How to Get a Texas Birth Certificate

Start with the official Texas resource

Texas DSHS controls the application, identification, and record-type rules. Its official pages explain current request channels, document requirements, and the forms the agency accepts. Those details can change without notice on the agency page, which this guide doesn't control.

Confirm the record type and identification requirements before you apply. A certificate that is valid for one purpose may not be accepted for another.

• Open the official Texas birth-records page

Choose the right Texas birth record

A long form birth certificate is the most comprehensive certified copy. It is a copy of the original birth certificate and shows the history of corrections made to the record. Texas says the long form is required for a U.S. passport, a driver's license in most states, and dual citizenship.

A short form is a certified abstract. It shows current information for the person's name, date of birth, place of birth, sex, and parent names, but not the correction history. Texas lists school and sports registration, employment, and insurance as common uses.

• Long form: use when the receiving organization needs the original-record detail or correction history.
• Short form: a certified abstract for many school, sports, employment, and insurance requests.
• Heirloom certificate: an abstract intended primarily for framing and display.
• Birth verification: a letter with limited details, not a legal substitute for a certified certificate.

Ask the receiving organization which form it accepts before you order. The state does not control that organization's rules.

• Compare Texas birth record types

Who may request a Texas birth certificate

The person named on the record, an immediate family member, a guardian, or a legal agent or representative may request a certified copy. Texas defines an immediate family member as a child, parent or guardian, brother or sister, grandparent, or spouse.

Other applicants must provide legal documentation showing a direct, tangible interest in the record. If you are ordering for someone else, confirm the relationship and documentation requirements on the official page first.

• Read who may request a Texas vital record

Prepare acceptable identification

Texas uses a tiered identification list. An applicant can provide one document from Group A, such as a U.S. state driver's license, federal or state ID card, military ID, or U.S. passport.

If no Group A document is available, the applicant can use combinations of Group B and Group C documents. The exact combinations and document types are listed on the DSHS identification page, so check that page before submitting.

• Review Texas acceptable identification

State office or local vital record office?

Texas DSHS offers online ordering through Texas.gov, mail service, and in-person service at its Austin headquarters. Local vital record offices can also issue birth records and may be more convenient depending on where you live.

The birth county is the key detail when you look for a local office. If the birth occurred outside Texas, request the record from the state or country where the birth happened.

• Find a local Texas vital record office
• Check state request options

What to have ready before you start

Gather the record details and identification before opening the application. Using the name and date exactly as they appear on the record reduces the chance of a mismatch or a correction later.

• The subject's full name at birth, including any suffix.
• Date of birth and the city and county of birth.
• Parents' names as shown on the birth record.
• Your relationship to the person named on the certificate.
• Your contact details and a deliverable mailing address.
• Acceptable identification from the DSHS list.
• Any court order, guardianship papers, or other documents that support your request.

How a Texas request usually works

• Decide whether you need a long form, short form, heirloom certificate, or verification.
• Confirm that you are qualified to request the record.
• Prepare acceptable identification and any supporting documents.
• Choose online, mail, or in-person service.
• Complete the current application and pay the agency through the channel it supports.
• Keep your confirmation and track the request until the record arrives.
• Check the certificate for accuracy and contact the agency if a correction is needed.

Corrections are a separate process from ordering a copy. If the record itself needs to change, review the correction requirements before you order the certificate you need.

Common Texas situations

Some records need a different application or an extra step. Review the official guidance for your situation before filing.

• Name or date corrections: Texas directs birth-record changes and corrections through a separate mail process.
• Adoption: a new birth certificate based on adoption follows a different application path.
• Adult adoptee records: Texas publishes separate instructions for requesting an original birth certificate.
• International use: request the certified record for an apostille, then submit it to the Texas Secretary of State; DSHS does not process the apostille fee.
• Delayed birth registration: a record that was not filed near the time of birth may need a delayed-registration process.

• Read Texas birth-record correction requirements
• Review Texas apostille instructions

How USVC can help

USVC is an independent document assistance service, not a government agency. We provide a guided online request flow in plain language, review submitted information for completeness and inconsistencies, file the request with the agency, and help you track the request process.

The order form shows the current USVC processing fee before you pay. Agency fees and any shipping charges are separate and are charged upon review and acceptance by the issuing agency.

• We check your submitted information for missing details and inconsistencies before filing.
• We file the request with the issuing agency and give you an online way to track it.
• We do not control agency eligibility, fees, processing times, or the final decision to issue a record.
• You can always request the record directly from the official agency, potentially at a lower cost.