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How to get a South Dakota birth certificate

In South Dakota, order a certified birth certificate from the South Dakota Department of Health, Vital Records Office.1 County Registers of Deeds also issue certified birth copies from the statewide database.2 Each certified copy 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.

Last checked against official sources.

On this page
  1. Ways to order
  2. What a South Dakota birth certificate costs
  3. Who can order a South Dakota birth certificate
  4. ID you need
  5. What the application asks for
  6. Forms
  7. Years held and older records
  8. Special situations
  9. Warnings from the office
  10. The state office
  11. Questions people ask
  12. Sources

Ways to order

HowCost per copyProcessing timePayment
Online through VitalChek Network, Inc.$154, plus $6.504 VitalChek fee
+ 2 possible extra charges		––
By mail$153–Check and money order4
In person$153
+ one extra charge		–Cash, check, money order and card4
At a local office$155 (Minnehaha County)––
By phone$156
+ one extra charge		–Card6

Not offered: online directly with the vital records office.7

Online through VitalChek Network, Inc.

Vendor
VitalChek Network, Inc.4
Vendor status
The state's only authorized vendor4
Fees
  • Per copy $154
  • VitalChek fee $6.504
  • Expedite Fee (Regular Mail) $54
  • Optional UPS Next Day $17.504
  • Each additional copy in the same order $154
  • Total for one copy, regular mail $26.504
  • Total for one copy, UPS Next Day $444
Expedited service
$17.50. UPS Next Day shipping instead of regular mail4

Good to know

  • Genealogy requests by mail only; no online or phone orders4
  • Credit card must be in the applicant's name4
  • Online/phone identity: copy of government photo ID or electronic authentication8

Go to the ordering site4

By mail

Fees
  • Per copy $153
Expedited service
Optional prepaid priority return envelope for faster return4
Payment
Check and money order4
Mail to
Vital Records, South Dakota Department of Health, 221 West Capitol Ave, Pierre, SD 57501
1

Good to know

  • Records cannot be faxed or e-mailed4

Open the application or mail instructions4

In person

Fees
  • Per copy $153
  • Credit/Debit Card $2.504
Payment
Cash, check, money order and card4
Office
State Office (Vital Records), 221 West Capitol Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501
4
Hours
8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Central Time, Monday - Friday1

Open the official page1

At a local office

Run by
County Register of Deeds (local registrar)9
Fees
  • Per copy $155

Find a local office10

By phone

Run by
VitalChek Network, Inc. (orders placed at 605-773-4961)4
Fees
  • Per copy $156
  • Expedited service $11.503
Payment
Card6

Good to know

  • No genealogy orders by phone4

What a South Dakota birth certificate costs

First certified copy
$153
Each additional copy
$156
Expedite fee
$11.503
If no record is found
The fee is kept as a search fee4
Fees in effect since
Nov. 5, 202611

Types of copies

CopyAccepted forFee
Certified copy12Identification and other legal purposes12$153
Informational copy12Not for legal proof of identification12$153
Certified photostatic copy (photocopy of the original record)12Legal purposes12$156
Informational photostatic copy13Genealogy; not legal use12$156
Notification of Records Searched4–$153
Original birth certificate prior to adoption (adult adoptee)14–$1514

No-fee copies

  • Military/veterans: free certified copies for a claim against the government15
  • Homelessness: one free certified birth certificate16
  • Head Start: one free certified birth certificate17
  • School enrollment (TANF, food stamps or county poor relief recipients): free certified birth certificate17
  • Youth sports (e.g., American Legion Baseball): one free certified birth certificate17

Who can order a South Dakota 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 record12
    Proof: Not stated for the registrant4
  • Spouse and child12
  • A parent named on the record and legal guardian12
  • Grandparent and brother or sister12
  • Grandchild over 18 (listed on the application form)6
  • Attorney or legal representative and funeral director12
    Proof for each of the 5 lines above: May be required4
  • Designated agent (notarized designation by an eligible person)12
    Proof: Notarized designation18
  • Anyone with a personal or property right to the record12
    Proof: May be required4

Other kinds of copies

  • Informational copy Anyone: The department or authorized local registrars shall upon receipt of an application, issue informational copies to any applicant of any vital record.19
    Proof: Not required for informational copies20
Records open to the public after
100 years21

ID you need

Photo ID
Required12
Accepted ID
  • Photocopy of driver's license
  • Photocopy of state ID card
  • Photocopy of tribal ID
  • Photocopy of passport or Visa
  • Photocopy of military ID12
Without that ID
  • Social Security card
  • Utility bill with current address
  • Bank statement with current address
  • Pay stub (must include your name, Social Security number plus name, and address of business)
  • Car registration or title with current address
12
Notarization
Mail applications: notarized signature OR a clear copy of a photo ID4
ID copy with a mail order
Include a copy of your ID8

What the application asks for

Have these details ready before you fill in the form or start an online order.20

  • Applicant's full name
  • Applicant's current home or business address
  • Signature or electronic authentication
  • Telephone number
  • Type of record
  • For a certified copy: relationship to registrant
  • Name of the registrant, date of birth, and mother's maiden name, or enough information to locate the record

Forms

Years held and older records

Years the issuing office holds
1905 to today13
Older records
Some county Registers of Deeds hold records filed before 190513

Special situations

People without housing
One free certified birth certificate with a notarized Affidavit of Homeless Status signed by the person and a homeless services provider16 Details
Adoption
Adult adoptees (18+) may obtain their original pre-adoption birth certificate; $15 per copy; notarized application or copy of government photo ID14 Details
Adoption
New birth certificate after adoption: $15 preparation fee (copy not included)3
Paternity
New birth certificate with paternity: $5 preparation fee (copy not included)3
Delayed registration
Delayed birth certificate (not registered within one year): $15 preparation and filing fee, marked "delayed"24
If no record is found
Fee kept; a Notification of Records Searched is issued4
Name change
No first name on the record: only an informational copy until an amendment is completed12

Warnings from the office

  • VitalChek is the only authorized third-party vendor4
  • Copies cannot be faxed or e-mailed4
  • The fee is required before any search4
  • Not open for public inspection1

The state office

Office
South Dakota Department of Health, Vital Records Office1
Mailing address
Vital Records, South Dakota Department of Health, 221 West Capitol Ave, Pierre, SD 57501
1
Walk-in address
State Office (Vital Records), 221 West Capitol Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501
4
Hours
8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Central Time, Monday - Friday1

Questions people ask

How much is a certified South Dakota birth certificate?

Each certified copy costs $15.36

Can I order a South Dakota birth certificate online?

Yes. Online through VitalChek Network, Inc.4

What ID do I need?

The state accepts: Photocopy of driver's license; Photocopy of state ID card; Photocopy of tribal ID; Photocopy of passport or Visa; Photocopy of military ID.12

Where are older South Dakota birth certificates kept?

Some county Registers of Deeds hold records filed before 1905.13

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.

  1. Vital recordsSouth Dakota Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated September 14, 2026
  2. SDLRC - Codified Law 34-25-16.6 - Copies of birth certificatesSouth Dakota Legislature (Legislative Research Council)
  3. Vital records feesSouth Dakota Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated January 9, 2025
  4. Order Vital RecordsSouth Dakota Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated September 14, 2026
  5. Register of Deeds: Vital RecordsMinnehaha County Register of Deeds
  6. South Dakota Vital Records Request (application)South Dakota Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
  7. Vital Records Services PortalSouth Dakota Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated September 14, 2026
  8. Section 44:09:06:06South Dakota Legislature (Legislative Research Council)dated November 5, 2026
  9. Section 34-25-4.1South Dakota Legislature (Legislative Research Council)
  10. Find a Register of Deeds OfficeSouth Dakota Department of Health
  11. Section 44:09:06:02South Dakota Legislature (Legislative Research Council)dated November 5, 2026
  12. Vital Records Eligibility & IdentificationSouth Dakota Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated January 9, 2025
  13. Genealogy resourcesSouth Dakota Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated February 13, 2026
  14. Open Adoption RecordsSouth Dakota Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated January 9, 2025
  15. Military Fee Waiver RequestSouth Dakota Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
  16. Homeless Birth Certificate WaiverSouth Dakota Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated July 16, 2025
  17. Fee Waiver Request for a Certified Copy of a Birth RecordSouth Dakota Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
  18. Section 44:09:06:05South Dakota Legislature (Legislative Research Council)dated November 5, 2026
  19. Section 34-25-52South Dakota Legislature (Legislative Research Council)
  20. Section 44:09:06:04South Dakota Legislature (Legislative Research Council)dated November 5, 2026
  21. Section 34-25-8South Dakota Legislature (Legislative Research Council)
  22. Affidavit of Homeless Status for a Certified Copy of a Birth Certificate (Revised 06/2025)South Dakota Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated June 1, 2025
  23. Application for Adoption Information, Adult Adoptee (Issued 05/2023)South Dakota Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated May 1, 2023
  24. Section 34-25-42South Dakota Legislature (Legislative Research Council)