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You’ll need a certified birth certificate for a first passport, a REAL ID or a name change. Here’s the fastest legitimate way to order one, what it costs, and the look-alike sites to avoid.
Order from your birth state’s vital records office, either directly or through VitalChek, the official online vendor many states use. You’ll pay the state’s certificate fee (often $20–$34) plus a processing fee of roughly $7–$13, and shipping.
You order from the state (or sometimes county) where you were born, not where you live now.
The state’s website lists it; in many states that’s VitalChek.
Enter your details and prove you’re eligible, usually the person named, a parent or a legal representative.
Choose standard mail or expedited shipping. Fees are usually non-refundable, even if the record isn’t found.
Once you have your certificate, GOV+ guides you through the Social Security and passport updates and checks them before you submit.
It depends on your birth state: often $20 to $34 per certified copy, plus about $7 to $13 if you order online, and shipping.
Online orders often ship within days to a couple of weeks depending on the state. Mail orders can take several weeks or longer.
No. You need a certified copy issued by the vital records office.