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1. Who may apply for copies of Arizona birth certificates?

Applicants must fall into one or more of the categories listed here, and provide the listed documents proving so.

2. Will I receive the certified copies of my birth certificate the same day I apply?

In most cases, when applying in person at a scheduled appointment or during our public walk-in hours at Coconino County Health and Human Services (CCHHS), you may be able to receive a certified copy of an Arizona birth certificate the same day you make an eligible application.

However, there are some instances when additional time will be needed to process your request, resulting in your certificate being mailed to you after processing. Such instances could include but are not limited to the following examples:

• Requesting corrections, amendments, or any other changes to the certificate
• Delays caused by incomplete applications or insufficient proof of relationship 
• Insufficient or incorrect payment amount

3. I ordered my birth certificate, why am I receiving a certified copy?

The original birth record is maintained permanently in the state record archives. Vital Records offices “issue” certified copies of these original certificates. These certified copies are official birth certificates for all legal purposes. They are printed on special paper that contains a raised and embossed seal and the registrar’s signature.

4. How do I request a correction to an Arizona birth certificate?

Changes to birth or death records are processed by County or State offices depending on when the event was registered. The exact documents and process required vary widely based on the type of change and age of the record, and may require an application, a notarized affidavit, a court order or evidentiary document, or a combination of the three. Please note: corrections and amendments to birth certificates cannot be completed during walk-in hours, nor printed the same day with an appointment. The certificate will be returned to you using the self-addressed, stamped envelope you provide with your application.

To request to correct or amend birth certificates for births that occurred prior to 1997, you must submit your request to the State Bureau of Vital Records (BVR) at:

Bureau of Vital Records
PO Box 6018
Phoenix, AZ 85005

The BVR can be reached at (602) 364-1300 or toll free: (888) 816-5907, and more information about their processes can be found at: https://www.azdhs.gov/licensing/vital-records/.

5. Why does our old address still appear on my Arizona birth certificate?

The information appearing on birth certificates reflects the circumstances at the time of the birth. This information is for statistical purposes only and does not change when you move. However, please make certain you provide your current mailing address on your application.

6. How long does it take after a child is born at a hospital for the birth certificate to be available?

For children born in hospitals, certified copies of birth certificates may be available as soon as 7 days from the date of birth. The hospital has 7 days after the child is born to register the birth in the State database. Certified copies will not be available until the business day following registration, and we will not be able to schedule appointments for you until registration is complete. Please note that for unmarried parents who file paternity paperwork, processing this additional information may add up to six weeks before certified copies will be available for purchase.

7. How long does it take after a child is born at home or outside of a hospital for the birth certificate to be available?

If the birth of a child is attended by a medical professional (hospital staff, midwife, etc.), they will assist parents in registering the birth within 7 days of the event. In the event of a birth in Coconino County not attended by a medical professional, it is the responsibility of the attendant and informant (usually the parents) to complete the Certificate of Live Birth Registration and provide it to Coconino County Vital Records within 7 days of the birth. Certified copies will not be available until the business day following registration, and we will not be able to schedule appointments for you until the birth is registered. Please note that for unmarried parents who file paternity paperwork, processing this additional information may add up to six weeks before certified copies will be available for purchase. If you are planning on giving birth without a medical professional, or you have already done so, please call us as soon as possible at (928) 679-7281 to discuss the necessary paperwork.

8. Why haven’t I received a certified copy of my child’s birth certificate in the mail?

The packet completed at hospitals or by the birth attendant or parents, known as the Certificate of Live Birth Worksheet, registers the birth of your child in the State database but does not automatically cause their birth certificate to be printed. You must apply for a certified copy of your child’s birth certificate with a CCHHS Vital Records office, or the State Bureau of Vital Records. Certified copies are not provided by hospitals, and hospital documents such as medical records and crib cards are not valid birth certificates.

9. Is there a fee for the first certified copy of an Arizona birth certificate?

A certified copy of an Arizona birth certificate costs $20, including the first copy issued for a newborn. All additional copies are $20 each. Any documentation received from a hospital and/or a midwife is not a valid birth certificate.

10. Is there a fee associated with obtaining a copy of my child’s birth certificate?

The fee for printing birth certificates is $20 per copy requested. If the record has been previously amended or corrected, there is an additional one-time $10 fee for the first copy ($30 total) and each subsequent copy is $20. You are welcome to pay with cash (drop-off or in-person only), check or money order made out to Coconino Vital Records, or credit or debit card. A copy of the front and back of the cardholder’s government-issued photo ID is required to pay when paying with a credit card.

11. What is an Apostille? Do I need to obtain an Apostille for a birth certificate?

An Apostille is a certificate that authenticates the origin of a public document (e.g., a birth, marriage or death certificate, a judgment, an extract of a register or a notarial attestation). In Arizona, the Arizona Secretary of States Office prepares this document, and information is available at: Apostille and Document Authentication | Arizona Secretary of State (azsos.gov).

Generally, an apostille certificate is not needed unless an original public document or a certified copy is needed for official purposes in another country. The apostille confirms the signature, seal, or stamp on the public document to be authentic so that it will be accepted when presented in another country.