State vital records · IDPH - Bureau of Health Statistics
Iowa Vital Records
Get a birth, death, or marriage certificate in Iowa — official fees, processing times, ID requirements, and every local vital records office by county and city.
Iowa · 196 offices
- 196
- Offices listed
- 103
- Counties covered
- $15.00
- Birth cert. fee
- 4–6 weeks
- Avg. processing
At a glance
Iowa Department of Public Health - Bureau of Health Statistics (IDPH - Bureau of Health Statistics)
- Address
- Iowa Department of Health and Human Services Bureau of Health Statistics Lucas State Office Building, 1st Floor 321 E. 12th Street Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0075
- Mailing
- Iowa Department of Health and Human Services Bureau of Health Statistics Lucas State Office Building, 1st Floor 321 E. 12th Street Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0075
- Phone
- (515) 281-4944
- Website
- Official site ↗
- Hours
- 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday
Iowa Birth Certificate
- Fee
- $15
- Additional copy
- $15
- Rush fee
- Expedited options are only offered with online orders through VitalChek
- Processing time
- 4 to 6 weeks
- Rush processing
- VitalChek’s options (the only expedited service available besides in-person) range from 2-5 business days to 2-3 weeks
- Public after
- 75 years
Who can request
- Children
- Grandparents
- Legal Guardian
- Legal Representative
- Parents
- Person on Record
- Siblings
- Spouse
Required information
- Date of Birth
- Daytime Phone Number
- Full Name of Person of Record
- Mailing Address
- Parent Names Before Marriage
- Place of Birth
- Purpose for the Certificate
- Your Birthdate
- Your Name
- Your Relationship to the Person of Record
- Your Signature
Accepted ID
- College ID
- Out-of-State Driver's License
- Permanent Residents Card
- State Driver's License
- State ID
- US Employment Authorization Card
- US Military ID
- US Passport
- Visa
- Work ID
Secondary ID
- Bank Card with Photo
- Court Documents with Current Address
- Criminal Record
- Expired Driver's License
- Filed US Tax Return Form
- Foreign ID Card
- Foreign Passport
- Foreign Voter Registration
- Hospital Bill
- Insurance Record
- International Driver's License
- Matricula Consular Card
- Medicaid Card
- Medical Card
- Medicare Card
- Non-government ID
- Rent Receipt
- Utility Bill
- Vehicle Registration
Iowa Death Certificate
- Fee
- $15
- Additional copy
- $15
- Rush fee
- Expedited options are only offered with online orders through VitalChek
- Processing time
- 4 to 6 weeks
- Rush processing
- VitalChek’s options (the only expedited service available besides in-person) range from 2-5 business days to 2-3 weeks
- Public after
- 50 years
Who can request
- Children
- Grandparents
- Legal Guardian
- Legal Representative
- Parents
- Siblings
- Spouse
Required information
- Date of Death
- Full Name of Person of Record
- Place of Death
- Your Relationship to the Person of Record
Accepted ID
- College ID
- Out-of-State Driver's License
- Permanent Residents Card
- State Driver's License
- State ID
- US Employment Authorization Card
- US Military ID
- US Passport
- Visa
- Work ID
Secondary ID
- Bank Card with Photo
- Court Documents with Current Address
- Criminal Record
- Expired Driver's License
- Filed US Tax Return Form
- Foreign ID Card
- Foreign Passport
- Foreign Voter Registration
- Hospital Bill
- Insurance Record
- International Driver's License
- Matricula Consular Card
- Medicaid Card
- Medical Card
- Medicare Card
- Non-government ID
- Rent Receipt
- Utility Bill
- Vehicle Registration
Iowa Marriage Certificate
- Fee
- $15
- Additional copy
- $15
- Rush fee
- Expedited options are only offered with online orders through VitalChek
- Processing time
- 4 to 6 weeks
- Rush processing
- VitalChek’s options (the only expedited service available besides in-person) range from 2-5 business days to 2-3 weeks
- Public after
- 75 years
Who can request
- Children
- Grandparents
- Legal Guardian
- Legal Representative
- Parents
- Person on Record
- Siblings
- Spouse
Required information
- Bride Name
- Date of Marriage
- Daytime Phone Number
- Father's Name at Birth
- Groom Name
- Mailing Address
- Mother's Maiden Name
- Place of Marriage
- Purpose for the Certificate
- Your Birthdate
- Your Name
- Your Relationship to the Person of Record
- Your Signature
Accepted ID
- College ID
- Out-of-State Driver's License
- Permanent Residents Card
- State Driver's License
- State ID
- US Employment Authorization Card
- US Military ID
- US Passport
- Visa
- Work ID
Secondary ID
- Bank Card with Photo
- Court Documents with Current Address
- Criminal Record
- Expired Driver's License
- Filed US Tax Return Form
- Foreign ID Card
- Foreign Passport
- Foreign Voter Registration
- Hospital Bill
- Insurance Record
- International Driver's License
- Matricula Consular Card
- Medicaid Card
- Medical Card
- Medicare Card
- Non-government ID
- Rent Receipt
- Utility Bill
- Vehicle Registration
Don't want to visit in person? Order a Iowa birth, death, or marriage certificate online through our partner, Vital Records Online.
Order online ↗Find a vital records office in Iowa
Most Iowa birth and death records are requested at the county level. Browse by office type, popular city, or county.
Browse by office type
Popular cities in Iowa
All counties (103)
- Adair County2
- Adams County2
- Allamakee County2
- Appanoose County2
- Audubon County2
- Benton County2
- Black Hawk County2
- Boone County2
- Bremer County1
- Buchanan County2
- Buena Vista County2
- Butler County2
- Calhoun County2
- Carroll County2
- Cass County2
- Cedar County2
- Central Iowa Healthcare/Marshall County1
- Cerro Gordo County2
- Cherokee County2
- Chickasaw County2
- Clarke County2
- Clay County2
- Clayton County2
- Clinton County2
- Council Bluffs County1
- Crawford County2
- Dallas County2
- Davis County2
- Decatur County2
- Delaware County2
- Des Moines County2
- Dickinson County2
- Dubuque County3
- Emmet County2
- Fayette County2
- Floyd County2
- Franklin County2
- Fremont County2
- Greene County2
- Grundy County2
- Guthrie County2
- Hamilton County2
- Hancock County2
- Hardin County2
- Harrison County2
- Henry County2
- HOMEWARD, Story County1
- Howard County1
- Ida County2
- Iowa County2
- Jackson County2
- Jasper County2
- Jefferson County2
- Johnson County2
- Jones County2
- Keokuk County1
- Kossuth County2
- Le Mars County1
- Lee County1
- Linn County2
- Louisa County2
- Lucas County2
- Lyon County2
- Madison County2
- Mahaska County2
- Marion County2
- Marshall County1
- Mills County2
- Mitchell County2
- Monona County2
- Monroe County2
- Montgomery County2
- Muscatine County2
- O'Brien County1
- Osceola County2
- Ottumwa County1
- Page County2
- Palo Alto County2
- Plymouth County1
- Pocahontas County2
- Polk County2
- Pottawattamie County2
- Poweshiek County2
- Ringgold County2
- Sac County2
- Shelby County2
- Sioux County2
- South Lee County1
- Story County1
- Tama County2
- Taylor County1
- Union County2
- Van Buren County2
- Wapello County2
- Warren County2
- Washington County2
- Wayne County2
- Webster County2
- Winnebago County2
- Winneshiek County2
- Woodbury County2
- Worth County2
- Wright County2
Apostille & authentication
- Office
- Secretary of State
- Phone
- (515) 281- 5204
- Mailing
- Secretary of State Business Services Division Lucas Building, 1st Floor Des Moines, Iowa 50319
- Walk-in
- First Floor, Lucas Building 321 E. 12th St. Des Moines, IA 50319
- Details
- Completed application form, notarized or certified documents to be authenticated, $5.00 per document (if paying by check, credit card also accepted), and prepaid shipping label if requesting expedited mail service
Iowa vital records FAQs
How much does a Iowa birth certificate cost?
The fee is $15.
How long does a Iowa birth certificate take?
4 to 6 weeks
How much does a Iowa death certificate cost?
The fee is $15.
How long does a Iowa death certificate take?
4 to 6 weeks
How much does a Iowa marriage certificate cost?
The fee is $15.
How long does a Iowa marriage certificate take?
4 to 6 weeks
Where do I get a birth certificate in Iowa?
Iowa birth and death records are requested at the county level or from the state vital records office. Browse the 196 offices listed on this page by county or city, or order online through our partner to skip the in-person visit.
Can I order a Iowa birth certificate online?
Yes. You can prepare and submit your application online through our partner, Vital Records Online, and skip the in-person visit.
Public records: Iowa Code Chapter 22 Examination of Public Records. Information is provided as guidance and may change — verify with the state office before applying.