How to get a North Carolina birth certificate

In North Carolina, order a certified birth certificate from the North Carolina Vital Records (NC Office of Vital Records, NCOVR), NC DHHS Division of Public Health.¹ Also issued by the Register of Deeds in the county of birth.² The first copy costs $24³ and each additional copy ordered at the same time costs $15³. You can order online, by mail, in person, at a local office or by phone. Only the people the state lists below can order a certified copy. The fastest published option is at a local office: same day⁴.

Last checked November 5, 2026 against official sources.

On this page

Ways to order
What a North Carolina birth certificate costs
How long it takes
Who can order a North Carolina birth certificate
ID you need
What the application asks for
Forms
Years held and older records
Special situations
Warnings from the office
The state office
Questions people ask
Sources

Ways to order

How	Cost per copy	Processing time	Payment
Online through VitalChek	$24⁴ first, $15³ each extra copy, plus $13.95³ VitalChek processing fee + 2 possible extra charges	Up to 10 business days on average⁵	Card and check³
By mail	$24⁴ first, $15⁴ each extra copy, plus $6⁶ VitalChek processing and handling fee + 2 possible extra charges	Up to 4 months⁶	–
In person	$24³ first, $15³ each extra copy + one extra charge	–	Card, check and cash³
At a local office	Set by each office, for example $14⁷, $10⁷ or $10⁸	Same day⁴	–
By phone	$24⁴ first, $15³ each extra copy, plus $13.95³ VitalChek processing fee + 2 possible extra charges	Up to 10 business days on average⁵	Card and check³

Not offered: online directly with the vital records office.²

Online through VitalChek

Vendor: VitalChek⁴
Vendor status: The state's only authorized vendor³
Fees: First copy $24⁴
Each additional copy in the same order $15³
VitalChek processing fee $13.95³
Regular Shipping (USPS) $0⁴
Optional Overnight Shipping within continental U.S. (UPS)** $20⁴
Processing time: Up to 10 business days on average⁵
Payment: Card and check³

Good to know

Delivery to a street address only (no APO, FPO or PO boxes)⁴
Do not order new post-adoption birth certificates through VitalChek⁴
Do not order through this route if the certificate needs amendments, changes or corrections⁴

Go to the ordering site⁴

By mail

Run by: NC Vital Records, with mail-in payment processed by VitalChek⁶
Fees: First copy $24⁴
Each additional copy in the same order $15⁴
VitalChek processing and handling fee $6⁶
U.S. Postal Service Regular Mail $0⁶
UPS Next Day Air $20⁶
Processing time: Up to 4 months⁶
Expedited service: Not offered⁴
Mail to: North Carolina Vital Records, ATTN: VC Certificate Orders, 1903 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1900
⁴

Good to know

Do not send cash⁴
Do not send overpayment⁴
One application and one VitalChek fee per certificate⁶

Open the application or mail instructions⁴

In person

Fees: First copy $24³
Each additional copy in the same order $15³
In-person expedited processing fees $15⁴
Expedited service: $15. In-person service at the state office is the expedited channel⁴
Payment: Card, check and cash³
Make payable to: NC Vital Records³
Office: Cooper Memorial Health Building, 225 N. McDowell St., Raleigh, NC 27603-1382
⁹
Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.; last appointment 2:30 p.m.; 30-minute appointments⁴
Appointment: Required⁴

Good to know

Appointments usually filled a month or two out²
Appointments are only for regular certificate purchases⁹

Open the official page⁴

At a local office

Run by: County Register of Deeds in the county where the event took place⁴
Fees: Per copy $14⁷
Per copy $10⁷⁸
Processing time: Same day⁴

Good to know

Use the ROD of the county where the event occurred, not the county of residence⁴

Find a local office¹⁰

By phone

Run by: VitalChek⁴
Vendor status: The state's only authorized vendor³
Fees: First copy $24⁴
Each additional copy in the same order $15³
VitalChek processing fee $13.95³
Regular Shipping (USPS) $0⁴
Optional Overnight Shipping within continental U.S. (UPS)** $20⁴
Processing time: Up to 10 business days on average⁵
Payment: Card and check³
Phone: 800-669-8310⁴

Good to know

Delivery to a street address only (no APO, FPO or PO boxes)⁴
Do not order new post-adoption birth certificates through VitalChek⁴
Do not order through this route if the certificate needs amendments, changes or corrections⁴

What a North Carolina birth certificate costs

First certified copy: $24³
Each additional copy, same order: $15³
Expedite fee: $15³
Each extra year searched: $24³
If no record is found: The fee is kept as a search fee³

Types of copies

Copy	Accepted for	Fee
Certified copy⁶	A certified copy is required for most legal or official purposes for which a copy of a vital record is requested. For instance, a certified copy can be used to obtain apostille services through the NC Secretary of State's office.²	$24⁶
Uncertified copy⁶	Informational purposes only; not accepted for legal purposes²	$24⁶
No record found letter³	–	$24³

No-fee copies

Free copy for a registered NC voter who needs it to obtain voter photo ID⁷
Over 62: a local agency may waive its $10.00 retained charge⁷

How long it takes

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

How you order	Processing time	Counted
Online through VitalChek	Up to 10 business days on average⁵	Before shipping
By mail	Up to 4 months⁶	Before shipping
At a local office	Same day⁴	–
By phone	Up to 10 business days on average⁵	Before shipping

Who can order a North Carolina 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, spouse, a parent named on the record, child, brother or sister, grandparent and grandchild¹¹
Proof: ID only; evidence of a legal name change if the name on the ID differs⁶
Legal guardian and attorney or legal representative: (3) An authorized agent, attorney or legal representative of a person described above.¹¹
Proof: Certified court order naming you as legal guardian or custodian⁶
A person seeking information for a legal determination of personal or property rights¹¹
Proof: Proof of direct and tangible interest or legal need (court, insurance, or estate settlement documents)⁶
Social Worker Unexpired government issued work ID + a copy of court order placing the child in your custody or typed letter⁶
Proof: Unexpired government work ID + court order placing the child in your custody or agency letter with case number and authority⁶
Minimum ordering age is 18⁶

Other kinds of copies

Informational copy Law enforcement: uncertified copies only, for a criminal or fraudulent matter; certified copies need a subpoena naming the State Registrar⁶
Informational copy Anyone: Uncertified copies are for informational purposes only and are not accepted for legal purposes. They are available to anyone who requests them unless legal restrictions apply.²

ID you need

Photo ID: Required⁶
Accepted ID: Current state-issued driver's license (address must match requestor's address on application)
Current state-issued non-driver photo ID card (address must match requestor's address on application)
Current Passport or Visa (must include photo)
Current U.S. military ID
Current Department of Corrections photo ID card dated within the last year or release/discharge
Current state or U.S. government agency photo ID card (for persons requesting certificates as part of that agency's business)
Current student ID card with copy of transcript⁶
Without that ID: 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
⁶
ID copy with a mail order: Include a copy of your ID⁶

What the application asks for

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

Name on certificate
Both parents' full names
Date of birth
Place of birth (city or county in N.C.)
Requestor's relationship to the person named

Forms

Application for a Copy of a North Carolina Birth Certificate revision Feb 2025⁴

Years held and older records

Years the issuing office holds: 1913 to today⁴
Older records: Register of Deeds in the county of birth (births before 1913)¹²

Special situations

Delayed registration: A person born in NC more than one year ago with no birth certificate files a delayed certificate with the Register of Deeds, after a $24 NC Vital Records search returns a "no record found" letter.¹³ Details
Adoption: New post-adoption birth certificates are ordered with the Adoptions Processing Form, not through VitalChek; $15 processing + $24 search/first copy, certified check or money order to NC Vital Records.¹⁴ Details
Adoptees born abroad: For international adoptions NC issues a Certificate of Identification for Child of Foreign Birth, not a birth certificate.¹⁴ Details
Paternity: Adding a father when the parents were not married uses an Affidavit of Parentage or a court order; see amendments.⁴ Details
Use abroad: Apostilles are issued by the NC Secretary of State; NC Vital Records cannot provide or facilitate them.² Details

Warnings from the office

Use VitalChek or NC Vital Records directly; VitalChek is the only authorized vendor⁴
NC vital records are not free searchable public records¹
Payment is processed on receipt; delivery lags payment³
Requests by email are not accepted²
False statements are a felony¹⁵

The state office

Office: North Carolina Vital Records⁹
Phone: 919-733-3000⁹
Contact: Contact form⁹
Mailing address: North Carolina Vital Records, 1903 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1900
⁹
Walk-in address: Cooper Memorial Health Building, 225 N. McDowell St., Raleigh, NC 27603-1382
⁹
Hours: Call center Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; in-person appointments Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. (last appointment 2:30 p.m.)⁹
Appointments: Required⁹
Website: Official website¹

Questions people ask

How much is a certified North Carolina birth certificate?

The first copy costs $24 and each additional copy ordered at the same time costs $15.³

How long does it take to get a North Carolina birth certificate?

Online through VitalChek: up to 10 business days on average. By mail: up to 4 months. At a local office: same day. By phone: up to 10 business days on average.⁵⁶⁴

Can I order a North Carolina birth certificate online?

Yes. Online through VitalChek.⁴

Who do I make the check or money order payable to?

Write it exactly as the office prints it: NC Vital Records.³

What ID do I need?

The state accepts: Current state-issued driver's license (address must match requestor's address on application); Current state-issued non-driver photo ID card (address must match requestor's address on application); Current Passport or Visa (must include photo); Current U.S. military ID; Current Department of Corrections photo ID card dated within the last year or release/discharge; Current state or U.S. government agency photo ID card (for persons requesting certificates as part of that agency's business); and the other documents listed above.⁶

Where are older North Carolina birth certificates kept?

Sources

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

NC Vital Records home pageNC DHHS Division of Public Health, Vital Recordsdated July 23, 2026
NC Vital Records faqs pageNC DHHS Division of Public Health, Vital Recordsdated July 13, 2026
NC Vital Records fees pageNC DHHS Division of Public Health, Vital Recordsdated July 13, 2026
NC Vital Records order pageNC DHHS Division of Public Health, Vital Recordsdated July 23, 2026
NC Vital Records processing pageNC DHHS Division of Public Health, Vital Recordsdated July 13, 2026
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
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 130A-93.1 Fees for vital records copies or searchNorth Carolina General Assemblydated May 30, 2025read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
G.S. 161-10. Uniform fees of registers of deedsNorth Carolina General Assemblydated December 23, 2025read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
NC Vital Records contacts pageNC DHHS Division of Public Health, Vital Recordsdated July 13, 2026
NC Vital Records county pageNC DHHS Division of Public Health, Vital Recordsdated July 13, 2026
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 130A-93 Access to vital records; copiesNorth Carolina General Assemblydated February 13, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
NC Vital Records research pageNC DHHS Division of Public Health, Vital Recordsdated August 26, 2026
NC Vital Records delayed pageNC DHHS Division of Public Health, Vital Recordsdated July 13, 2026
NC Vital Records adoptions pageNC DHHS Division of Public Health, Vital Recordsdated July 13, 2026
NC Death 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)dated February 1, 2025