New Hampshire 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 and legal guardian²
• A parent named on the record, spouse, child, brother or sister, grandparent and grandchild²
• Attorney or legal representative: "Legal representative" means an attorney, physician, funeral director or other representative, who through written authorization from the registrant is acting on behalf of the registrant or his or her family.²
  Proof: Written authorization from the registrant; attorneys show a business card or stationery, name the client and submit evidence for the claim²
• Persons demonstrating a need for information for the determination or protection of a personal or property right²
  Proof: Letter describing and documenting the claim (what record, why needed, other evidence) plus photo ID; reviewed by the state registrar or clerk²
• Genealogist or family researcher²
  Proof: Notarized written statement from the registrant or an immediate family member naming the genealogist, the relationship and the specific records²

Who cannot order a certified copy

• The natural parents of an adopted child who has been adopted outside of the natural parent's immediate family, shall not be considered to have a direct and tangible interest in the vital records of the adopted child.²
• Commercial firms or agencies requesting a listing of names and addresses shall not be considered to have a direct and tangible interest.²

ID you need

Photo ID

Required¹

Accepted ID

• Driver's license
• Non-driver's ID
• Passport
• Green card
• Other government issued photo identification¹⁰

Without that ID

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, other¹⁰

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.³

• Name of child on record (first, middle, last)
• Mother/Parent name
• Father/Parent name
• Child's date of birth
• Child's place of birth (city/town)
• Number of copies
• Applicant legal name, mailing address, phone, email
• Reason for request
• Is apostille required?
• Signature
• Relationship to registrant

Forms

• Application for a Certified Copy of a Vital Record (VR201) Rev. 7/2025¹¹
• Documentation Evidence for Individuals Not Possessing An Acceptable Picture Identification (VR206)¹¹

Years held and older records

Years the issuing office holds

1631 to today⁶

Older records

DVRA genealogical research vault / Research Room, 9 Ratification Way, Concord¹²

Special situations

Delayed registration

Fee: $25; Where: town clerk²

Adoptees born abroad

Form: VS 37 FB; Fee: $25⁴

Adoption

New birth record substituted after adoption; original sealed except under RSA 5-C:9 or court order²

Sex marker

New birth record on a certified court order²

Name change

Clerk amends birth record on a certified court order; original name kept as A.K.A.²

Paternity

New birth record after a court paternity order or affidavit of paternity²

Use abroad

Apostille: request an original certified copy from DVRA or a clerk; the Secretary of State adds the apostille ($10 per document)¹³ Details

If no record is found

$15 search fee kept if no record is found¹

Warnings from the office

• False statements on an application are a Class B felony³
• Third-party vendors are not affiliated with the State; DVRA cannot mediate disputes⁴

The state office

Office

Division of Vital Records Administration⁵

Phone

603-271-4650⁵

Email

[email protected]⁵

Mailing address

NH Department of State, Division of Vital Records Administration, Registration / Certification, 9 Ratification Way, Concord, NH 03301-2455

¹

Walk-in address

9 Ratification Way, Concord, NH 03301

⁵

Website

Official website¹²

Questions people ask