Order a birth certificate

You can order your own birth certificate, or someone else’s if you are a “qualified applicant.” Qualified applicants are:

• Spouses or domestic partners
• Parents, stepparents, or legal guardians
• Children or stepchildren
• Siblings
• Grandparents or great grandparents
• Legal representatives
• Authorized representatives
• Government agencies
• Courts (if used for official duties)

You will need the following information about the subject of the birth certificate:

• First, middle, and last name
• First and last name of all the parents listed
• Date of birth (month, day, year)
• City or county of birth

You must submit documentation to prove your identity and your relationship to the subject of the birth certificate.

• To prove your identity, you will need 1  government issued ID, like a drivers license or passport. The ID must include your photo, full name, and date of birth. The ID cannot be expired by more than 60 days. You can see a full list of acceptable IDs (144 KB) on the state Department of Health’s website.
• To prove your eligibility, you will need to provide 1 of the acceptable documents (207 KB) listed on the state Department of Health’s website.

Birth certificates are $25 each. There may be extra fees depending on how you order and pay. There are no refunds if a record cannot be located or if you are not eligible to receive the birth certificate.

• Order online

  VitalChek is a third party vendor that processes online orders 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

• To order online, a credit card is required.
• Each birth certificate costs $25.
• VitalChek fees are: Other Agency fees of $6.00 and VCN Handling fee of 11.50 which includes standard shipping
• All online orders are processed within 4 to 5 business days and then sent by regular mail, unless you select rush delivery.
• Rush delivery is available via UPS for an additional fee of $18.50 or USPS Priority Mail for $9.90.
• UPS rush delivery requires a signature when delivered. UPS will not deliver to PO boxes.

• Order by phone

  VitalChek is a third party vendor that processes online orders 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To order by telephone, please call 1-888-273-4623

• To order over the telephone, a credit card is required.
• Each birth certificate costs $25.
• VitalChek fees are: Other Agency fees of $6.00 and VCN Handling fee of 11.50 which includes standard shipping
• All telephone orders are processed within 4 to 5 business days and then sent by regular mail, unless you select rush delivery.
• Rush delivery is available via UPS for an additional fee of $18.50 or USPS Priority Mail for $9.90.
• UPS rush delivery requires a signature when delivered. UPS will not deliver to PO boxes.

• Order by mail

  • You can order a birth certificate by mail and pay with a check or money order. You will need to download the birth certificate order form (325 KB) and mail it in. There is a fee of $4 for mail orders. Your certificate will arrive in 3 to 4 weeks.
  • Instrucciones para el Formulario de solicitud de actas de nacimiento (302 KB, Spanish)

• Order in-person at the Vital Records Office

  Our lobby is open from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm (except the 1st Wednesday of every month the office will open at 9 am). We are located on the 2nd floor in the East Lobby.  Once in the East Lobby, check-in on the QLess application and proceed to the VitalChek kiosk to start the ordering process.
  • King County Vital Records will be using VitalChek kiosks for ordering, and the fee is $28.50.
  • Valet parking is available in the King Street Garage, and the first hour is free.