Request a Birth Certificate

Birth certificates can be obtained from the Office of the City Clerk in person or by mail. You may also obtain them online through our partnership with VitalChek.

Types of Birth Certificates

Long Form

Available for births within Bexar County. Accepted for all purposes including immigration and passports.

State Abstract

Available for births in Texas after 1925. Not acceptable for genealogy, immigration, or some passports.

Born Outside of Bexar County

For information on how to get the long form, contact your county of birth or the Texas Department of State Health & Human Services (DSHS) Vital Statistics Unit at 1-888-963-7111.

NOTE: If you order records through DSHS or another city or county, we will not have access to your order information and cannot provide status updates.

Requirements

All original documents proving qualified applicant status must be presented when receiving services, copies or photos of required documents are not accepted. 

Proof of Identity

Each applicant must present a valid form of identification along with their application.

Accepted Forms of Identification

Additional Requirements

Birth certificates are confidential records with restricted access until 75 years after the file date.

Restricted access birth certificates can only be issued to qualified applicants.  Proof of relationship or legal interest must be presented for requests by the following:

Parent

Parent’s name must be listed on birth certificate.

Grandparent
  • Must prove relationship to the grandchild with a certified birth certificate of the mother/father of the child.
  • Related parent must be listed on requested birth certificate.
Spouse

Certified marriage license

Child

Certified birth certificate with parent in question listed

Sibling

Certified birth certificate demonstrating at least one parent in common with sibling

Legal Guardian

Certified court order showing legal custody ("conservatorship")

Attorney
  • Bar Card
  • Certified copy of a court issued document explicitly demonstrating need for the record

Fees  

Item Fee Details
Birth Certificate (Bexar County only) $23 Fee per certificate for person born in Bexar County.
Birth Certificate Search Fee $23 Fee charged to search for a birth certificate that is either not found or not purchased.
Standard Certified Mail with Return Receipt $14.50 Fee for USPS mail with tracking.

 

In Person

Paso 1.Processing Requirements

  • Applicants must provide a valid ID.
  • Payment for fees must be made payable to the City of San Antonio in the exact amount. Accepted forms of payment include:
    • Check
    • Money Order

Paso 2.Visit Our Office

Free parking is available in the front and rear of building and the facility is ADA accessible.

Address:
Office of the City Clerk
Vital Records Division
719 S. Santa Rosa
San Antonio, TX 78204
Directions

Hours: Monday - Friday: 8:30 a.m - 3 p.m.
Closed on City holidays.

NOTE: We may close registration earlier if demand and customer wait time is beyond the capacity to provide services for the day.

By Mail

Paso 1.Processing Requirements

  • The application must be notarized.
  • Applicants must provide a copy of their valid ID.
  • Payment for fees must be made payable to the City of San Antonio in the exact amount. Accepted forms of payment include:
    • Check
    • Money Order

NOTE: Incomplete applications and applications submitted with an incorrect payment amount will not be processed.

Paso 2.Complete the Application

Download and complete the application. The cost for a birth certificate by mail will include shipping.

Solicitud para el certificado de nacimiento por correo(PDF, 323KB)

Paso 3.Mail Your Application

Mail your notarized application, copy of your ID, and payment to:

Office of the City Clerk
Vital Records Division
719 S. Santa Rosa
San Antonio, TX 78204

Online

Paso 1.Request Online

Vital Records Division has partnered with VitalChek, an independent company, to accept online orders for birth and death records. VitalChek can be reached online or by phone at 1-800-255-2414.

Fees

In addition to certificate and shipping fees, VitalChek charges a processing fee of $10. All major credit cards are accepted.

Paso 2.Verify Your Identity

After you have submitted your online request, VitalChek will send you an order confirmation at your email address.

The State of Texas requires that you provide documentation to verify your identity. You can provide the required documents by:

  • Submitting online through Manage My Order
  • Faxing your documentation to VitalChek

Once your documents have been submitted, it will take 24-48 hours for approval. You will be contacted by email when your documents have been received. This is a very important step in the online ordering process.

NOTE: You must verify your identity within seven days after receiving your VitalChek confirmation email. If you do not:

  • Your order request will automatically be canceled.
  • VitalChek's processing fee will still be charged to your credit card.

Contact

Phone

210-207-7253

Address

719 S. Santa Rosa
San Antonio, TX 78204
Directions

Related Links

Texas Department of State Health Services

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