Rhode Island
Rhode Island Birth Certificate: How to Order, Fees and Who Can Get One
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 Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) Center for Vital Records issues Rhode Island birth certificates, and city and town halls issue them too. A certified copy from the State Office costs $22 in person or $25 by mail, with each extra copy ordered the same day $18. You can order online through VitalChek, by mail or drop box, or in person; 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 how to order a certified copy of a Rhode Island birth certificate, what it costs, who may get one, and how to correct or amend a Rhode Island birth record. It applies to births that occurred in Rhode Island.
Where to get a Rhode Island birth certificate
RIDOH's Center for Vital Records is in Simpson Hall on the Pastore Campus, 6 Harrington Rd., Cranston, RI 02920. It is open weekdays from 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM, and RIDOH suggests making an appointment. The Health Information Line is 401-222-2811.
City and town halls also issue birth certificates:
- Births in 1960 to the present: any city or town hall in Rhode Island.
- Births before 1960: the city or town hall where the person lived at the time of the birth, or where the birth occurred.
If you need the certificate for use abroad, order from the State Office. RIDOH says vital records issued by a city or town cannot be apostilled. Federal guidance says state-issued vital records need an apostille from that state's secretary of state (USA.gov).
Order a certified copy from RIDOH, a city or town hall, or the vendor RIDOH names, not from an unofficial website. Start from RIDOH's own Vital Records page rather than a search result.
How to order
Online through VitalChek
RIDOH directs online orders for birth certificates to VitalChek. RIDOH's pages do not list VitalChek's added fees or turnaround, so check the total before you pay.
By mail or drop box
Send a completed application, a clear copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order payable to the General Treasurer, State of Rhode Island, to:
Center for Vital Records, Simpson Hall, 6 Harrington Rd., Cranston, RI 02920
You can also leave the same materials in the drop box at that location. Do not send cash.
In person
You can go to the State Office (an appointment is suggested) or, for a birth in 1960 or later, any city or town hall. RIDOH says the State Office accepts cash, checks, money orders, debit and credit cards, and mobile pay.
How much a Rhode Island birth certificate costs
These are the fees RIDOH posts for the State Office:
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| First certified copy, in person (includes a search of one name for two consecutive years) | $22 |
| First certified copy, by mail or drop box | $25 |
| Each extra copy bought the same day | $18 |
| Each additional year searched | $2 |
| Rush order | $7 extra |
Rhode Island law sets a base fee of $20 for a certified copy and $15 for each duplicate issued at the same time (R.I. Gen. Laws 23-1-54), and adds a records-system surcharge of up to $5 for a mail request, $2 for a walk-in request and $3 for each duplicate (R.I. Gen. Laws 23-3-25). We did not check what individual city and town halls charge, so call the town hall before you go.
How long it takes
RIDOH publishes these estimates for the State Office:
| Route | RIDOH estimate |
|---|---|
| 4 to 6 weeks | |
| Rush mail request ($7 extra) | 5 to 7 business days |
RIDOH does not publish a wait time for in-person service or for VitalChek orders. These are agency estimates, not guarantees, and mailing time comes on top.
Who can get a certified copy
RIDOH says birth records are confidential and may be issued only to:
- The registrant (the person named on the record), at 18 or older
- The registrant's issue (a child, grandchild and so on)
- A spouse or legally registered partner
- A parent listed on the record, a sibling, or a legal guardian (with guardianship papers)
- Attorneys, title examiners and members of legally incorporated genealogical societies
- Funeral directors
- A person with a court order
- A person who needs the record to determine or protect a personal or property right
The governing statute is R.I. Gen. Laws 23-3-23. If no second parent is listed on the birth record, RIDOH says only the registrant (18 or older) or the listed parent or legal guardian has access. RIDOH's main page and its ordering page word this restriction slightly differently, so call the office if it affects you.
ID requirements
You must show a valid government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license, passport, military ID, certificate of naturalization, or alien registration card. If you do not have one, RIDOH accepts two other documents showing your name and current address, such as a utility bill, bank statement, car registration, or a copy of an income tax return. Mail requests need a clear copy of the ID.
Which certificate to order
RIDOH's pages do not describe separate long-form and short-form certificates or say which version agencies accept. Call the Center for Vital Records if an agency asks for a particular format.
For a first U.S. passport, federal rules call for 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, bears the issuing office's seal, and shows a filing date within one year of birth (22 CFR 51.42). For REAL ID, federal rules accept a certified copy of a birth certificate filed with the vital statistics office in your state of birth (6 CFR 37.11).
Correcting or amending a Rhode Island birth record
R.I. Gen. Laws 23-3-21 governs amendments. An amended certificate is marked "amended" with the date and a summary of the evidence. Births that occurred 100 or more years ago cannot be amended.
RIDOH says changes may be requested by the registrant; a mother, father, child, sibling, guardian or authorized agent; attorneys, title examiners or genealogical society members on official duties; a person protecting a personal or property right; or a person with a court order. You need a valid government-issued photo ID (driver's license, passport, military ID, certificate of naturalization or alien registration card), with a readable copy if you apply by mail, and RIDOH says amendments take 3 to 4 weeks.
RIDOH's requirements document sets out what each type of change needs:
| Type of change | What RIDOH asks for | Fee to change the record |
|---|---|---|
| Clerical error by the birthing facility, child younger than 1 (for example a misspelled parent's name or address) | RIDOH requests the birth worksheet from the birthing facility | No fee |
| Minor correction, child younger than 1, that the facility's worksheet cannot verify | For a parent's misspelled name or wrong date of birth, a certified copy of that parent's own birth certificate | No fee |
| Minor correction, child older than 1 (for example a misspelled child's name) | At least one document showing the child's full name, date of birth and parents' names, created before the child turned 7 (such as a baptismal certificate, school entrance record or pediatrician's record) | $10 |
| Minor variation, child older than 1 (a parent's name, place of birth or date of birth) | A certified copy of the parent's birth certificate | $10 |
A copy of the changed record costs $22 in person or $25 by mail on top of these fees. If the State Registrar approves a correction, the office prepares an Affidavit of Amendment. If the State Registrar finds the evidence unsatisfactory, the record cannot be changed without an order from a court of competent jurisdiction.
RIDOH also says that once an item has been amended, it cannot be changed again unless the State Registrar receives a court order. State law separately provides that no fee is charged for authorized corrections on records filed within one year of the birth (R.I. Gen. Laws 23-3-25).
Adding a parent
Under R.I. Gen. Laws 23-3-21, a sworn acknowledgment of paternity signed by both parents amends the birth certificate, and the certificate is not marked amended. Changing the child's surname to the father's needs court approval. RIDOH's parentage page says a change in parentage needs a certified court order of parentage, a voluntary acknowledgment of parentage, or legitimation. Parents who are not child support clients can make an appointment to complete a voluntary affidavit. RIDOH lists a $15 processing fee for a parentage change, plus $22 in person or $25 by mail for a copy of the birth certificate.
Legal name change
To put a court-ordered name change on a Rhode Island birth certificate, RIDOH asks for a certified court order for the name change and a government-issued photo ID. For Rhode Island residents, RIDOH lists an order from the probate court in the city or town where you live, and a Family Court order for children younger than 18. The fee is $10 plus the cost of a copy. The court process itself is covered in our guide to Rhode Island name change laws.
Sex designation
RIDOH's requirements document says that as of October 1, 2019, Rhode Island allows people to change the sex field on a birth certificate to reflect their sex or gender identity. A person can change the field from M to F or F to M, and a person born in Rhode Island who identifies as non-binary, or as neither male nor female, can change it to X.
People of any age can make the change, but minors need a parent's or guardian's consent. The person must come to the Office of Vital Records to self-attest so staff can prepare an affidavit, which the person signs; for someone younger than 18, a parent, legal guardian or legal representative signs. Bring a government-issued photo ID. The fee is $10 to change the record, plus $22 in person or $25 by mail for a copy. This reflects the RIDOH document as we read it on October 8, 2026.
If a birth was never registered
A birth registered one year or more after it occurred is marked "delayed." RIDOH asks parents of a home birth to return the home birth worksheet within one year. After that, the parent must provide additional evidence about the birth and pay an additional filing fee, and the certificate is marked delayed.
RIDOH warns that government authorities question the validity of delayed birth certificates, and that this could affect the child for life. Federal passport rules, for example, ask for secondary evidence when a birth certificate was filed more than a year after birth (22 CFR 51.42).
If the State Registrar refuses a delayed certificate, the applicant may petition the Superior Court for an order establishing the date, place and parentage of the birth (R.I. Gen. Laws 23-3-13). We did not review the regulation that lists the documents needed for a delayed registration, so call the Center for Vital Records before you gather evidence.
Adoption and original birth records
After an adoption, the State Registrar establishes a new birth certificate, and the original certificate and adoption evidence are sealed. RIDOH says an adoptee who is 18 or older and was born in Rhode Island can get a non-certified copy of the original pre-adoption birth record. RIDOH's application for the non-certified pre-adoption record lists $22 walk-in or $25 by mail, and $18 for each additional copy bought the same day.
Who else can see an original birth record is covered in our guide to Rhode Island adoption records.
Older records and genealogy
RIDOH sends requests for birth records more than 100 years old to the State Archives. State law opens the records of persons born 100 years before the date of inspection to members of genealogical societies, with the director's permission (R.I. Gen. Laws 23-3-23). Whether birth certificates are public in other states is covered in are birth certificates public records.
This article is general legal information about Rhode Island birth certificates, not legal advice. Fees and procedures change; confirm with the Rhode Island Department of Health Center for Vital Records before ordering. Information last verified on October 8, 2026.
Related
- Birth certificates by state
- Are birth certificates public records?
- Rhode Island adoption records
- Rhode Island name change laws
Last updated: October 8, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a birth certificate in Rhode Island?
The RIDOH Center for Vital Records charges $22 for a first certified copy in person and $25 by mail or drop box, and $18 for each extra copy bought the same day. A rush order adds $7. City and town halls also issue copies; call ahead for their fee.
How long does it take to get a birth certificate in Rhode Island?
RIDOH says mail requests to the State Office take 4 to 6 weeks, and rush requests ($7 extra) are processed in 5 to 7 business days. It does not publish a wait time for in-person or VitalChek orders.
Can I get my Rhode Island birth certificate at a town hall?
Yes. RIDOH says any city or town hall can issue a certificate for a birth from 1960 to the present. For a birth before 1960, go to the city or town hall where the person lived at the time or where the birth occurred. Town-issued copies cannot be apostilled.
Who can order a Rhode Island birth certificate?
RIDOH says certified copies go to the registrant at 18 or older, their children and grandchildren, a spouse or registered partner, a listed parent, a sibling, a legal guardian, and certain attorneys, title examiners, genealogical society members, funeral directors and people with a court order or a property right to protect.
How do I correct a birth certificate in Rhode Island?
Submit the evidence RIDOH lists for the type of error with a photo ID. Corrections for a child younger than 1 are free; most other changes cost $10, plus $22 in person or $25 by mail for a copy. RIDOH says amendments take 3 to 4 weeks.
How do I change the sex on a Rhode Island birth certificate?
Since October 1, 2019, RIDOH has allowed the sex field to be changed to M, F or X. The person comes to the Office of Vital Records to self-attest and signs an affidavit (a parent or guardian signs for a minor). The fee is $10 plus $22 in person or $25 by mail for a copy.
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.
Rhode Island General Laws, Title 23: Health and Safety, Chapter 23-3: Vital Records
§ 23-3-23Disclosure of recordsIn forcecited in 5 of our articles
(a) To protect the integrity of vital records, to ensure their proper use, and to ensure the efficient and proper administration of the vital records system, it shall be unlawful for any person to permit inspection of, or to disclose information contained in, vital records, or to copy, or issue a copy, of all, or part of, any vital record, except as authorized by regulation or as provided for herein. (b) The director of health may authorize, under appropriate safeguards, the disclosure of data contained in vital records for research purposes. (c) Information in vital records indicating that a birth occurred out of wedlock shall not be disclosed, except as provided by regulation, upon order of a court of competent jurisdiction, or until the record becomes a public record as defined by regulations. (d) Appeals from decisions of the custodians of permanent local records refusing to disclose information, or to permit inspection of or copying of records, of persons born one hundred (100) years before the date of inspection, under the authority of this section and regulation issued under this section, shall be made to the state registrar of vital records.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-09-04 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at webserver.rilegislature.gov
Cited in 1 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 1986
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- deLeiris Ex Rel. deLeiris v. Scott (District Court, D. Rhode Island 1986, 642 F. Supp. 1552)“…f the Registrar, the subject of disclosure is controlled by R.I.Gen.Laws § 23-3-23, which declares in part that: (a…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Rhode Island Marriage & Divorce Records: How to Get a Copy (2026), How to Find a Cause of Death in Rhode Island (2026), Rhode Island Death Records: Are They Public + How to Get One
§ 23-3-25Fees for copies and searchesIn forcecited in 3 of our articles
(a) The state registrar shall charge fees for searches and copies as follows: (1) For a search of two (2) consecutive calendar years under one name and for issuance of a certified copy of a certificate of birth, fetal death, death, or marriage, or a certification of birth, or a certification that the record cannot be found, and each duplicate copy of a certificate or certification issued at the same time, the fee is as set forth in § 23-1-54. (2) For each additional calendar year search, if applied for at the same time or within three (3) months of the original request and if proof of payment for the basic search is submitted, the fee is as set forth in § 23-1-54. (3) For providing expedited service, the additional handling fee is as set forth in § 23-1-54. (4) For processing of adoptions, legitimations, or paternity determinations as specified in §§ 23-3-14 and 23-3-15, there shall be a fee as set forth in § 23-1-54.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-30 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at webserver.rilegislature.gov
§ 23-3-21Correction and amendment of vital recordsIn force
(a) A certificate or record registered under this chapter may be amended only in accordance with this chapter and regulations adopted under this chapter by the director of health to protect the integrity and accuracy of vital statistics records. (b) A certificate that is amended under this section shall be marked “amended” except as provided in subsection (d) of this section. 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 director of health 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 considered as amended. (c) Upon receipt of a certified copy of a court order changing the name of a person born in this state and upon request of that person or his or her parent, guardian, or legal representative, the state registrar of vital records shall amend the certificate of birth to reflect the new name.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-30 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at webserver.rilegislature.gov
§ 23-3-13Judicial procedure to establish facts of birthIn force
(a) If any certificate of birth is rejected by the state registrar of vital records, including a delayed certificate of birth under the provisions of § 23-3-12, the applicant may, in the absence of an order from the family court, acknowledging or establishing paternity, or change in parentage through adoption, petition the superior court for an order establishing a record of the date and place of the birth and the parentage of the person whose birth is to be registered. The superior court shall have sole jurisdiction over proceedings relating to certificates of birth rejected by the state registrar of vital records. (b) The petition shall allege: (1) That the person for whom a certificate of birth is sought was born in this state; (2) That no record of birth of the person can be found in the office of the state or local custodian of birth records; (3) That the state registrar of vital records has refused to register a delayed certificate of birth; and (4) Other allegations as may be required. (c) The petition shall be accompanied by all documentary evidence which was submitted to the registration official in support of the registration.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-30 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at webserver.rilegislature.gov
§ 23-3-12Delayed registration of birthsIn force
(a) When the birth of a person born in this state or adopted by residents of this state has not been registered, a certificate may be filed in accordance with regulations of the state department of health. This certificate shall be registered subject to evidentiary requirements that the state department of health shall by regulation prescribe to substantiate the alleged facts of birth. (b) Certificates of birth registered one year or more after the date of occurrence shall be marked “delayed” and show on their face the date of the delayed registration. (c) A summary statement of the evidence submitted in support of the delayed registration shall be endorsed on the certificate. (d)(1) When an applicant does not submit the minimum documentation required in the regulations for delayed registration or when the state registrar of vital records finds reason to question the validity or adequacy of the certificate or the documentary evidence, the state registrar of vital records shall not register the delayed certificate and shall advise the applicant of the reasons for this action.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-30 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at webserver.rilegislature.gov
Rhode Island General Laws, Title 23: Health and Safety, Chapter 23-1: Department of Health
§ 23-1-54Fees payable to the department of healthIn forcecited in 2 of our articles
Fees payable to the department shall be as follows:
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-30 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at webserver.rilegislature.gov
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Sources and References
- Rhode Island Department of Health: Vital Records(health.ri.gov).gov
- USA.gov: How to authenticate an official U.S. document(www.usa.gov).gov
- RIDOH: Requesting a Vital Record from the State(health.ri.gov).gov
- R.I. Gen. Laws 23-3-25 (fees for copies and searches)(webserver.rilegislature.gov).gov
- R.I. Gen. Laws 23-1-54 (fees)(webserver.rilegislature.gov).gov
- R.I. Gen. Laws 23-3-23 (disclosure of records)(webserver.rilegislature.gov).gov
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations: 22 CFR 51.42(www.ecfr.gov).gov
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations: 6 CFR 37.11(www.ecfr.gov).gov
- R.I. Gen. Laws 23-3-21 (amendment of records)(webserver.rilegislature.gov).gov
- RIDOH: Changes to Birth, Death or Marriage Records(health.ri.gov).gov
- RIDOH: Requirements and Fees for Changes to Birth, Marriage, or Death Records (PDF)(health.ri.gov).gov
- RIDOH: Home Births, Parentage, and Adoptions(health.ri.gov).gov
- RIDOH: Requirements and Fees for Home Births, Parentage, and Adoptions(health.ri.gov).gov
- R.I. Gen. Laws 23-3-12 (delayed registration)(webserver.rilegislature.gov).gov
- R.I. Gen. Laws 23-3-13 (judicial procedure to establish facts of birth)(webserver.rilegislature.gov).gov
- RIDOH: Application for a Non-Certified Pre-Adoption Birth Record(health.ri.gov).gov