How do I get a copy of a birth certificate?

Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), Vital Statistics Unit (state level - Austin) / County & Local Health Departments (for some local access)

Step by Step

How to do it

Determine eligibility: Texas birth records are restricted (not fully public). Eligible: the registrant (if adult), parents, legal guardian, legal representative, and others with demonstrated legal interest. Birth records fewer than 75 years old require eligibility documentation.
Choose your method:
ONLINE (fastest - state): Texas.gov vital records ordering at texas.gov or dshs.texas.gov/vital-statistics; credit card required; standard processing 10-15 business days for most Texas.gov orders; Texas DSHS describes this as "the fastest, easiest way"
EXPEDITED (by overnight mail only): Complete Expedited Application for Birth and Death Record (Form VS142.21); send via overnight mail service or USPS Express Mail with check or money order to: Texas Vital Records, P.O. Box 12040, Austin, TX 78711-2040; most expedited orders processed within 10-15 business days + shipping; expedite fee $25 (increased from $5; covers processing not delivery time guarantee)
BY MAIL (standard): Complete birth certificate application from dshs.texas.gov/vital-statistics; include photo ID copy; personal check or money order payable to "DSHS"; mail to same address; standard mail: longer processing time
IN PERSON (Austin only): DSHS Vital Statistics, 1100 W 49th Street, Austin, TX 78756; in-person hours limited - check dshs.texas.gov for current hours; in-person limited to issuance of certified copies and verifications (not all services); credit card requires $2.25 processing fee
LOCAL/COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENTS: Some counties (large urban) have local vital records offices that may issue birth certificates for events in their jurisdiction; availability varies significantly
Submit with valid photo ID copy and proof of qualifying relationship
Pay the fee
TYPES OF TX BIRTH CERTIFICATES:
- LONG FORM (certified copy): Copy of original birth record; required for U.S. passport; driver's license in most states; most comprehensive; $22
- SHORT FORM (abstract): Shows current information; sufficient for many purposes; does not show correction history; $22
- HEIRLOOM: Decorative certificate; for display; $50
- BIRTH VERIFICATION LETTER: Available for births since 1903; not a legal substitute for certified copy; $22
- ELECTION IDENTIFICATION CERTIFICATE (EIC) version: Birth certificate fee WAIVED when used specifically to obtain a Texas EIC from DPS

Details

What you need to know

Required Docs

Completed birth certificate application
Clear copy of valid government-issued photo ID
Proof of qualifying relationship if requesting for another person
Payment: personal check or money order for mail; credit card for online/in-person ($2.25 processing fee in-person)

Fee

Certified birth certificate (long form or short form): $22; each additional copy of same record in same order: $22; heirloom: $50; birth verification letter: $22; expedite fee: $25 additional (in addition to $22)

Processing Time

Texas.gov online: 10-15 business days; expedited mail: 10-15 business days + shipping; standard mail: longer; in-person: same order pickup not guaranteed

Online Option

Yes - texas.gov or dshs.texas.gov/vital-statistics; fastest method

Where to Go

Texas.gov online ordering (fastest); DSHS by mail or in-person (Austin); some county health departments

County-specific variations apply

Some Texas counties (particularly Houston/Harris County, Dallas County, Bexar County/San Antonio, Tarrant County/Fort Worth, Travis County/Austin) have local health department or hospital-based vital records services for very recent births. For records more than a few months old, the state DSHS is typically the primary source. Verify with your specific county.

Texas Notes

Important state-specific details

State has birth records since 1903.
$22 per copy - fee is nonrefundable whether or not record found.
FREE birth certificate for EIC (Election Identification Certificate) purposes; marked "For Election Identification Purposes Only."
LONG FORM required for passport applications.
Records 75+ years old may be available to general public.

Official Source

State office contact

State Office

DSHS Vital Statistics - dshs.texas.gov/vital-statistics | (512) 776-7111 | P.O. Box 12040, Austin, TX 78711-2040 (in-person: 1100 W 49th Street, Austin, TX 78756)