You can order vital records online or by mail. The cost of each certified copy is $15.

Online

You can make a payment with your credit or debit card, or by e-check. There is a nonrefundable service fee of $3.50 when using a credit or debit card.

Order a copy of a historical vital record.

By Mail

Payments are made by check or money order and are payable to NYC Department of Records and Information Services.

Requests must include a stamped, self-addressed return envelope. 

Applications should be mailed to:

31 Chambers Street, Room 103 
New York, NY 10007

You can request an application be mailed to you.

Status updates are not available at this time. There are delays in processing copies of vital records.

The current processing time is:

• 1-2 weeks for non-certified PDF copies
• 8-10 weeks for certified copies

If you ordered multiple certificates, they may have different processing times and will be mailed separately.

You will receive a notice in the mail if the Municipal Archives was not able to find the record you requested. 

Approximately 25 percent of all births prior to 1910 were not reported to New York City. 

Church records or the federal and state censuses are alternative resources. The federal census is available from the National Archives.

Find Federal Census data on the National Archives' website.

You can send an email to the Department of Records and Information Services if you have questions about:

• Vital record ordering process
• Refunds
• Credit card processing errors

Email the Department of Records and Information Services.