How do I get a copy of a birth certificate?

Washington State Department of Health (DOH), Center for Health Statistics - Vital Records (state level - Olympia area) / Local Health Jurisdictions (county/city level - walk-in service in many areas)

Step by Step

How to do it

Determine eligibility: Washington vital records law requires qualified applicants for birth certificates (effective ~2021). Eligible: the registrant (if adult), parents, legal guardian, legal representative, spouse, children, grandchildren, siblings, and others with documented legal interest. Non-certified INFORMATIONAL COPIES available to anyone (cannot be used for legal purposes).
Choose your method:
IN PERSON - Local Health Jurisdiction (most convenient walk-in): Many Washington county and city health departments issue certified birth certificates for Washington births; call ahead for hours and appointment requirements; bring valid ID; $25 per copy; same-day or next-day service often available (Whatcom County: next business day; Walla Walla County: next business day; King County VitalChek kiosks: $28.50, issued while you wait)
ONLINE - VitalChek (ONLY authorized third-party vendor): Order at vitalchek.com or through doh.wa.gov/vital-records; $25 state fee + $7 processing fee + shipping; most orders processed and shipped within 3-7 business days; credit card required; VitalChek is the ONLY authorized third-party vendor - avoid all others
BY PHONE - VitalChek (phone orders): (866) 687-1464 or (360) 236-4300; same fees as online
BY MAIL - Washington State DOH, Vital Records: Complete application form from doh.wa.gov/vital-records; include valid ID copy; check or money order payable to "DOH"; mail to: Center for Health Statistics, PO Box 47814, Olympia, WA 98504-7814; $25 per copy; mail processing: 8-10 weeks (much slower)
IN PERSON - Washington State DOH Vital Records (Olympia area): In-person orders available; call (360) 236-4300 for current hours and procedures
Submit with valid photo ID and proof of qualifying relationship
Pay the fee

Details

What you need to know

Required Docs

Completed application form
Valid government-issued photo ID (or two alternative identification documents if no photo ID)
Proof of qualifying relationship if requesting for another person (see DOH-422-178 for acceptable documents)
Payment

Fee

$25 per certified copy or noncertified informational copy; no additional same-day copies discount; VitalChek online/phone adds $7 processing fee; phone order adds $7; mail: $25 base

Processing Time

Local health jurisdiction in-person: same day or next business day; VitalChek/online: 3-7 business days; mail: 8-10 weeks

Online Option

VitalChek only (vitalchek.com); authorized by WA DOH; only authorized third-party vendor

Where to Go

Local county or city health department (fastest, walk-in); VitalChek online; WA DOH by mail or in-person (Olympia area)

County-specific variations apply

Washington's local health jurisdictions (county or multi-county health departments) each independently issue vital records for events in their area. King County Public Health (Seattle - kingcounty.gov/health): VitalChek kiosks; $28.50; issued while you wait. Whatcom County, Walla Walla County, and many others have local vital records offices.

Washington Notes

Important state-specific details

$25 fee; same for certified and noncertified informational copies.
NONCERTIFIED INFORMATIONAL COPIES: Available to anyone; contain same information but watermarked "Cannot be used for legal purposes"; useful for genealogy but not for passport/ID purposes.
VitalChek is the ONLY authorized third-party online vendor; other companies charge high fees with no official relationship to WA DOH.
NEW VITAL RECORDS LAW: Washington updated its vital records law; now limits certified copies to qualified applicants; historical records transferred to State Archives after 100 years (births/fetal deaths), 25 years (deaths, marriages, divorces).
State has birth records from approximately 1907.
FREE BIRTH CERTIFICATE for: persons experiencing homelessness (through DOH only); children receiving food benefits enrolling in school; VA claimants.

Official Source

State office contact

State Office

WA DOH, Center for Health Statistics, Vital Records - doh.wa.gov/vital-records | (360) 236-4300 | PO Box 47814, Olympia, WA 98504-7814; VitalChek (authorized): vitalchek.com or 1-866-687-1464; Local health jurisdictions (varies by county)