ByGrabbing a Copy of Your Pennsylvania Birth Certificate The Easy Way
It is essential to have a birth certificate copy for a newborn baby or establish your identity for passport, social security, or marriage applications. If you don't have one on hand or you lost your copy, you can request from the state vital records office where the birth took place.
You can make your request for a in person or online. The application usually takes weeks to process and some effort on your part. With DoNotPay, you can conveniently request a birth certificate in minutes.
The Difference Between Authorized and Informational Birth Certificates
There are two kinds of birth certificate copies you can request. An authorized birth certificate is the required document for identification for employment purposes, school enrolment, or getting a driver's license. While an informational copy can be used to prove someone's identity, it cannot be used for government services.
An authorized copy of a birth certificate is a document that is printed on security paper bearing the state seal and signature of the State Registrar. An informational copy is not a document and is used for informational or decorative purposes only. It is a computer print-out that does not bear the signature of the State Registrar and the seal.
Who Can Get a Copy of a Pennsylvania Birth Certificate
To apply for a Pennsylvania birth certificate, you must be over 18 and one of the following people:
- The person named on the birth certificate
- The spouse, parent, step-parent, sibling, child, or other direct relatives of the person named on the birth certificate
- A grandparent, great-grandparent, grandchild, or great-grandchild of the person named on the birth certificate
- Someone with a right to file for a birth certificate
How Much Does It Cost to Get a Copy of a Pennsylvania Birth Certificate
In Pennsylvania, requests for birth certificates are made through Division Vital Records.
| City/County/State Office | Contact Address and Phone Number | Birth Certificate Processing Fee |
| Pennsylvania Vital Records | 105 Nesbitt Rd, New Castle, PA 16105, Phone: 724-656-3100 | $20.00 |
If you order online, there is a non-refundable service fee of $10 plus the applicable delivery fees for overnight shipping via courier. Members of the US Armed Forces can have the fees waived.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Copy of Your Birth Certificate in Pennsylvania?
Processing times for Pennsylvania birth certificates vary. You can check the current processing times online at the Pennsylvania Department of Health website.
How Can You Get a Copy of a Pennsylvania Birth Certificate Yourself?
These are the steps to follow if you want to get your copy of your Pennsylvania birth certificate :
- Collect relevant documents. You need to prepare documentation that will prove who you are and, if needed, your relationship to the person whose birth certificate you want to acquire. You may have to show your state-issued ID, such as a driver's license or passport. If you have neither of the two, you need to present two photo IDs, such as work or school ID, utility bills, or property tax bills.
- Choose your application method. In Pennsylvania, you can:
- Apply online at the Pennsylvania Department of Health website
- Go to a Pennsylvania Department of Health location to get your birth certificate in person
- Mail the Application for Birth Certificate to Division of Vital Records Birth Certificate Processing Unit PO Box 1528 New Castle, PA 16103
- Don't forget the fees.
- Wait. Often, there can be a long wait to receive your Pennsylvania birth certificate, especially if you apply by mail or there are application information issues. If the application takes longer than the published processing time, you should call to follow up on the status of your application.
DoNotPay Can Make Getting Your Pennsylvania Birth Certificate Easier
With DoNotPay, getting your Pennsylvania birth certificate is simple. We've got you covered in 8 easy steps:
- Go to the Birth Certificates product on DoNotPay.
- Select who the certificate is for (you or a loved one). If you are requesting a copy of someone else's certificate, enter their personal details, and upload evidence that proves your relationship.
- Enter the location you or your loved one was born in, so we can complete the form specific to your state.
- Enter the name(s) of the parent(s) as displayed on the certificate.
- Indicate what you will be using this certificate for, and choose whether you need an authorized or certified copy.
- Enter your contact information and shipping address. Upload copies of your government-issued identification, such as a driver's license.
- Choose whether you would like to electronically sign this form or not. Once we generate the form, verify that all of the information is correct.
- If you need the document to be notarized, schedule a notarization appointment using our Notary product. Otherwise, proceed to our Mail Checks product and let DoNotPay mail in your request form with a check on your behalf.
With DoNotPay, applying for a from Pennsylvania (or any state) is fast, streamlined, and reliable. You won't have to worry about winding your way through a complicated system, encountering application information issues, or waiting in what feels like an endless line at a Department of Health location.