Vital Records Order Banner

Please note:  Our office has no liability for lost orders through delivery service or regular mail once it leaves this office. (Make sure the address is correct)

 

Welcome to the City of Houston's Birth and Death Certificate online ordering system. Online requests will be processed between Monday through Thursday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, and Fridays, 8:00 am to 10:00 am.

 

This is an official request for a vital record from the City of Houston. Birth and Death Certificates are legal documents and will be treated as such. The information contained in this request is considered private. Please be sure to complete all fields within the order and upload the required information.

Processing Information:

  • You will receive an email notification when your application has successfully been submitted into the online ordering system.
  • You might receive a second email notification and a phone call when our office has notified you of needed documents or questions regarding your order.
  • Once your application has been Approved, a confirmation email will be sent to notify you that your document is ready for pick-up (Same-Day) or will be mailed the following business day (Regular or UPS).
  • If your application has been Denied, you will be notified by email.
Types of Birth Certificates

Long Form


Available for births within the Houston city limits and some surrounding areas. Accepted for all purposes including immigration and passports.

State Abstract

Available for births in Texas after 1925. Not acceptable for genealogy, immigration, citizenship or passports.
The City of Houston maintains long form birth certificates for individuals born within the Houston registration district and some surrounding areas.

This registration district does not include: St. Luke's Health - The Vintage, HCA Southeast, Houston Methodist Willowbrook, Memorial Hermann Cypress, Memorial Hermann-Sugarland. Our office can provide short form Birth certificate from the state system.

Long form Birth Certificate - Most comprehensive birth record. It is a copy of the original birth certificate. It will also show a history of corrections that have been made to the birth record. This form is often used for requesting passports.

Short form Birth Certificate - An abstract of the birth record for a Texas birth. This birth certificate will only show current information for the child's name, date of birth, place of birth, sex, and name of parent(s). This form will not show a history of corrections. This form is often used for school records and is acceptable for most purposes.
Newborn Birth Certificates: It may take 1-3 weeks for the birth certificate to be generated by the birthing facility and DSHS-Austin. Once received by our office your application will be processed, and you will be notified of delivery or order pick up.

Death Records: Death Records are available only for decedents who pass within the city limits of Houston and surrounding areas.

Attention:

 

The State Office is requiring that all applicants upload a form of identification when submitting their application. Click on the button below for information on the forms of identification acceptable.

 

Click here for list of forms of identification

 

Click below to see who is eligible to request a birth/death certificate, as there are restrictions:

Click here for FAQs on applying for a Birth/Death Certificate

Back to the Houston Health Department website

The Following Vital Records May Be Requested Online:
Certified Birth Certificate or Birth Fact $23.00 ea
Certified Death Certificate $21.00

Mail shipping option

  • Standard Shipping - Regular USPS
    The standard shipping mailing option is NOT tracked.

The current processing time for orders is 4-6 weeks. Processing times do not include shipping days.

$3.00

Additional Certified Copies $4.00 each 

 

SAME-DAY PROCESSING


Expedited service, available for pick-up without waiting in person.

 

Same-Day Processing is available for orders placed between 8:00 AM and 2:00 PM (CST) Monday-Thursday or 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM (CST) on Fridays.

Orders are usually ready for pickup two(2) hours after a complete application is submitted.

You will receive multiple emails:

  • You will receive an email notification when your application has been successfully submitted to the online ordering system.
  • You might receive a second email notification and a phone call when our office notifies you of needed documents or questions regarding your order.

Final email will be sent once your application has been Approved; a confirmation email will be sent to notify you that your document is ready for pick-up (Same-Day)

Your order will not be ready for pick up until the final email is received.

 

You may check the progress by using the Online Order Tracker

Online Order Tracker

Houston Health Department
8000 N. Stadium Dr., 1st Floor
Houston, TX 77054

Attention: Orders not picked up within two(2) weeks of the order being completed will be mailed to the address placed on the order.

Once an order has been placed, it is considered final and cannot be changed, canceled, or refunded.

Please review your order carefully before completing your purchase.

ANY CERTIFICATES LOST IN THE MAIL ARE NOT OUR RESPONSIBILITY AND WILL NOT BE REFUNDED OR REPLACED.


For More Information, Contact:

Houston Health Department
8000 N Stadium Drive., 1st Floor
Houston, TX 77054

 HHD call center: 832-393-4220

Houston Health Department Website (CLICK HERE)

 

For Technical Support, Contact:

Permitium Software
Email: help@permitium.com

 

For a list of Valid IDs click HERE