How to get a Washington birth certificate

Ways to order

Not offered: online directly with the vital records office and in person.⁶⁷

What a Washington birth certificate costs

First certified copy

$25²

Each additional copy, same order

$25⁴

Expedite fee

$7¹¹

If no record is found

The fee is kept as a search fee⁴

Fees in effect since

Law: 2019 c 148 (chapter 70.58A RCW); Effective: Jan. 1, 2021²

Types of copies

No-fee copies

• Veterans Administration claim: no fee for a vital record used for a claim for compensation or pension pending before the VA (official VA documentation required).¹³
• People experiencing homelessness who were born and live in Washington: free birth certificate, requested by mail by a government agency or homeless service provider (DOH only; one certificate per request).¹³
• Child receiving Basic Food/SNAP benefits who is enrolling in a Washington early learning program or K-12 public school: free birth certificate (any local county health department or DOH by mail).¹³

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 Washington birth certificate

The state names these people and bodies as able to order a certified copy. Each line gives the official wording.

• Self (subject of the record)²
• Spouse²
• Domestic partner²
• Child²
• Parent²
• Stepparent²
• Stepchild²
• Sibling²
• Grandparent²
• Great grandparent²
• Grandchild²
• Great grandchild²
• Legal guardian²
• Legal representative (licensed attorney)²
• Authorized representative (notarized form DOH 422-186 or power of attorney)²
  Proof for each of the 15 lines above: Copies of vital records (birth, death, marriage, divorce certificates from WA or elsewhere) linking you to the record; certified court orders (e.g. guardianship); agency/court letter for official duties. Not needed if your ID already links you to the record (self, parent listed).⁴
• Government agency or court (official duties only)²

Who cannot order a certified copy

• Anyone else: NOT eligible for a certified birth certificate⁴

Other kinds of copies

• Informational copy Anyone (noncertified informational copy only)⁸

Records open to the public after

100 years²

ID you need

Photo ID

Required¹¹

Accepted ID

• Washington State enhanced driver's license (EDL), driver's license (DL), permit, or identification (ID) card
• Out-of-state enhanced driver's license (EDL) or REAL ID license, driver's license (DL) or identification (ID) card
• U.S. passport or card
• Consulate card
• Foreign passport, driver's license, or ID card
• Permanent resident card
• Tribal membership or enrollment ID card from a federally recognized Indian tribe
• U.S. Immigration or naturalization papers
• U.S. Armed Services ID card
• U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs ID card
• U.S. Certificate of Citizenship or Naturalization
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service ID
• I-571 U.S. Refugee Travel Document
• US alien registration card
• I-327 U.S. Permit to Re-Enter Travel Document
• I-766 Employment Authorization
• NEXUS, SENTRI, or FAST border crossing card
• U.S. Merchant Mariner's card
• U.S. B1/B2 Visa Border Crossing Card (Form DSP-150)¹⁴

Without that ID

At least two alternate documents (e.g., utility bill dated within 2 months, pay stub no more than 30 days old, Social Security card, vehicle registration) that contain matching first and last names and addresses, or together show full name, date of birth and photograph.¹⁴

Notarization

Not required⁴

ID copy with a mail order

Include a copy of your ID⁴

What the application asks for

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

• First, middle, and last name of the subject of the record
• First and last name of all parents listed on the record
• Date of birth (month, date, year)
• City or county where the birth occurred

Forms

• Birth Certificate Order Form (DOH 422-182) revision July 2025⁴
• Birth/Death Informational Copies Order Form (DOH 422-185) revision November 2025¹²
• Acceptable Proofs of Identity Documentation (DOH 422-177) revision August 2021¹⁴
• Acceptable Proofs of Eligibility Documentation (DOH 422-178) revision April 2026¹⁵
• Authorized Representative Form (DOH 422-186) revision July 2025¹⁶

Years held and older records

Years the issuing office holds

July 1, 1907 to today⁸

Older records

Before July 1, 1907: county auditors' records, now at the State Archives regional branches.¹⁷

Special situations

People without housing

People experiencing homelessness who were born and live in Washington: free birth certificate, requested by mail by a government agency or homeless service provider (DOH only; one certificate per request).¹³ Details

Adoption

Adoptees 18 and older can get their original (pre-adoption) noncertified birth certificate unless a birth parent filed a contact preference form asking that it not be released.⁶ Details

If no record is found

If no record is found you get a written no-record notice; the fee is not refunded. You may reapply with different information (new fee) or start a delayed birth registration.¹¹

Use abroad

Certified copies only can be apostilled by the Secretary of State; DOH can forward the order (+$15 per apostille).⁸ Details

Delayed registration

Delayed birth certifications are marked as delayed and describe the evidence or court order used.²

Warnings from the office

• VitalChek is DOH's only contracted vendor; other third-party sites charge high fees. Complaints: WA Attorney General Consumer Protection, 206-464-6684.¹
• Do not pay for the order form.⁴
• Hospital paperwork is not an order; the first birth certificate is not free and hospitals cannot order it for you.⁸

The state office

Office

Center for Health Statistics¹

Phone

360-236-4300¹

Email

[email protected]¹

Mailing address

Center for Health Statistics, Department of Health, PO Box 9709, Olympia, WA 98507

¹

Walk-in address

Washington State Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics Town Center 2, 111 Israel Road SE, Tumwater, WA 98501

¹

Hours

Phone: Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.¹

Appointments

Required⁷

Website

Official website¹

Questions people ask