How to get a Vermont birth certificate

Ways to order

What a Vermont birth certificate costs

First certified copy

$10²

Each additional copy

$10³

Expedite fee

$14.50⁴

If no record is found

The fee is kept as a search fee⁴

Fees in effect since

18 V.S.A. § 5017 eff. July 1, 2019; waiver for former foster youth added eff. July 1, 2024³

Types of copies

No-fee copies

• Fee waived for people experiencing homelessness (18 V.S.A. § 5017(b)(1))³
• Fee waived for former foster youth aged 18-24 (18 V.S.A. § 5017(b)(2), eff. July 1, 2024)³

How long it takes

These are the office's own published times. They do not include shipping. Mail and shipping time is extra unless the office says otherwise.

Who can order a Vermont 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, child, grandchild, a parent named on the record, brother or sister, grandparent, legal guardian, executor or estate administrator and attorney or legal representative³
• Person named in a court order³
  Proof: Certified copy of the court order; photocopies not accepted⁵
• Government agency³

Other kinds of copies

• Informational copy Anyone¹²

Social Security number on the copy

Social Security and medical/health information in birth reports is confidential (18 V.S.A. § 5014(b)(1)(A))³

ID you need

Photo ID

Required²

Accepted ID

• U.S. issued Driver's License or ID Card
• U.S. Territories Driver's License or ID Card
• Tribal ID Card containing your signature
• U.S. Military ID Card containing your signature
• Passport: U.S. or Foreign issued
• Visa: U.S. issued and included within a Passport containing your signature
• U.S. Resident Alien Card or U.S. Green Card or U.S. Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551)
• U.S. Employment Authorization Document or Card (Form I-765)
• Valid State of Vermont Employee ID
• Affidavit of Homeless Status form
• Documentation from Vermont Department of Corrections substantiating identity⁵

Without that ID

Rule: Two documents together showing current address and signature; Documents: Employee Photo ID Card with a Pay Stub or U.S. Internal Revenue W-2 Form, School, University or College Photo ID with Report Card or other proof of current enrollment, Federal or State Corrections or Prisons issued ID, Social Security or Medicare Card with your signature, Pilot's license, Car Registration or Title with current address, U.S. Selective Service Card, Voter's Registration Card, Filed Federal Tax Form with current address and signature, Bank Statement, Property or Utility Bill with current address, U.S. or State Court documents with current address, A receipt from a licensed health care provider with name and current address, First class mail with name and current address⁵

Notarization

Not required⁵

ID copy with a mail order

Include a copy of your ID⁵

What the application asks for

Have these details ready before you fill in the form or start an online order.⁵

• Date of birth
• Town of birth
• Whether it is a Certificate of Birth for a Foreign-Born Child
• Name on certificate (first, middle, last, suffix)
• Sex
• Name of mother/parent
• Name of father/parent
• Applicant name, mailing address, date of birth, phone
• Relationship to the person named
• Number of copies
• ID document number and expiration date

Forms

• Application for Certified Copy of Vermont Birth or Death Certificate revision May 2026²
• Certified Copy of VT Birth or Death Certificate Instructions revision March 2026²
• Affidavit of Homeless Status²

Years held and older records

Years the issuing office holds

1909 to today²

Older records

Town clerks (pre-1909 certificates filed in their office); recording books 1908 and earlier at the State Archives²

Special situations

Delayed registration

Delayed certificate of birth: notarized Request + Statement of Information plus supporting original/certified documents (3 if age 10+, 2 if under 10)² Details

Births at home

Births without a medical professional: contact the Vital Records Office (802-863-7275)¹³ Details

Adoption

Original birth certificate available to adoptees 18+ and to adult direct descendants of a deceased adoptee since July 1, 2023; $10.00¹¹ Details

Adoptees born abroad

Certificate of live birth for a foreign born child adopted in Vermont (18 V.S.A. § 5078a); states it is not evidence of U.S. citizenship¹⁴ Details

Sex marker

Self-attestation by notarized Affidavit of Gender Identity; M, F or X¹⁵ Details

Paternity

Add a second parent by court order or Voluntary Acknowledgment of Parentage² Details

People without housing

Affidavit of Homeless Status replaces ID; fee waived under 18 V.S.A. § 5017(b)(1)¹⁶ Details

People in prison

Vermont DOC documentation is accepted as ID⁵ Details

Use abroad

Apostille can be added to an online order; see apostille record¹⁷ Details

Warnings from the office

• False statements: fine up to $10,000 and/or up to 6 months in prison⁵
• Online orders are mailed; nothing is downloadable⁶

The state office

Office

Vital Records Office¹

Email

[email protected]¹⁸

Mailing address

Vermont Department of Health, Vital Records, 280 State Drive, Waterbury, VT 05671-8370

⁵

Walk-in address

Vermont Department of Health, Vital Records, 280 State Drive, Waterbury, VT 05671-8370

⁸

Hours

Monday-Friday 7:45 a.m.-4:30 p.m.⁹

Website

Official website¹⁸

Questions people ask