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Official Website

of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

    The .gov means it's official.

    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

    Public Office Hours and Locations

    Need a birth certificate quickly? You can request the certificate in person at a Pennsylvania Vital Records Public Office and if your request is received before 2:30 p.m., you may receive the certificate the same day.

    Need a Birth Certificate for REAL ID?

    With the deadline for REAL ID approaching, many people are using their birth certificate to verify their identity. The standard birth certificate format issued by the Department of Health (DOH) satisfies the Proof of Identity requirements to obtain a REAL ID. All birth certificates issued by DOH are certified copies and include the raised/embossed seal required by PennDOT.

    You may apply for a birth certificate online, through the mail, or in-person at a Vital Records public office. Note that VitalChek (https://mycertificates.health.pa.gov) is PA’s ONLY authorized vendor for online orders. Using any other online birth certificate fulfillment website could delay receipt of your document and/or cost you additional money.

    View the REAL ID and Birth Certificate Frequently Asked Questions.

    Please check back frequently for updates. ​​​