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

The New Jersey Department of Health's Office of Vital Statistics and Registry in Trenton issues certified copies of New Jersey birth certificates, and so does the local registrar in the municipality where the birth happened. The state office charges $25 for the search and one certified copy, plus $2 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time.

You can order online or by phone through VitalChek, the state's ordering partner, walk in at the Trenton office for same-day service, order by mail, or go to the local registrar. 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, corrections and delayed registration for New Jersey birth certificates, based on the New Jersey Department of Health's vital records pages. We were not able to open the text of New Jersey's vital records statutes, so this page does not quote them; it relies on the department's published rules and procedures.

How to order a New Jersey birth certificate

The department's vital records home page lists three ways to order from the state: VitalChek's online service, VitalChek by phone at 877-622-7549, and the walk-in center at 140 E. Front Street, Trenton. You can also order from the local registrar where the birth occurred.

Walk-in in Trenton (same day). The department's non-genealogical records page says walk-in orders for non-genealogical records are typically processed within 2 hours. Walk-in service is for non-genealogical records only. Cash is no longer accepted at 140 E. Front Street as of June 18, 2026.

Online through VitalChek. The department's online requests page routes online orders to VitalChek, 24 hours a day. You need a credit card in your name, your driver's or non-driver's license, and scanned copies of all supporting documents. Online orders are shipped and cannot be picked up at the walk-in center. For questions about an online order, the page lists 866-628-9244.

By phone through VitalChek. Call 1-877-622-7549. You still have to send copies of your supporting documents, by fax to 1-888-489-9506, and additional fees apply.

By mail. The non-genealogical records page says regular mail orders are processed through VitalChek or the local vital records office. The department cannot accept credit card payment by mail, and asks you not to send cash. Its pages name two check payees: VitalChek's mail fee schedule says to make checks or money orders payable to VitalChek, while applications mailed to the State are payable to Treasurer, State of New Jersey, so check the application form you are using. Applications made to a municipal office are payable to the municipality.

At the local registrar. The department's FAQ page says to contact the local registrar's office in the municipality where the birth occurred. Processing times and fees vary by municipality.

Order only through the state office, its partner VitalChek or a local registrar. Other websites that offer to get a birth certificate for you are not the issuing office.

What every application needs

Whichever route you use, the department says your application is returned unless it includes copies of acceptable ID, the correct fee and, for a certified copy, copies of documents proving your relationship to the person named. To identify a birth record you must give the full name on the record, the city where the birth occurred, the exact date of birth, the mother's maiden name and the father's name if it is on the record.

Jersey City births

The department's Jersey City page says the Jersey City Office of the City Clerk, Division of Vital Records, is authorized to issue birth certificates for anyone born in Jersey City after 1925. The department says these certificates are accepted by the N.J. Motor Vehicle Commission for REAL ID and by the U.S. Department of State for passports. In-person requests are by appointment only (201-547-5150), and mail requests are also accepted.

How much does a New Jersey birth certificate cost?

These figures come from the department's Fees at a Glance page.

The $25 search fee covers a No Record Statement if no record is found. The department's FAQ says the fee is not waived for military personnel. People who are homeless can have a social worker or shelter coordinator request one copy of their birth certificate with the fee waived, on agency letterhead with proof of employment and valid ID, and the copy is mailed to the agency.

How long does it take?

The department publishes these estimates, which do not include delivery time or time spent fixing an incomplete application:

• Walk-in at Trenton: typically within 2 hours (non-genealogical records).
• Online through VitalChek: the non-genealogical records page says 4-6 weeks; the online requests page says standard processing is 6-8 weeks, with expedited processing available for an extra fee.
• Mail through VitalChek: typically 2-4 weeks for non-genealogical records.
• Genealogical records by mail: typically 10-12 weeks.
• Local registrar: varies by municipality.

The FAQ says the quickest way is same-day service in person at the local registrar where the birth occurred or at the Trenton office.

Who can get a certified copy of a New Jersey birth certificate?

The department's home page states that New Jersey law protects and restricts the release of vital records, and that vital records are not public records and cannot be searched online. To get a certified copy, you must prove you are one of the following:

• The subject of the record
• The subject's parent, legal guardian or legal representative
• The subject's spouse or civil union partner, child, grandchild or sibling, if of legal age
• A state or federal agency for official purposes
• Someone acting under a court order

The department says failure to provide proof of relationship is the number one reason certified copy applications are rejected. Its examples: a parent ordering a child's certificate needs no extra documents, a spouse needs a copy of the marriage or civil union certificate, and a person ordering a parent's or sibling's record needs at least a copy of their own birth certificate. If you took a spouse's surname, include your marriage or civil union certificate to link the name on your ID to the name on your birth certificate.

The FAQ adds a few specific rules:

• Stepparents can get a certified copy of a stepchild's birth certificate only with the biological parent's authorization, unless they have adopted the child or been granted custody.
• Ex-spouses can get the record only on behalf of a minor child of the marriage, with documentary proof.
• Attorneys can get records only on behalf of a client, with proof of representation, and only the type of copy the client could get.
• Someone picking up a record for an eligible applicant who filed a complete application needs a notarized letter from the applicant and acceptable ID.

Anyone not eligible for a certified copy can still request a certification, which the department describes as an uncertified informational copy that is not valid for establishing identity or for legal purposes. Proof of identity is still required.

For how New Jersey compares with other states, see are birth certificates public records.

ID requirements

For a non-genealogical record you need one of the following, all showing your current address (the genealogical records page requires a current address on only one of two alternate IDs):

• A current, valid photo driver's license or photo non-driver's license
• A current, valid driver's license without a photo plus one alternate ID
• Two alternate IDs

Alternate IDs include a vehicle registration or insurance card, voter registration, a U.S. or foreign passport, an immigrant visa, a green card, a federal, state, county or school ID, a bank statement or utility bill from the previous 90 days, and a W-2 for the current or previous tax year. Send copies, never originals.

The department mails records to the address on your ID. To have a record mailed elsewhere, include a notarized letter authorizing the different address.

Certified copy or certification: which one you need

A certified copy carries the raised seal of the issuing office. The FAQ says that for the Motor Vehicle Commission, a passport or proof of age or citizenship, your copy must be issued by the local vital records office where the birth occurred or by the Office of Vital Statistics and Registry, and must have a raised seal. Some agencies require a copy issued within the last two years. Complimentary copies from a hospital are not valid, and vital records are never faxed.

For a first U.S. passport, federal rules generally require a birth certificate that shows your full name, place and date of birth and your parents' full names, is signed by the official custodian of birth records, carries the issuing office's seal, and shows a filing date within one year of birth (22 CFR 51.42). The federal REAL ID rule lists a certified copy of a birth certificate filed with the vital statistics office of your state of birth as an acceptable identity document (6 CFR 37.11).

Using the certificate abroad (apostille)

The FAQ says local copies are valid for all purposes except one: a country that belongs to the Hague Treaty needs an Apostille Seal, and that seal can only be applied to certified copies issued by the Office of Vital Statistics and Registry. Order from the state office and indicate on your application that the copy is needed for an Apostille Seal. The FAQ then has you send that certified copy to the Department of the Treasury for the seal (one FAQ answer names the Secretary of State instead). The Treasury's apostille page says its Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services issues apostilles for documents authenticated by the State Registrar of Vital Statistics.

Correcting or amending a New Jersey birth certificate

The department's corrections page says corrections can be filed with the Office of Vital Statistics and Registry on form REG-15 (Application to Amend a Vital Record) or with the local registrar in the municipality where the birth occurred. Every correction must be supported by verifiable documentation, and the requirements vary by type. The office will not replace copies issued before the amendment, so order new ones.

For questions, call the Record Modification Unit at 1-866-649-8726, option 4.

Legal name change

To put a court-ordered name change on a birth certificate, mail the Record Modification Unit:

• A letter identifying the record (the name now on it, the exact date and place of birth, the mother's full maiden name and the father's full name if listed)
• A copy of the original judgment of name change
• $2 to process the change, plus $25 for the first certified copy and $2 for each additional copy, by check or money order payable to Treasurer, State of New Jersey

The address is New Jersey Office of Vital Statistics and Registration, Attn: Record Modification Unit, PO Box 370, Trenton, NJ 08625-0370. Our guide to New Jersey name change laws covers the court process.

First or middle name without a court order

Before a child's 7th birthday, a parent or legal custodian can request the change. On or after the 7th birthday, a parent, legal custodian or the person named (once 18) can request it, but the request must include documentary proof created before the 7th birthday, such as a baptism certificate, elementary school entrance records, immunization or medical records, or census records. The department says submitting proof does not guarantee approval and may direct you to petition a court instead.

Surname spelling and adding a father

Surname spelling fixes, switching the order of a hyphenated or dual surname, removing one part of it, or adding a parent's surname already on the certificate use an amendment form with verifiable documentation.

When the parents are not married to each other, the department's corrections page lists different paths depending on the situation, using an amendment form with a Certificate of Parentage and, in some cases, an Affidavit of Denial of Paternity, a court order or divorce papers. If the child already carries the father's surname but the father is not on the record, the form to add him is the REG-34 with a Certificate of Parentage. Because the circumstances vary, the department suggests calling the Record Modification Unit after reviewing the corrections page.

Changing the sex designation

The department's sex designation page says that as of February 1, 2019, the sex designation on New Jersey birth certificates can be amended to reflect the named person's gender identity. The 2018 law, known as the Babs Siperstein Law, removed the earlier requirement to submit documentation of gender reassignment surgery, and lets individuals (or parents or guardians of minors) document gender identity by self-attestation.

• Adults: Form REG-L2, Request Form and Attestation
• Minors: Form REG-L3, Parent/Guardian Request Form and Attestation

We read the department's page on October 8, 2026.

Delayed registration: a birth never recorded

The FAQ describes the process. First, apply for the birth certificate so the office can confirm no record is on file. If none is found, you receive a No Record statement; return it with a letter asking to place a delayed report of birth on file. You then complete a questionnaire for a more detailed search and provide documentary proof that the birth took place, and the department reviews it and makes a determination.

The department's pages that we read do not publish a fee or a list of required documents for a delayed report, so call the Record Modification Unit at 1-866-649-8726, option 4, before you start. For a passport, a certificate filed more than a year after birth does not meet the federal standard for primary evidence on its own (22 CFR 51.42).

Adoption

When an adoption is finalized, the FAQ says an amended certificate called the Official Birth Certificate is issued, listing the adoptive parents, and it becomes the legal record of birth. The original birth certificate and the evidence of adoption are placed in a sealed file. Access to the original depends on state law, and our guide to New Jersey adoption records covers those rules.

Older records and genealogy

New Jersey splits birth records by age:

• Non-genealogical: births within the last 80 years.
• Genealogical: records of people who have died, where the birth occurred more than 80 years ago, back to 1925. The department says a request cannot be treated as genealogical if the person named is still living.

The department's genealogical records page says these orders are by mail only and typically take 10-12 weeks. The fee is $25 for the first copy and $2 for each additional copy, and additional years can be searched for $1 each. A certified copy still requires proof of relationship; otherwise you receive a certification.

The Office of Vital Statistics and Registry keeps birth records starting at 1925. For births through 1924, the home page directs you to the New Jersey State Archives, and the genealogical page lists the Archives at (609) 292-6260.

This article is general legal information about New Jersey birth certificates, not legal advice. Fees and procedures change, so confirm current requirements with the New Jersey Department of Health's Office of Vital Statistics and Registry or your local registrar before you order. Information last verified on October 8, 2026.

Related

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

Last updated: October 8, 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is a birth certificate in New Jersey?

The state Office of Vital Statistics and Registry charges $25 for the search and one certified copy and $2 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time. VitalChek adds a processing fee ($6 by mail, $12.95 by phone), and local registrars set their own fees.

Can I get a New Jersey birth certificate the same day?

Yes, in person. The walk-in center at 140 E. Front Street in Trenton typically processes non-genealogical birth records within 2 hours, and local registrars also offer same-day service. Cash is not accepted at the Trenton walk-in center as of June 18, 2026.

How long does a New Jersey birth certificate take online?

The department's pages differ: one says online orders are processed within 4-6 weeks and another says standard processing is 6-8 weeks, not counting delivery. Expedited processing is available through VitalChek for an extra fee.

Who can get a certified copy of a New Jersey birth certificate?

The person named; a parent, legal guardian or legal representative; an adult spouse or civil union partner, child, grandchild or sibling; a government agency for official purposes; or someone with a court order. You must send proof of the relationship, and anyone else can get only an informational certification.

How do I correct a birth certificate in New Jersey?

File form REG-15 (Application to Amend a Vital Record) with the Office of Vital Statistics and Registry or with the local registrar where the birth occurred, with verifiable documentation. A court-ordered legal name change costs $2 to record plus $25 for the first new certified copy.

Can I get an apostille on a local New Jersey birth certificate?

No. The department says the Apostille Seal can only be applied to certified copies issued by the state Office of Vital Statistics and Registry, so order from the state office and note on the application that you need it for an apostille.

Where are New Jersey birth records from before 1925?

The Office of Vital Statistics and Registry holds birth records starting at 1925. Births through 1924 are held by the New Jersey State Archives.