Birth certificate how long does it take

There is currently a delay on printing of all commemorative certificates. The expected date of issue of commemorative certificates is 8 weeks after submission of a completed application.

If you have not received your new certificate after 8 weeks (plus postage time), please contact us. We apologise for any inconvenience.

Your certificate is an important document. We aim to get it to you as quickly as possible.

Processing times

When you apply for a certificate or registration, we email you details of documents you need to provide. Our processing times start when we receive all required documents.

If you didn’t receive an email after applying, contact us.

Common cause of delays

The most common cause of delays is not providing certified proof of identity documents.

We can only accept copies of identity documents that have been certified by authorised people (External link).

This helps ensure we keep the personal information of Victorians accurate and secure. We only release it to those with a genuine right to receive it.

Turnaround times for certificates and registrationsType of applicationProcessing timeCertificate21 days (3 weeks)Birth registration and certificate for newborns56 days (8 weeks)Death registration and certificate in the last 3 months 7 days (1 week)Marriage registration and certificate for newlyweds28 days (4 weeks)Relationship registration and certificate*35 days (5 weeks)Change of name registration and certificate77 days (11 weeks)Correction to a certificate77 days (11 weeks)Commemorative birth certificate56 days (8 weeks)

Allow extra time for:

• Public holidays
• Postage:
  • 6 working days for registered or standard post
  • 2 working day for most express post

If you order legal and commemorative certificates together, we post them separately.

*The law requires a 28-day cooling off period when registering a domestic relationship. We can’t issue a certificate until 28 calendar days have passed and we have registered the relationship.

The processing of vital records applications varies from state to state and may even differ between counties of the same state. Each state’s turnaround time depends on the number of applications received at the time of your request. In the majority of states, most birth certificate orders are filled within two to eight weeks after the reception of a citizen’s application.

If you need your birth certificate issued within a short timeframe, your best option would be to order a certified copy online, since filling out the form takes under 10 minutes. Our vital records services offer the safest, easiest, and quickest way to obtain a certified copy of your birth certificate.

In addition, certain states offer the possibility to expedite birth certificates your order by offering a rush service option. This additional service may include either one of the following or both faster processing time and expedited mailing.

If your state offers this option and you wish to request it or already submitted your form without doing so while finalizing your request, you may contact us and we will amend it for you.

The birth certificate is an essential document that allows us to prove our identity. A birth certificate is often needed when we need to obtain a passport, a drivers’ license, register a child in school, and much more. However if you need one urgently you might be wondering: how long does it take to get a birth certificate?

There are a few options available, but bear in mind that you will need to get a certified copy of the birth certificate. Informational birth certificates are not accepted for official purposes. Below we explain the different ways that you can get a birth certificate and how long it will take you to get it.

Picking up your birth certificate in person might be one of the quickest ways available. However, this depends on a few factors. You would need to go to the vital records office where the birth was registered. If you don’t live in the state where you were born, then probably going in person will consume more of your time and will be more costly as well.

Going in person to the vital records office will work to your advantage if you live in the state or county where the birth certificate was issued. Though, bear in mind that to order and pick up your birth certificate you might need to wait in line and the speed at which you get the birth certificate will depend on how busy your vital records office is. The positive aspect of this option is that you may get the birth certificate on the same day.

The simplest way to get an official birth certificate is to order a copy online. You will need a few essential details to request your birth certificate or your child’s, including the full name, place and date of birth. The online process of ordering a birth certificate will take you around 10 minutes.

Once you have ordered a birth certificate online, the times it takes for the vital records office to process your request will vary depending on your city, county or state of birth.

Generally speaking, it will take from 4 to 8 weeks between the day you order the certificate and the day you receive it. The certified copy of your birth certificate will be sent by mail. Please check birth certificates processing times for detailed information.

For people who need to get a copy of their birth certificate as soon as possible, there is a rush service available. This is a service offered to expedite a birth certificate. The service carries an additional fee but in many states, the birth certificate will be processed within 5 business days.

Shipping options when ordering online

If you have decided to order the copy of your birth certificate online, you can choose between different shipping options. If you need it with urgency, instead of first class mail, you have the option of selecting express shipping, like UPS Air, for an extra fee. Not only will you get the certificate faster, but express shipping offers more security. You’ll be able to track the status of your certificate until it arrives. However, do note that if you choose express shipping, you will need to sign for it when it is delivered.

In case that you are not in a rush, the certified birth certificate is shipped using first class mail and it can take up to 10 days before you receive your order. You won’t be able to track it in the same way you would with express shipping.

If you are not ordering a birth certificate for yourself, you need to determine whether you are eligible to request it on another person’s behalf. The person who is named on the birth certificate can request a copy at any time. The person listed as a parent on the certificate may also request a copy. A wife, husband or child of the birth certificate holder might be able to request a birth certificate through state court, but they will need to provide an explanation for it as well as documents that prove their identity and relationship.

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