Having a birth certificate on hand is essential as you may need it for various situations throughout life. For example, did you know that you may be required to obtain a birth certificate while looking to get a US passport? It’s crucial that you have a proper birth certificate to submit, as it could hurt your chances of getting a passport, or may delay the process of obtaining your passport. If you’ve found that you’ve misplaced your birth certificate and need it to apply for a passport, read on for how to get a replacement birth certificate:
Why Would I Need a New Birth Certificate?
If you’ve lost or misplaced your birth certificate, you could end up running into problems when it comes time to apply for your passport. There is information on your birth certificate that you’ll need to reference while applying for a passport, and not having your birth certificate on hand could make filling out your passport application difficult. You may also be required to submit a copy of your birth certificate to move forward in the passport application process.
Birth Certificate Requirements
When applying for a US passport, the US Passport Agency requires that you submit an original or certified copy of your long-form birth certificate, not a copy of your short-form birth certificate.
Long-Form Birth Certificates: A long-form birth certificate is a copy of the actual birth certificate on file with the locality where the birth took place.
Short-Form Birth Certificates: A short-form birth certificate is a notarized document that states that the long-form certificate exists and is on file.
Some ways that you can tell whether or not the birth certificate you have is long-form or short-form includes:
- The long-form will list the actual hospital or another facility of birth; the short-form will not.
- The long-form will have a file number and a date that the birth certificate was filed; the short-form will not.
- The long-form will list the parent(s) names, birthdays, and nationalities; the short-form will not.
- The long-form is usually 8 ½ x 11 inches, while the short-form is typically half that size or smaller.
- The long-form will never have the baby’s footprints on it.
- The long-form will have the name and signature of the attendant.
One important thing to note is that a birth certificate’s file number is a key factor in whether the Passport Agency will accept the birth certificate.
How to Get a New Birth Certificate
If you know that you’ll be applying for a passport in the near future, it’s important that you work on obtaining a replacement birth certificate as soon as possible. Ensuring that you have a birth certificate on hand will help make filling out your passport application go quickly and smoothly.Â
Here are some options for getting a new birth certificate:
- Go to Vital Records Online: Google Vital Records in the state that you were born. Most states have an online system where you can order a birth certificate in about 10 minutes. The website should tell you how long it will approximately take for the birth certificate to be delivered to you. Please note that the timing may vary depending on the state that you live in.
- Call Vital Records: Google Vital Records in the county where you were born, and locate the phone number that will connect you with their customer service team. They will tell you your options for obtaining your replacement birth certificate and can inform you of which option may be best for you.
- Visit the VitalChek Website: Another way that you can get a new birth certificate is to visit the VitalChek website. VitalChek is a third-party service that can obtain your birth certificate for you. It’s important to note that processing times may vary, but the website is user-friendly and should be able to give you a good idea of how long it will take before you have to make your payment.
- Replace or Amend a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA): One final way that you can obtain a new birth certificate is to replace or amend a Consular Report of Birth Abroad. If you were born abroad to a US citizen parent(s), you are likely eligible to obtain a new birth certificate this way. You can begin this process by going to the U.S. Department of State website.
If you have any questions in regards to obtaining a passport for an upcoming trip, please feel free to contact us. A member of our team would be happy to help answer any questions you may have. If you’re ready to get the passport application process started, you can do so on our website. As always, no matter where you’re traveling in the world, stay safe, stay healthy, and have a wonderful trip!
