District of Columbia vital records · Birth Certificate
District of Columbia Birth Certificate
How to get a certified District of Columbia birth certificate: the official fee, processing time, who is eligible, what ID to bring, and every county office that issues birth records — or order online and skip the visit.
- $29.00
- Birth Certificate fee
- 2–4 weeks
- Processing time
- 1
- Offices issuing
- 1
- Counties
How to get a District of Columbia birth certificate
- 1Online (fastest). Prepare your application through our partner Vital Records Online ↗. Your request is checked for errors before it reaches the District of Columbia office.
- 2In person. Visit one of the 1 county offices that issue birth records; most print certified copies while you wait.
- 3By mail. Send the application form ↗, a copy of your ID and the $29.00 fee to DC Department of Health - Vital Records Division, Department of Health, Vital Records Division, ATTN: New Applications Dept., 899 North Capitol St., NE, 1st Floor, Washington, DC 20002.
District of Columbia birth certificate fees, processing & requirements
- Fee
- $23
- Additional copy
- $23
- Rush fee
- Expedited return shipping with UPS Next Day Air is available for $20.00 Expedited processing fee not specified, just says “For expedited order placement and processing please visit http://www.vitalchek.com/”
- Processing time
- Their website says ”Please allow 2-4 weeks for remote order processing time. Shipping times will vary based on shipping method selected by customer.”, but their application says “Processing time may take 7-10 business days”
- Rush processing
- They can expedite the return shipping by selecting UPS Next Day Air, however they do not specify how long an expedited processing time with VitalChek would be (just says “For expedited order placement and processing please visit http://www.vitalchek.com/”)
- Public after
- 125 years
Who can request
- Attorneys
- Children
- Grandparents
- Law Enforcement
- Legal Guardian
- Legal Representative
- Parents
- Person on Record
- Siblings
- Social Worker
Required information
- Date of Birth
- Daytime Phone Number
- Full Name of Person of Record
- Hospital of Birth
- Mailing Address
- Parents Names
- Sex
- Your Address
- Your Name
- Your Relationship to the Person of Record
- Your Signature
Accepted ID
- Department of State ID
- Government Work ID
- Law Enforcement ID
- Passport
- Permanent Residents Card
- State Driver's License
- State Non-Driver ID
- US Employment Authorization Card
- US Military ID
Secondary ID
- College ID
- Corrections ID
- Court Order
- Federal Government Census Record
- Military ID
- Notarized Letter from Parent
- Social Security Card
- US Selective Service Card
- Utility Bill
- Vehicle Registration
- Veteran ID
- Voter Registration Card
- W-2 Form
- Work ID
Notarization: Notary for Parent letter as Secondary ID
DC Department of Health - Vital Records Division (DCVRD)
- Address
- 899 North Capitol Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002
- Mailing
- Department of Health, Vital Records Division ATTN: New Applications Dept. 899 North Capitol St., NE, 1st Floor Washington, DC 20002
- Phone
- (202) 442-9303
- Website
- Official site ↗
- Hours
- WALK-UP SERVICES: Monday and Tuesday 9am - 1pm Wednesday 9am - 3:30pm Thursday and Friday 9am - 1pm
Skip the trip. Order a District of Columbia birth certificate online through our partner, Vital Records Online — application review, status updates and delivery to your door.
Order online ↗Where to get a birth certificate in District of Columbia: county offices
1 offices in 1 District of Columbia counties are confirmed to issue birth records. Fees shown are the office's own published fee; others charge the state fee of $29.00.
| Office | County | Phone | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| DC Health 899 North Capitol Street, NE, Washington | Washington | (202) 442-5955 | $23.00 |
More District of Columbia vital records
- District of Columbia Death Certificate
- District of Columbia Marriage Records
- All District of Columbia vital records offices
Compare fees nationwide: birth certificate cost & wait time by state.
District of Columbia birth certificate FAQs
How much does a District of Columbia birth certificate cost?
A certified District of Columbia birth certificate costs $29.00 ($23), and additional copies ordered at the same time are $23.
How long does it take to get a birth certificate in District of Columbia?
Standard processing is Their website says ”Please allow 2-4 weeks for remote order processing time. Shipping times will vary based on shipping method selected by customer.”, but their application says “Processing time may take 7-10 business days”. Expedited service: They can expedite the return shipping by selecting UPS Next Day Air, however they do not specify how long an expedited processing time with VitalChek would be (just says “For expedited order placement and processing please visit http://www.vitalchek.com/”) (Expedited return shipping with UPS Next Day Air is available for $20.00 Expedited processing fee not specified, just says “For expedited order placement and processing please visit http://www.vitalchek.com/”). In-person requests at a county office are often same-day.
Where do I get a birth certificate in District of Columbia?
1 District of Columbia offices across 1 counties issue birth records: county clerks, registers of deeds and health departments listed on this page. You can also apply by mail to the state vital records office (DC Department of Health - Vital Records Division), or order online.
Who can request a District of Columbia birth certificate?
District of Columbia issues certified copies to: Attorneys, Children, Grandparents, Law Enforcement, Legal Guardian, Legal Representative, Parents, Person on Record, Siblings, Social Worker. Records become public after 125 years.
What ID do I need for a District of Columbia birth certificate?
Accepted primary ID: Department of State ID, Government Work ID, Law Enforcement ID, Passport, Permanent Residents Card, State Driver's License, State Non-Driver ID, US Employment Authorization Card, US Military ID. If you have no primary ID, bring two of: College ID, Corrections ID, Court Order, Federal Government Census Record, Military ID, Notarized Letter from Parent, Social Security Card, US Selective Service Card, Utility Bill, Vehicle Registration, Veteran ID, Voter Registration Card, W-2 Form, Work ID.
Can I order a District of Columbia birth certificate online?
Yes. Prepare and submit your District of Columbia birth certificate application online through our partner, Vital Records Online, and skip the in-person visit.
Public records: District of Columbia Freedom of Information Act. Fees and processing times are set by District of Columbia and its counties and change without notice — confirm with the office before applying.