Colorado Birth Certificate: How to Order, Fees and Who Can Get One

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), through its Office of the State Registrar of Vital Statistics, issues certified copies of Colorado birth certificates. The first copy costs $25.00 and each additional copy ordered at the same time costs $20.00, under the fee schedule effective January 1, 2026.

You can order online through one of the two vendors CDPHE links (GoCertificates or VitalChek), by mail, in person at the state office by appointment, or at a local vital records office. For other states, see our guide to birth certificates by state.

Information last verified on October 7, 2026. This article has not been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.

This page covers ordering, eligibility, fees, corrections and delayed registration for Colorado birth certificates held by CDPHE's Office of the State Registrar of Vital Statistics. It is general information, not legal advice.

How to order a Colorado birth certificate

CDPHE offers four routes: online, by mail, in person at the state office, and through local vital records offices. Start from the CDPHE Order certificate now page, which links the online vendors and the mail application.

Online

The CDPHE ordering page links two online vendors: GoCertificates (birth and death requests only) and VitalChek. Both links take you to another website, and CDPHE says a surcharge applies for credit and debit card payments.

Other websites that offer to order a Colorado birth certificate for you are not the issuing office. Use the links on the CDPHE page so you reach a vendor the state itself points to.

By mail

For a standard or heirloom birth certificate by mail, CDPHE requires:

• A completed application
• A copy of your identification and proof of eligibility
• The application fees, which are non-refundable

Mail the packet to the address listed on the application. CDPHE's mail application (revised October 2024) is processed by VitalChek: it adds a non-refundable $8.00 VitalChek processing and handling fee, checks or money orders are made payable to VitalChek, and the form directs mail to Vital Record Mail Services, ATTN: Colorado Vital Records, in El Paso, Texas. Download the current application from the CDPHE ordering page.

In person

CDPHE's state office is open to the public by appointment only. You must schedule in advance, and CDPHE says no walk-in service is available.

You can also get a birth certificate from your nearest local vital records office. CDPHE links a directory of local offices from its ordering page. The CDPHE pages reviewed for this article do not say whether any office offers same-day service, so call the local office before you go.

How much a Colorado birth certificate costs

CDPHE publishes its fees in a fee schedule effective January 1, 2026. The schedule lists the birth certificate fees for all purchase locations.

Application fees are non-refundable. The fee schedule lists the credit card convenience fee as variable and says it does not apply in person. It also says to check with each office about which credit cards it accepts.

How long it takes

CDPHE says its normal processing time for online orders is thirty business days from the date received. That is the agency's estimate, not a guarantee.

CDPHE also posts the date of the oldest orders it is working on. When this page was checked on October 7, 2026, CDPHE said it was processing orders received on or before September 10, 2026 (online) and September 15, 2026 (mail). Those dates change, so check the CDPHE ordering page for the current figures.

CDPHE's mail application directs people who want expedited order placement and processing to VitalChek, and it lists paid UPS delivery options (UPS Air is $21.00 on the October 2024 form). CDPHE does not publish an expedited processing time on the pages reviewed, so ask the vendor or office before you rely on a faster date.

Who can get a certified copy

CDPHE says vital records are confidential under Colorado statute (C.R.S. 25-2-117), are not public records and are not searchable online. Records are released only to people who are eligible. For how other states treat these records, see are birth certificates public records.

CDPHE's identification and eligibility form lists these people as eligible for a certified birth certificate (the form notes that this is not the complete list):

• The registrant (the person named on the certificate)
• A spouse
• Parents or step-parents
• Adult children
• A legal guardian
• Siblings
• A legal representative of any of the above

Under the Board of Health rule (5 CCR 1006-1, Section 2(D)), others may show a direct and tangible interest when the information is needed to determine or protect a personal or property right, or for genealogical purposes.

If your name is not on the birth certificate, you must prove your relationship or a direct and tangible interest. CDPHE gives examples of proof such as birth or marriage certificates, certified court orders and insurance policies.

ID you need

CDPHE's identification requirements (form dated October 2024) ask for one of two things:

• At least one primary ID, with no expired documents accepted, or
• At least two secondary IDs, none expired by more than six months

CDPHE does not accept a Matricula Consular, an IRS ITIN card or letter, souvenir or hospital birth certificates, novelty IDs, or out-of-state temporary licenses. If you have no acceptable ID, an eligible relative who has ID may make the request, with proof of relationship. Mail applicants send a copy of their ID and proof of eligibility.

Standard and heirloom certificates

CDPHE issues both a standard and an heirloom birth certificate. The CDPHE pages reviewed for this article do not say which version federal agencies accept for a passport, so ask CDPHE before you order if you need one for that purpose.

For reference, federal rules at 22 C.F.R. § 51.42(a) require a passport applicant's birth certificate to show full name, place and date of birth, and the parents' full names. It must be signed by the official custodian of birth records, carry the issuing office's seal, and show a filing date within one year of birth.

Correcting or changing a Colorado birth certificate

To request a correction or change, CDPHE asks for:

• A completed birth certificate correction form
• A copy of your identification
• Documentary evidence of the change or correction
• The non-refundable processing fee ($25.00 under the January 1, 2026 fee schedule)

CDPHE says correction requests take 30 business days from the date received. In-person correction appointments open on the 1st of each month until they are filled.

Changing a first name

For a child younger than 1 year, CDPHE accepts a completed and signed correction form to change the given name. For a person older than 1 year, you first need a certified copy of a legal name change order from your county court, then you submit the correction form. For the court process, see Colorado name change laws.

Adding or changing a father or second parent

If the parents are unmarried and no father or second parent is listed, CDPHE uses the Voluntary Acknowledgement of Parentage form, and notes that a court-determined parentage may be required in some cases. If the registrant is an adult, CDPHE also requires a Data Worksheet signed by the registrant consenting to the addition.

To add, remove or change a father or second parent in other cases, CDPHE requires certified court documents showing a paternity or parentage determination. A divorce decree is not acceptable evidence of parentage, and the correction form cannot be used to add or remove a parent.

Sex or gender designation

As of October 7, 2026, CDPHE's page says a sex or gender designation change needs the correction form, a copy of your ID, the fee, and either a completed Sex/Gender Designation form or a certified court order indicating the sex or gender has been changed via surgical procedure. If your name changed, include a certified copy of the name change order.

The Board of Health rule is 5 CCR 1006-1. Under it, the State Registrar will change the designation on a request made under Section 5.5(C)(2) only once in a person's lifetime; any further change requires a court order under Section 5.5(C)(1).

Registering a birth that was never recorded

Registering a birth for someone older than 1 year is a delayed registration. CDPHE's process has two steps:

1. Request a search by submitting a complete birth certificate application with ID and fees. If no record is found, CDPHE sends a Notification of No Record letter, delayed registration instructions and the Application to Register a Delayed Birth Certificate.
2. Submit that application with a copy of the No Record notice, a copy of your valid ID, the fees and the support documents the application lists.

You must apply within one year of the date on the Notification of No Record letter. If CDPHE approves the request, it registers the birth and issues one certified copy. The fee is $50.00, and it includes that copy.

Adoption

After a court-ordered adoption, CDPHE prepares a new birth certificate about four weeks after it receives the Report of Adoption. Since January 1, 2016, adult adoptees and other eligible parties may apply for the original birth certificate under C.R.S. 19-5-305. For who can apply and how, see Colorado adoption records.

Older records and genealogy

CDPHE treats vital records as confidential and releases them only to eligible people. The CDPHE pages reviewed for this article do not describe any rule that opens birth records to the public after a set number of years, so ask CDPHE about older records before you assume one is available.

For family history research, CDPHE says to submit an application for a certified copy, and the Board of Health rule allows a direct and tangible interest to be shown for genealogical purposes.

Using a Colorado birth certificate abroad

A foreign government may ask for an apostille. According to USA.gov, vital records issued by a U.S. state need an apostille from that state's secretary of state.

This article provides general legal information about Colorado birth certificates, not legal advice. Fees and procedures change, so confirm with the CDPHE Office of the State Registrar of Vital Statistics before you order. Information verified October 7, 2026. For advice about your situation, consult a lawyer licensed in Colorado.

Related

• Birth certificates by state
• Are birth certificates public records?
• Colorado adoption records
• Colorado name change laws

Last updated: October 7, 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is a birth certificate in Colorado?

Under CDPHE's fee schedule effective January 1, 2026, the first certified copy costs $25.00 and each additional copy ordered at the same time costs $20.00. Mail applications add a non-refundable $8.00 VitalChek processing and handling fee, and online vendors add a card surcharge.

Can I get my Colorado birth certificate the same day?

CDPHE does not publish a same-day option on the pages reviewed. Its state office is open by appointment only, and local vital records offices also issue copies, so call ahead.

How long does a Colorado birth certificate take to arrive?

CDPHE says normal processing for online orders is thirty business days from the date received. It posts current processing dates on its ordering page.

Who can order a Colorado birth certificate?

CDPHE lists the registrant, a spouse, parents or step-parents, adult children, a legal guardian, siblings, and a legal representative of any of them, and notes that the list is not complete. If your name is not on the certificate, proof of relationship or a direct and tangible interest is required.

Are Colorado birth certificates public records?

No. CDPHE says vital records are confidential under C.R.S. 25-2-117 and can only be released to eligible people.

How do I correct a birth certificate in Colorado?

Send CDPHE the correction form, a copy of your ID, documentary evidence and the $25.00 filing fee. CDPHE says corrections take 30 business days from receipt.

How do I add a father to a Colorado birth certificate?

For unmarried parents with no second parent listed, CDPHE uses the Voluntary Acknowledgement of Parentage form. Other additions, removals or changes need a court parentage determination.