How to get an Oklahoma birth certificate

Ways to order

Not offered: in person and online directly with the vital records office.³

What an Oklahoma birth certificate costs

First certified copy

$15²

Each additional copy, same order

$15²

If no record is found

The fee is kept as a search fee²

Fees in effect since

Oct 2026 (form revision)²

Types of copies

No-fee copies

• Free search and verification of birth facts for Armed Forces enlistees, on written request by an Armed Forces officer (statute).⁸

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 Oklahoma 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 record⁵
• A parent named on the record⁵
• Attorney or legal representative⁵
  Proof: Affidavit from attorney on practice letterhead⁵
• Person named in a court order⁵
• Legal guardian⁵
  Proof: Current or most recent court order, Power of Attorney document, etc.⁵
• Spouse and grandparent⁵
  Proof: Statement signed by the subject releasing the record, plus 1 primary ID of the subject⁵
• Government agency⁵
  Proof: Current court order showing child in agency custody and letter on DHS letterhead⁵
• Genealogist or family researcher⁵
• Genealogist or family researcher⁵
  Proof: If subject alive: signed release and subject ID; if deceased: proof of familial relationship or court order⁵

Who cannot order a certified copy

• Until the adoption has been finalized and the record has been replaced, adoptive parents are not authorized to receive a copy of the child’s birth certificate⁵

Records open to the public after

125 years²

ID you need

Photo ID

Required³

Accepted ID

• U.S. Issued Driver license or Identification card
• U.S. Passport [MUST be signed]
• Foreign Issued Passport with Visa (I-94)
• United States of America B1/B2 Visa/Border Crossing Card – Form DSP-150
• Government issued Military photo ID (VA photo ID included)
• OK DOC, Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) or Federal Correction Institution (FCI) photo ID
• Tribal Photo Identification Card
• Oklahoma Self-Defense Act (SDA) License or OK Concealed Carry permit
• Resident Alien Card (Form I-551)
• Employment Authorization Card (Form I-766) or (Form I-688A)
• Temporary Resident Card (Form I-688)
• Oklahoma public, private, or parochial secondary school ID (subject must be age 19 or younger)
• Oklahoma institution of higher education ID
• Oklahoma technology center school ID⁵

Without that ID

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.⁹

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.²

• Full name at birth
• Sex
• Date of birth
• Place of birth (Oklahoma city and/or county)
• Still living?
• Father's full name
• Mother's full name (maiden name)
• Relationship of requester
• Purpose

Forms

• Birth Certificate Request Form (English) revision Oct 2026²
• Birth Certificate Application, Spanish revision oct. 2026⁷

Years held and older records

Years the issuing office holds

October 1908 to today³

Older records

No timely filed birth records exist before October 1908; a limited number of delayed records cover earlier births.¹⁰

Special situations

Delayed registration

Request a search first with the standard application; if no record is found OSDH sends delayed-certificate instructions. Documents: 3 showing date of birth or age, 2 showing Oklahoma birthplace, 1 with both parents' full names (including the mother's maiden name), each established at or near the time of birth and/or at least 10 years before applying.¹ Details

Adoption

Original birth records of adoptions are sealed; a court order is needed except adult adoptees (adoptions after Nov 1, 1997) meeting conditions.¹⁰

Adoptees born abroad

A Certificate of Foreign Birth may be filed for minors born outside the US and adopted in Oklahoma by US citizens.³

If the person has died

Birth record of a deceased person is marked deceased; a copy of the death certificate may be required.²

People in prison

Oklahoma DOC inmates apply through the DOC Liaison.⁵

Stillbirth

Stillbirth certificates only to the parent; $15; memorial certificate also $15.³

Sex marker

Since April 26, 2022 the sex on an amended birth certificate must be male or female; nonbinary or "X" not allowed.⁸

Use abroad

Apostille from the Oklahoma Secretary of State on a certified copy.³

Name change

After a legal name change, request using the current legal name on the certificate; to change the record attach a letter.²

The state office

Office

Vital Records Service, Oklahoma State Department of Health⁶

Phone

(405) 426-8880⁶

Email

[email protected]⁶

Mailing address

Vital Records Service, Oklahoma State Department of Health, PO Box 248964, Oklahoma City, OK 73124-8964

⁶

Hours

Will Call pickup: 12:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m., Monday-Friday³

Website

Official website²

Questions people ask