SERVICE
Get a birth certificate for someone over 3
Birth certificates are available online, in-person, and by mail.
What to know
Service Announcement
On April 1, 2025, you will be able to pay for birth, death, and confidential marriage certificates directly through the Office of the County Clerk. There is a 2% service fee for all credit and debit card transactions. There is no fee for payments made using a checking account. You still MUST appear in person to present valid, non-expired picture ID to receive the record. The record WILL NOT be mailed to you. We will call you when your record is ready for pickup.
Time
The current expected time to receive a birth certificate is about 4 to 6 weeks.
What to do
If you need a birth certificate for a child under 3 years old, go to the Department of Public Health Office of Vital Records.
Order online from County Clerk
On April 1, 2025, you will be able to pay for birth, death, and confidential marriage certificates directly through the Office of the County Clerk. There is a 2% service fee for all credit and debit card transactions. There is no fee for payments made using a checking account. You still MUST appear in person to present valid, non-expired picture ID to receive the record. The record WILL NOT be mailed to you. We will call you when your record is ready for pickup.
Order online from VitalChek.com
VitalChek is a third-party provider for ordering vital records online.
This process can take up to 6 weeks.
You can call VitalChek at (800) 708-6733 to check on an order or if you have questions.
Order in person
Go to the Office of the County Clerk
You can apply to get a birth certificate in person at the Office of the County Clerk. The birth certificate must be for someone:
- born in San Francisco
- born after 1906
- over 3 years old
The person applying must bring an unexpired government-issued photo ID.
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
San Francisco, CA 94102
8 am to 4 pm - processing hours
2. Get the statement notarized
Take your form to a notary public and have it notarized.
You don’t need to have your application notarized for an Informational Copy. Informational copies are certified, but have “Informational: Not a valid document to establish identity” printed on them.
3. Mail your application
You must include:
- your application
- notarized sworn statement
- self-addressed, stamped envelope
- payment
You can pay by money order or personal check. Your personal check must:
- have the account holders name printed on it
- be from a bank in the USA
- payable to "SF County Clerk"
You should get your birth certificate in 4 to 6 weeks.
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
San Francisco, CA 94102
8 am to 4 pm - processing hours
Special cases
Get a birth certificate for someone else
You can also apply for a certified copy of a birth certificate if you:
- Have authorization from a certified court order
- Have power of attorney and can show a certified copy of your Power of Attorney document
- Are the executor of the person’s estate, with estate documents to prove it
- Work for another government agency and can show your work ID
We can’t give certificates to government employees for personal use.
Amending a birth or death certificate
The Office of the County Clerk cannot amend a birth, death, or public marriage record. Please use the links below for information on amending records with the California Department of Public Health.
Amending a California Birth Record
Who can get a birth certificate
You can apply for a Certified Authorized Copy of a birth certificate for:
- Yourself
- Your child
- Your spouse, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, or state-registered domestic partner
Anyone can request an informational copy of a birth certificate.
Get help
Address
1 Dr. Carlton B Goodlett Place
San Francisco, CA 94102
Partner agencies
What to know
Service Announcement
On April 1, 2025, you will be able to pay for birth, death, and confidential marriage certificates directly through the Office of the County Clerk. There is a 2% service fee for all credit and debit card transactions. There is no fee for payments made using a checking account. You still MUST appear in person to present valid, non-expired picture ID to receive the record. The record WILL NOT be mailed to you. We will call you when your record is ready for pickup.
Time
The current expected time to receive a birth certificate is about 4 to 6 weeks.
What to do
If you need a birth certificate for a child under 3 years old, go to the Department of Public Health Office of Vital Records.
Order online from County Clerk
On April 1, 2025, you will be able to pay for birth, death, and confidential marriage certificates directly through the Office of the County Clerk. There is a 2% service fee for all credit and debit card transactions. There is no fee for payments made using a checking account. You still MUST appear in person to present valid, non-expired picture ID to receive the record. The record WILL NOT be mailed to you. We will call you when your record is ready for pickup.
Order online from VitalChek.com
VitalChek is a third-party provider for ordering vital records online.
This process can take up to 6 weeks.
You can call VitalChek at (800) 708-6733 to check on an order or if you have questions.
Order in person
Go to the Office of the County Clerk
You can apply to get a birth certificate in person at the Office of the County Clerk. The birth certificate must be for someone:
- born in San Francisco
- born after 1906
- over 3 years old
The person applying must bring an unexpired government-issued photo ID.
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
San Francisco, CA 94102
8 am to 4 pm - processing hours
2. Get the statement notarized
Take your form to a notary public and have it notarized.
You don’t need to have your application notarized for an Informational Copy. Informational copies are certified, but have “Informational: Not a valid document to establish identity” printed on them.
3. Mail your application
You must include:
- your application
- notarized sworn statement
- self-addressed, stamped envelope
- payment
You can pay by money order or personal check. Your personal check must:
- have the account holders name printed on it
- be from a bank in the USA
- payable to "SF County Clerk"
You should get your birth certificate in 4 to 6 weeks.
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
San Francisco, CA 94102
8 am to 4 pm - processing hours
Special cases
Get a birth certificate for someone else
You can also apply for a certified copy of a birth certificate if you:
- Have authorization from a certified court order
- Have power of attorney and can show a certified copy of your Power of Attorney document
- Are the executor of the person’s estate, with estate documents to prove it
- Work for another government agency and can show your work ID
We can’t give certificates to government employees for personal use.
Amending a birth or death certificate
The Office of the County Clerk cannot amend a birth, death, or public marriage record. Please use the links below for information on amending records with the California Department of Public Health.
Amending a California Birth Record
Who can get a birth certificate
You can apply for a Certified Authorized Copy of a birth certificate for:
- Yourself
- Your child
- Your spouse, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, or state-registered domestic partner
Anyone can request an informational copy of a birth certificate.
Get help
Address
1 Dr. Carlton B Goodlett Place
San Francisco, CA 94102