Iowa
Iowa Birth Certificate: How to Order, Fees and Same-Day Options
Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited October 8, 2026). · 16 primary sources cited on this page. How we verify our legal content
The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Bureau of Health Statistics, issues Iowa birth certificates, and each certified copy costs $20.00. You can order in person at the state office in Des Moines, from a county recorder for births from 1986 on, by notarized mail application, or online and by phone through VitalChek.
The fastest route is the state office counter: HHS says in-person requests received by 2:00 p.m. on a weekday are processed in 2 hours. For other states, see our guide to birth certificates by state.
Information last verified on October 8, 2026. This article has not been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.
This page covers ordering, fees, eligibility and amendments for Iowa birth records held by the Iowa HHS Bureau of Health Statistics and by Iowa county recorders. It is general information about Iowa vital records law (Iowa Code chapter 144), not legal advice.
Where to order an Iowa birth certificate
Iowa has four routes: the state office counter in Des Moines, your county recorder, mail to the state office, and VitalChek online or by phone. Which is best depends on where you live, how fast you need the certificate, and how old the record is.
In person at the state office (2-hour service)
HHS accepts in-person requests at the state vital records office from 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except state holidays. Requests received by 2:00 p.m. are processed in 2 hours.
You complete and sign the application in front of vital records staff and show a valid, current government-issued photo ID. In-person requests can be paid by check, money order or credit card; HHS does not accept cash. The office is at:
- Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Health Statistics
- Lucas State Office Building, 1st Floor, 321 E. 12th Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0075
- Phone: 515-281-4944
At a county recorder
County recorders act as local registrars. HHS says they can issue certified copies of all births that occurred from 1986 to the present, and certified copies of earlier births may be ordered from the county where the birth occurred.
Some records are not held by counties at all. HHS lists these, which you must order from the state:
- Single-parent births before July 1, 1995
- Adoptions
- Birth records after a legal change of name under Iowa Code chapter 674
- Delayed records filed one year or more after the birth
- Any record a court ordered sealed
- Records from 1921 to 1941
HHS notes that some county recorders accept only cash or money orders in person and only money orders by mail, so check with the recorder first. County applications must be in writing and state the purpose for the certificate.
Online or by phone through VitalChek
HHS says VitalChek is the only third-party vendor it authorizes to accept orders for Iowa vital records. You can start an online order from the HHS how to request a certified record page, either to be shipped to you or for Will Call pickup in Des Moines, which requires an Iowa address.
By phone, call VitalChek toll-free at (866) 809-0290, 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. CST, Monday through Friday, except holidays. VitalChek's own fee is added to the $20.00 state fee: it starts at $14.00 per order online and $9.00 per order by phone, and shipping fees apply.
By mail
Send a completed Application for a Certified Copy of an Iowa Vital Record, available from the same HHS page. HHS requires every mail application to be notarized and to include a clear photocopy of your current government-issued photo ID.
Pay by check or money order made out to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, and mail it to the Bureau of Health Statistics at the Lucas State Office Building address above.
Watch out: HHS names VitalChek as the only authorized third-party vendor. A website that is not HHS, a county recorder or VitalChek is not an authorized Iowa ordering channel, and only the state registrar or a county registrar issues a certified Iowa birth certificate.
How much is a birth certificate in Iowa?
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Certified copy (state or county), each | $20.00 |
| VitalChek online order fee | starts at $14.00 per order |
| VitalChek phone order fee | starts at $9.00 per order |
| Amendment (state administrative processing fee) | $15 |
| Delayed registration (state administrative processing fee) | $15 |
Each copy costs $20.00, including additional copies; HHS does not list a reduced price for extra copies. The $20.00 pays for the record search. If no record is found, you receive a record search letter (a no-record letter) instead, and the fee is not refunded.
The $15 state administrative processing fee has applied since July 1, 2019. HHS says it covers amendments, delayed registrations and legal changes of name, among other services.
How long does an Iowa birth certificate take?
HHS publishes these average processing times:
| How you order | Processing time |
|---|---|
| In person at the state office | After 2 hours (requests received by 2:00 p.m.) |
| VitalChek, UPS overnight | 2 to 5 business days |
| VitalChek, UPS 2-day | 5 to 10 business days |
| VitalChek, regular mail | 4 to 6 weeks |
| Mail to the state office | 4 to 6 weeks |
| Genealogy requests | 4 to 6 weeks (mailed) |
HHS warns that processing times are approximate and not guaranteed service times. Because REAL ID applications have increased demand, it encourages people to plan ahead and order early.
Who can get a certified copy in Iowa?
Iowa birth records held by the state are closed to inspection. Iowa Code 144.43 limits access to state vital records to the state registrar and staff for administrative purposes, with copies allowed only as authorized by rule.
HHS says applicants must prove entitlement. Entitled persons include:
- The person named on the record
- That person's spouse, children, legal parents, grandparents, grandchildren or siblings
- That person's legal representative or guardian
Legal guardians, legal representatives and siblings must also provide additional proof of entitlement. HHS describes the standard as a direct and tangible interest in the record, at both the county and state level.
Every applicant needs a valid, current government-issued photo ID (a legible photocopy if you apply by mail).
Public access to older and county-held records
Iowa Code 144.43(3) treats some birth records differently. A birth record in the custody of a county registrar may be inspected and copied as of right under Iowa's public records law (chapter 22). A birth record in the custody of the state archivist is open if it is at least 75 years old or on proof of entitlement.
That public-inspection right is separate from getting a certified copy, which still requires entitlement. For how Iowa compares with other states, see are birth certificates public records.
Iowa wallet-size birth certificates (1993 to 2009)
From March 1993 to October 2009, Iowa issued some newborn birth certificates as small wallet-size cards that do not contain the full record information. HHS will exchange one for a full-size certificate at no charge.
HHS also says the Iowa Department of Transportation accepts the wallet cards for driver's license issuance.
Using an Iowa birth certificate for a passport, REAL ID or apostille
HHS's ordering pages do not describe separate long-form and short-form certificates, so ask the bureau if an agency has asked you for a specific format.
For a first U.S. passport, federal rules (22 CFR 51.42) require a birth certificate showing your full name, place and date of birth, and your parents' full names, signed by the official custodian, bearing the issuing office's seal, and showing a filing date within one year of birth.
For REAL ID, 6 CFR 37.11 lists a certified copy of a birth certificate filed with the vital records office of your birth state as an acceptable identity document. If a foreign authority asks for an apostille, USAGov says a state-issued vital record needs an apostille from that state's secretary of state.
Correcting or amending an Iowa birth certificate
Under Iowa Code 144.38, a birth certificate can be amended only as chapter 144 and the department's rules allow. An amended certificate is marked "amended," with the date and a summary of the supporting evidence. The department sets rules for additions and minor corrections made within one year after birth, which can be made without the "amended" mark.
HHS does not publish its correction procedure or evidence list on the pages we reviewed. Call the Bureau of Health Statistics at 515-281-4944 before you send documents. The state administrative processing fee for an amendment is $15.
Legal name change
Under Iowa Code 144.39, when the state registrar receives a certified copy of a court order (or a clerk's certificate under chapter 674) changing the name of a person born in Iowa, the registrar amends the birth certificate to show the new name. The court process is covered in our guide to Iowa name change laws.
Adding a father
Under Iowa Code 144.40, the state registrar establishes a new certificate showing paternity on receipt of a paternity affidavit, or a court or administrative order establishing paternity, when paternity is not already shown. That new certificate is not marked "amended."
Sex designation
Iowa Code 144.13(5), as amended in 2025 (2025 Acts, chapter 1), requires a birth certificate to designate the person's sex as defined in Iowa Code 4.1A, which defines sex as "the state of being either male or female as observed or clinically verified at birth." Iowa Code 144.23 likewise requires a new certificate of birth to show the designation of sex at birth.
We did not find an HHS page describing a procedure to change the sex marker as of October 8, 2026. Contact the Bureau of Health Statistics for its current practice.
Registering a birth that was never recorded
Iowa Code 144.15 lets a certificate be filed for an Iowa birth that was never registered, subject to evidence requirements set by regulation. A certificate registered one year or more after the birth is marked "delayed" and shows the date of delayed registration. A delayed certificate cannot be registered for a deceased person.
If the state registrar rejects the evidence, it must explain why and tell the applicant about the right to appeal to the district court. The state processing fee is $15, and county recorders do not hold delayed records filed a year or more after birth.
For passports, 22 CFR 51.42 asks for a certificate filed within one year of birth. An applicant whose certificate does not meet that standard must submit secondary evidence, such as hospital, baptismal, medical or school records.
Adoption and the birth certificate
After an Iowa adoption, the state registrar establishes a new birth certificate that substitutes for the original, and the original is sealed except as the law allows. Whether and how an adult adoptee can get a copy of the original is covered in our guide to Iowa adoption records.
Older records and genealogy
Statewide registration of Iowa births began July 1, 1880, and HHS has no records of events before that date. Genealogy requests can be made in person or by mail, but HHS mails all genealogy results and does not do them same-day; it lists a 4 to 6 week processing time.
Birth records held by the state archivist are open to inspection once they are at least 75 years old, under Iowa Code 144.43(3). For the related death records, see our guide to Iowa death records.
This article provides general legal information about Iowa birth certificates, not legal advice. Fees and procedures change, so confirm with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Health Statistics, or your county recorder before you order. Information verified October 8, 2026. For advice about your situation, consult a lawyer licensed in Iowa.
Related
- Birth certificates by state
- Are birth certificates public records?
- Iowa adoption records
- Iowa name change laws
- Iowa death records
Last updated: October 8, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a birth certificate in Iowa?
Each certified copy costs $20.00 at the state office or a county recorder, including additional copies. VitalChek adds its own fee, starting at $14.00 per online order and $9.00 per phone order.
Can I get an Iowa birth certificate the same day?
Yes, at the state office in Des Moines. HHS says in-person requests received by 2:00 p.m. Monday through Friday are processed in 2 hours; county recorders can also issue certified copies of births from 1986 on.
How long does an Iowa birth certificate take by mail?
HHS lists 4 to 6 weeks for mail requests to the state office. VitalChek orders shipped UPS overnight take 2 to 5 business days, and HHS says all times are approximate.
Does an Iowa birth certificate application need to be notarized?
Yes, for mail applications. HHS requires every mail application to be notarized and to include a photocopy of a current government-issued photo ID; in person, you sign in front of staff.
Who can request an Iowa birth certificate?
An entitled person: the person named, or that person's spouse, children, legal parents, grandparents, grandchildren, siblings, legal representative or guardian. Siblings, guardians and legal representatives must show extra proof of entitlement.
How do I change a name on an Iowa birth certificate?
Send the state registrar a certified copy of the court order changing the name; under Iowa Code 144.39 the registrar then amends the birth certificate. HHS lists a $15 state administrative processing fee for legal changes of name.
Can I replace my Iowa wallet-size birth certificate?
Yes. HHS exchanges the small wallet cards issued from March 1993 to October 2009 for a full-size certificate at no charge.
Updates
Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources
The Law Behind This Article
This article rests on the statutory provisions below, held in our own legal record and retrieved from the official source. Tap a section to read the operative text.
Iowa Code, Chapter 144: VITAL STATISTICS
§ 144.43Vital records closed to inspection — exceptions.In forcecited in 6 of our articles
1. To protect the integrity of vital statistics records, to ensure their proper use, and to ensure the efficient and proper administration of the vital statistics system kept by the state registrar, access to vital statistics records kept by the state registrar shall be limited to the state registrar and the state registrar’s employees, and then only for administrative purposes. 2. It shall be unlawful for the state registrar to permit inspection of, or to disclose information contained in vital statistics records, or to copy or permit to be copied all or part of any such record except as authorized by rule. 3. a. The following vital statistics records in the custody of a county registrar may be inspected and copied as of right under chapter 22: (1) A record of birth. (2) A record of marriage. (3) A record of divorce, dissolution of marriage, or annulment of marriage. (4) A record of death if that death was not a fetal death. b.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-09-04 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.iowa.gov
Also relied on in: How to Find a Cause of Death in Iowa (2026 Guide), Iowa Marriage and Divorce Records: Who Can Get a Copy and How, Vital Records Explained: Are birth certificates public records?
§ 144.38Amendment of official record.In force
To protect the integrity and accuracy of vital statistics records, a certificate or record registered under this chapter may be amended only in accordance with this chapter and regulations adopted hereunder. A certificate that is amended under this section shall be marked “amended” except as provided in section 144.40. The date of amendment and a summary description of the evidence submitted in support of the amendment shall be endorsed on or made a part of the record. The department shall prescribe by regulation the conditions under which additions or minor corrections shall be made to birth certificates within one year after the date of birth without the certificate being marked “amended”.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.iowa.gov
§ 144.39Change of name.In force
Upon receipt of a certified copy of a court order from a court of competent jurisdiction or certificate of the clerk of court pursuant to chapter 674 changing the name of a person born in this state, the state registrar shall amend the certificate of birth to reflect the new name. A fee established by the department by rule based on average administrative cost shall be collected to amend the certificate of birth to reflect a new name. Fees collected under this section shall be deposited in the general fund of the state.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.iowa.gov
§ 144.40Paternity of children — birth certificates.In force
Upon request and receipt of an affidavit of paternity completed and filed pursuant to section 252A.3A, or a certified copy or notification by the clerk of court of a court or administrative order establishing paternity, the state registrar shall establish a new certificate of birth to show paternity if paternity is not shown on the birth certificate. Upon written request of the parents on the affidavit of paternity, the surname of the child may be changed on the certificate to that of the father. The certificate shall not be marked “amended”. The original certificate and supporting documentation shall be maintained in a sealed file; however, a photocopy of the paternity affidavit filed pursuant to section 252A.3A and clearly labeled as a copy may be provided to a parent named on the affidavit of paternity.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.iowa.gov
§ 144.15Delayed registrations of birth.In force
1. When the birth of a person born in this state has not been registered, a certificate may be filed in accordance with regulations. The certificate shall be registered subject to evidentiary requirements prescribed to substantiate the alleged facts of birth. Certificates of birth registered one year or more after the date of occurrence shall be marked “delayed” and shall show on their face the date of the delayed registration. A summary statement of the evidence submitted in support of the delayed registration shall be endorsed on the certificate. A delayed certificate of birth shall not be registered for a deceased person. 2. When an applicant does not submit the substantiating evidence required for delayed registration or when the state registrar finds reason to question the validity or adequacy of the evidence, the state registrar shall not register the delayed certificate and shall advise the applicant of the reasons for this action.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.iowa.gov
§ 144.23State registrar to establish new certificate of birth.In force
1. The state registrar shall establish a new certificate of birth for a person born in this state, when the state registrar receives the following: a. An adoption report as provided in section 144.19, or a certified copy of the decree of adoption together with the information necessary to identify the original certificate of birth and to establish a new certificate of birth. b. A request that a new certificate be established and evidence proving that the person for whom the new certificate is requested has been legitimated, or that a court of competent jurisdiction has determined the paternity of the person. 2. Pursuant to section 4.1A, a new certificate of birth established under subsection 1 shall include a designation of sex of the person at birth.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.iowa.gov
§ 144.24Substituting new for original birth certificates — inspection.In force
1. If a new certificate of birth is established, the actual place and date of birth shall be shown on the certificate and shall include a designation of the person’s sex pursuant to section 144.23. The certificate shall be substituted for the original certificate of birth. 2. Following substitution of the original certificate of birth with a new certificate of birth, the original certificate and the evidence of adoption, paternity, or legitimation shall not be subject to inspection except under order of a court of competent jurisdiction, including but not limited to an order issued pursuant to section 261I.2 or 600.16A, as provided in section 144.23A or 144.24A, or as provided by administrative rule for statistical or administrative purposes only. 3. Notwithstanding subsection 2, the state registrar shall, upon the application of an adult adopted person, a biological parent, an adoptive parent, or the legal representative of the adult adopted person, the biological parent, or the adoptive parent, inspect the original certificate and the evidence of adoption and reveal to the applicant the date of the adoption and the name and address of the court which issued the adoption decree.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.iowa.gov
§ 144.13Birth certificates.In force
1. Certificates of births shall be filed as follows: a. A certificate of birth for each live birth which occurs in this state shall be filed as directed by the state registrar within seven days after the birth and shall be registered by the county registrar if it has been completed and filed in accordance with this chapter. b. When a birth occurs in an institution or en route to an institution, the person in charge of the institution or the person’s designated representative, shall obtain the personal data, prepare the certificate, and file the certificate as directed by the state registrar. The physician in attendance or the person in charge of the institution or the person’s designee shall certify to the facts of birth either by signature or as otherwise authorized by rule and provide the medical information required by the certificate within seven days after the birth. c. When a birth occurs outside an institution and not en route to an institution, the certificate shall be prepared and filed by one of the following in the indicated order of priority: (1) The physician in attendance at or immediately after the birth.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.iowa.gov
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Sources and References
- Iowa HHS, How to Request a Certified Record (fees, routes, processing times, county records, wallet cards)(hhs.iowa.gov).gov
- Iowa HHS, Marriage, Birth, or Death Certificates (vital records: entitlement, ID, fees, county limitations)(hhs.iowa.gov).gov
- Iowa Code 144.43, Vital records closed to inspection, exceptions(legis.iowa.gov).gov
- 22 CFR 51.42, Persons born in the United States applying for a passport for the first time(ecfr.gov).gov
- 6 CFR 37.11, Application and documents the applicant must provide (REAL ID)(ecfr.gov).gov
- USAGov, Authenticate an official document for use outside the U.S.(usa.gov).gov
- Iowa Code 144.38, Amendment of official record(legis.iowa.gov).gov
- Iowa Code 144.39, Change of name(legis.iowa.gov).gov
- Iowa Code 144.40, Paternity of children, birth certificates(legis.iowa.gov).gov
- Iowa Code 144.13, Certificate of birth(legis.iowa.gov).gov
- Iowa Code 4.1A, Statutory construction, sex and related terms(legis.iowa.gov).gov
- Iowa Code 144.23, New certificate of birth(legis.iowa.gov).gov
- Iowa Code 144.24, Substituting new for original birth certificates; inspection(legis.iowa.gov).gov
- Iowa Code 144.15, Delayed registrations of birth(legis.iowa.gov).gov
- Iowa HHS, Open Adoption Records and Original Birth Certificates(hhs.iowa.gov).gov
- Iowa HHS, Genealogy Search Guidelines and Requirements(hhs.iowa.gov).gov