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1. Will I receive the certified copies of my birth certificate the same day I apply?

In most cases, when applying in person at a Maricopa County Vital Registration Office you may be able to receive a certified copy of an Arizona event the same day you make an eligible application.

However, there are some instances when additional time will be needed to process your request. Such instances could include but are not limited to the following examples:

• Requesting corrections to the certificate
• Providing additional factual documentation to meet eligibility requirements
• Need to make payment in the accepted form

2. I ordered my birth certificate, why am I receiving a certified copy?

The original birth record is maintained permanently in the state records archives. Offices of Vital Registration “issue” certified copies of these original certificates. These certified copies are official, meet all legal purposes are printed on special paper that contains a raised and embossed seal and the official registrar’s signature.

3. How do I request a correction to an Arizona birth certificate prior to 1997?

Request to correct or amend birth certificates for births that occurred prior to 1997, submit your request to the Bureau of Vital Records, Attention: Birth Registry, Post Office Box 6018, Phoenix, Arizona 85005, or you may call 602-364-2428 to schedule an appointment.

State Office of Vital Records.

4. Why does our old address still appear on my Arizona birth certificate?

The information provided at the time the birth event was recorded is the information listed on the birth certificate. This information is for statistical purposes only and it is acceptable that the address on the birth certificate is not your current address. In other words, you do not need to “correct or amend” this information.

However, please make certain you provide your current mailing address on your application for certified copies if seeking to have your order mailed to you.

5. How long does it take after a child is born at a hospital for the birth certificate to be available?

For children born in hospitals, certified copies of these birth events may be available as soon as 7 business days from the date of birth. The hospital has 7 business days after the child is born to transmit the birth certificate information to our office, the Maricopa County Office of Vital Registration. Our office ensures that the filing was complete; however, if parents filed paternity paperwork at the hospital, recording the birth certificate may take up to 30 days before certified copies will be available for purchase.

6. How long does it take after a child is born at home or outside of a hospital for the birth certificate to be available?

For children born at home or outside a licensed birthing facility or hospital, parents and/or licensed midwives need to register a home birth event within 7 days of the event to our office, the Maricopa County Office of Vital Registration. Our office will verify the information prior to registering this birth and preparing the certificate for certified copies. Please allow time if the birthing information provided to the Office of Vital Registration was incomplete or needs to be completed and/or verified. Our Deputy Local Registrars are also available by telephone to assist you with further questions, Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at 602-506-6805.

Register a Home Birth

7. Why haven’t I received a certified copy of my child’s birth certificate in the mail?

You must apply for a certified copy of your child’s birth certificate with the Office of Vital Registration; certified copies are not provided by hospitals.

8. Is there a fee for the 1st certified copy of an Arizona birth certificate?

The 1st certified copy of an Arizona Birth Certificate costs $20. All additional copies are $20 each. Any documentation received from a hospital and/or a midwife are not official certified copies of the Arizona birth certificate.

9. Is there a fee associated with obtaining a copy of my child’s birth certificate?

Yes, each certified copy is $20. To make a correction and receive 1 certified copy of the corrected certificate is $30.

10. How do I obtain an Apostille for a birth certificate?

An Apostille is a certificate that authenticates the origin of a public document (e.g., a birth, marriage or death certificate, a judgment, an extract of a register or a notarial attestation). In Arizona, the Arizona Secretary of States Office prepares this document and information is available at Apostille and Document Authentication | Arizona Secretary of State (azsos.gov).

The apostille proves that public document is authentic. The apostille certificate confirms the signature, seal, or stamp on a public document to be genuine so that it will be accepted when presented in another country.

Arizona Secretary of State’s Office website.

11. How can I correct information on an Arizona birth certificate?

The procedure to make changes from changing or adding a name spelling, to correcting errors in the information provided at the time of registration varies with type of change requested and how recently the certificate was filed.

Please review the information on the Birth Certificate Corrections page for further details regarding the most commonly requested correction changes and review or print out the forms you may need to prepare before submitting your requests.

Our Deputy Local Registrars are also available by telephone to assist you with further questions, Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at 602-506-6805. Birth Certificate Corrections

12. How can I add the father’s information onto an Arizona birth certificate?

Once a child is born with only the mother listed on the certificate, a father may be added through the correction process.

If a mother is not married at the time a child is born and has not been married any time during the preceding 10 months, both biological parents must complete and file the Acknowledgement of Paternity (AOP) (PDF) packet. The parents may also establish paternity by court order. For more information about making changes or corrections to an Arizona Birth Certificate, please review the Birth Corrections page for more information.

Our Deputy Local Registrars are also available by telephone to assist you with further questions, Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at 602-506-6805.

13. What do we need certified copies for?

Certified copies of birth certificates are important documents and often are needed when preparing tax filings, school registrations, for benefits enrollment and other legal matters. Original certificates are held in the state archives. Arizona is a “closed” record state which means only certain parties may receive a copy of this important document. Please read the eligibility requirements tab on the Birth Certificates page for more information.

14. Where do I find your offices?

Our offices are located valley wide and accessed easily from major highways. We are open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Please arrive by 4 p.m. if you are needing to discuss a possible correction with one of our Deputy Local Registrars.

15. Need your birth certificate from a different state?

If you need a birth certificate from a different state view the Where to Write for Vital Records page.

16. What is needed to apply for a US Passport?

The U.S. Department of State requires a certified copy of the birth certificate of the person needing a passport AND a photocopy of that certified copy as well. Non-certified copies of birth certificates will not be accepted for passport applications. For more information, please review the 2019 U.S. Passport requirements.