How to Get a New York Birth Record

New York birth records can be found in three locations depending on the year and place of birth. The New York City Department of Records at the Municipal Archives, the New York City Department of Health Office of Vital Records and the New York State Department of Health handle requests for birth records. If you are requesting the birth record for yourself, you may place orders online. If your name does not appear on the record, the order must be made in person or by mail. You must present photo identification or an order of a New York state court if you are obtaining the birth record of someone else. This applies to birth records made after 1910.

Five Boroughs: Prior to 1910

• 1

  Visit the NYC Department of Records at the Municipal Archives website for birth records prior to 1910 that occurred in one of the five boroughs of New York (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island).

• 2

  Fill out the online order form or download the order form to request a copy by mail.

• 3

  Pay the fee online or by mail. If paying online, the fee is $15 plus the applicable shipping and handling, which depends on how many copies being requested. For copies by mail, the fee is $15, and you must include a self-addressed stamped envelope.

• 4

  Wait four to six weeks for your request to be processed. This is the processing time for online requests and requests sent by mail.

Five Boroughs: 1910 to Present

• 1

  Contact the NYC Department of Health Office of Vital Records for birth records from 1910 to the present.

• 2

  Order the birth record through their online service or request the record in person or by mail.

• 3

  Wait 24 hours for requests processed online. Times vary for requests made in person. The office is open from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

• 4

  Wait 30 days for requests sent by mail.

New York State 1881 to Present

• 1

  Contact the New York State Department of Health for birth records occurring outside of the five boroughs from 1881 to present. Orders can be placed through the Internet, mail or telephone.

• 2

  Fill out the online form for a certified copy, send the request by mail or place a telephone order.

• 3

  Pay the $30 fee and applicable shipping and handling for issuance of a certified copy of the birth record.

• 4

  Wait five to seven days for Internet or telephone orders and two to three weeks for orders sent by mail.