How to get a certified birth certificate in Texas

In Texas, you can order a certified copy of a birth certificate from the state Vital Statistics office online through Texas.gov, by mail or in person, or from the local office where the birth happened. The person on the record and close family can order it. If you were born in Mexico, your acta de nacimiento comes from the Registro Civil, and many can be downloaded online.

Where do I order it?

Online through Texas.gov. The state calls this the fastest, easiest way.
By mail, with standard or expedited service.
In person in Austin. In most cases you get the record the same day.
At a local office in the county, city or district where the birth happened. Some local offices also issue birth records from anywhere in Texas. Local offices set their own hours, fees and steps, so call first.

Sources: Texas DSHS, birth records, Texas DSHS, local vital records offices.

Who can order a certified copy?

The person named on the record, an immediate family member (child, parent, brother or sister, grandparent or spouse, by blood, marriage or adoption), a guardian, or a legal representative. Anyone else must show legal documents proving a direct, tangible interest in the record. Source: Texas DSHS, who may request records.

What ID do I need?

One ID from the state's first list, such as a U.S. driver's license, a state or federal ID card, a military ID, a U.S. passport or a Permanent Resident Card. If you don't have one, two IDs from the second list work, which includes a Mexican voter registration card, a foreign passport with a U.S. visa, or a foreign ID with your photo. Another option is one ID from the second list plus two supporting documents, such as a recent utility or phone bill with your address. Source: Texas DSHS, acceptable ID.

How much does it cost?

At the state office, a certified long-form or short-form birth certificate is $22. Local offices set their own fees. Questions go to Vital Statistics at 888-963-7111, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sources: Texas DSHS, costs and fees, Texas DSHS, birth records.

What if the person was born in Mexico?

The acta de nacimiento comes from the Registro Civil of the Mexican state where the birth was registered. Online, the official portal is gob.mx/actas: you need a Llave MX account and either the CURP or the record's details (full name, date and place of registration). The cost depends on the state. The actas download as digital files and have legal validity for procedures in Mexico and abroad. Mexican consulates also print certified copies in person, without an appointment. Both options depend on the record having been digitized. Source: Consulado de México, copias certificadas de actas registradas en México (in Spanish).

Do U.S. agencies need a translation?

It depends on the agency, so ask before you go. For immigration, USCIS requires any document with foreign language to come with a full English translation, and the translator certifies it's complete and accurate and that they're able to translate it. Social Security asks for original documents or copies certified by the office that issued them. Sources: 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3), translations for USCIS, SSA, what survivors need to apply.

Checklist

[ ] Full name on the record, date of birth and county or city of birth
[ ] Parents' full names, if you know them
[ ] Your ID from the state's list
[ ] Proof of relationship, if the office asks
[ ] Payment for the fee
[ ] For a Mexican acta: CURP or record details, and a Llave MX account
[ ] A certified English translation, if the agency needs one

Keep the certified copies with your family's other papers. See how to organize important documents. Source: Texas DSHS, birth records.

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Frequently asked questions

How much is a birth certificate in Texas?

At the state Vital Statistics office it's $22 for a certified long-form or short-form copy. Local offices set their own fees.

Can I order my mom's or my child's birth certificate?

Yes. Parents, children, brothers and sisters, grandparents and spouses are immediate family and can order a certified copy.

Can I use a Mexican voter card as ID?

It's on the state's second list, so you'd need two IDs from that list, or one plus two supporting documents.

Is this legal advice?

No. It's general information from Texas DSHS, the Mexican consulate and federal rules. Each office decides what it accepts.

Sources

General information, not legal or financial advice. Rules change; check the official sources above or talk to a licensed professional about your situation.