Arizona Birth Records
You can search for Arizona birth records through the state Bureau of Vital Records or any of the 15 county health offices. The Arizona Department of Health Services keeps all birth records from July 1909 to now in a central database. Each county office can issue certified copies for any Arizona birth, not just births in that county. Birth certificates are confidential documents in Arizona. Only eligible people can get copies. Parents, the person on the certificate, siblings, and some others may request certified copies. You need proof of your link to the record when you apply. Offices offer online, mail, and walk-in service for most requests.
Arizona Birth Records Quick Facts
Arizona Department of Health Services Vital Records
The Bureau of Vital Records is part of the Arizona Department of Health Services. This state office holds all birth records for Arizona. Records go back to July 1909. The office sits at 150 North 18th Avenue in Phoenix. You can mail requests to P.O. Box 6018, Phoenix, AZ 85005. Call them at 602-364-1300 or toll free at 888-816-5907. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm.
The state office does not provide same day walk in service at the counter. For same day birth certificates, you need to visit a county health office. Mail orders take four to five weeks to process through the state. Many people use county offices because they can get birth certificates the same day in most counties. The state office handles special cases like delayed birth registrations, adoptions, and amendments for very old records. Hospitals send birth data to the state system within seven days using the D.A.V.E. electronic reporting system. This keeps the central database current across Arizona.
Arizona law requires the state to keep these records forever under A.R.S. § 36-351. The state provides the main AZDHS Vital Records portal at www.azdhs.gov/policy-intergovernmental-affairs/vital-records where you can find forms and instructions. This site has details on how to order birth certificates and what documents you need to send with your request. You can see sample forms and check current processing times.
The state website includes downloadable forms in PDF format. You print the form, fill it out by hand, and mail it with your payment and ID. Most people find the online option through VitalChek faster than mailing forms to the state.
Order Arizona Birth Certificates Online
VitalChek is the state's official online vendor for vital records. You can use VitalChek 24 hours a day at www.vitalchek.com/v/birth-certificates/arizona/arizona-vital-records. The service lets you order from home. You pay by credit card or debit card. VitalChek adds service fees on top of the $20 state fee. Expedited shipping costs extra if you want the certificate fast. You must upload a photo ID as part of the online order process.
The VitalChek system verifies your identity and your right to get the record. You enter the name on the birth certificate, the date of birth, and the place of birth in Arizona. Then you upload a copy of your driver license or other valid ID. The system checks that you are an eligible requester. If approved, your order goes to the state or to a county office for processing. Most online orders ship within a week, but you can pay more for faster delivery if needed.
County Vital Records Offices in Arizona
All 15 Arizona counties have vital records offices, usually within the county health department. These local offices can issue certified birth certificates for any Arizona birth. You do not have to go to the county where the birth took place. If you live in Tucson but were born in Flagstaff, the Pima County office can still give you your birth certificate. This setup makes it easy to get records close to home.
Most county offices offer same day service if you visit in person. A few counties take longer. Maricopa County has five locations spread across the Phoenix metro area so residents can pick the closest office. Pima County has two locations in Tucson. Smaller counties like Greenlee and La Paz may have limited hours or require appointments. Yuma County charges an extra $10 expedited fee if you want same day service for birth certificates. Gila County and Mohave County do not offer same day service at all. Their offices process requests in 7 to 14 business days even if you walk in.
Each county sets its own payment rules within state guidelines. Some take cash and some do not. Many accept credit cards but charge a processing fee. A few counties only take money orders or cashier checks. You should call ahead or check the county website before you visit. County offices also have different hours. Some are open five days a week. Others close on Fridays or work four 10 hour days.
Note: County offices in Arizona share access to the same statewide birth records database, so any office can help you.
Who Can Request Birth Records
Arizona is a closed record state for vital records. This means not everyone can get a birth certificate. A.R.S. § 36-324 lists who may request copies. The registrant can get their own birth certificate if they are 18 or older, or if they are an emancipated minor. Parents listed on the certificate can request copies at any time. A spouse can get a copy if they provide a marriage certificate. Grandparents, adult children, and adult siblings may request copies if they show proof of their relationship.
Legal guardians and conservators need a court order. Attorneys can request records if they represent an eligible party. Government agencies can get copies for official purposes. Youth who are 16 or older and homeless or in DCS custody can request their own birth certificate. All requesters must prove their identity and their relationship to the person on the birth certificate. A driver license or state ID card usually works for identity. For relationship, you might need another birth certificate, a marriage license, or court papers.
How to Apply for Birth Certificates
You apply using form VS-11. The state provides this form at www.azdhs.gov/documents/vital-records/application-certificate-birth.pdf. Fill in the full name on the birth certificate, the date of birth, the city or county of birth, and the mother's maiden name. You must also write your own name, your address, your phone number, and your relationship to the person named on the certificate. Sign the form. If you do not have your signature notarized, you must send a copy of your photo ID with the application.
For mail requests, include payment. Send a money order or cashier check. Personal checks are not accepted for state level requests, but some counties do take personal checks. Include a self addressed stamped envelope if you want the state to mail the certificate back to you. Do not send cash by mail. Mail everything to P.O. Box 6018, Phoenix, AZ 85005. State processing takes four to five weeks from the day they get your request. County processing times vary but are usually faster.
Walk in requests work the same way. Bring the completed form, your payment, and your ID. Staff will review your application while you wait in most counties. If everything looks good, they print the certificate and give it to you. The whole process often takes less than an hour at county offices that offer same day service.
Birth Certificate Costs in Arizona
A certified birth certificate costs $20 in Arizona. This is the standard fee set by state law under A.R.S. § 36-341. You pay $20 for the first copy. Each additional copy ordered at the same time also costs $20. If you need an amendment or correction to a birth certificate, the fee is $30. An acknowledgment of paternity form costs $30 to file. Non-certified copies for genealogy research cost $20, the same as certified copies, but they are stamped "for genealogy purposes only" and cannot be used for legal matters.
Payment methods differ by location. The state office accepts money orders, cashier checks, and credit or debit cards. No personal checks. No cash by mail. In person at the state office, you can pay cash. County offices have their own rules. Most counties take credit and debit cards but add a convenience fee, usually between 1.5% and 3%. Some counties accept exact cash only. A few do not take cash at all. La Paz County and Greenlee County do not accept credit cards. Always check with the specific office before you go.
VitalChek charges extra fees for online orders. The state $20 fee is the same, but VitalChek adds service charges and shipping fees. Expedited shipping costs more than standard mail. These extra costs can add up fast. If you do not need the certificate right away, visiting a county office in person or mailing a request yourself costs less than using VitalChek.
Arizona Birth Registration Laws
Arizona Revised Statutes Title 36 governs vital records. Hospitals and midwives must report births within seven days under A.R.S. § 36-333. The person in charge of the birth files the certificate with the state registrar. This creates the official record. Once filed, the record becomes part of the permanent state database. Parents can request corrections or amendments later if there are errors, but changes require supporting documents and a $30 fee per A.R.S. § 36-337.
If someone was born in Arizona but never got a birth certificate filed, they can apply for a delayed birth registration. This process requires more proof. You might need school records, baptism records, census records, or affidavits from people who knew you at birth. The Bureau of Vital Records reviews delayed applications. They decide if the evidence is strong enough to create a new birth certificate. Adoptions also change birth records. When a court finalizes an adoption, the state issues a new birth certificate with the adoptive parents listed. The original certificate is sealed.
You can view all Arizona vital records statutes at www.azleg.gov/arsDetail/?title=36 under Title 36. These laws cover registration, fees, access, amendments, and penalties for fraud. A.R.S. § 36-344 sets penalties for making false statements on vital records applications. Lying to get a birth certificate you are not entitled to is a crime in Arizona.
The statutes also protect privacy. Birth records are not public in Arizona. Only eligible requesters can get copies. This stops strangers from getting someone else's birth certificate without permission. The closed record rule helps prevent identity theft and fraud.
Related Services and Resources
Arizona offers other services related to birth records. You can file a paternity acknowledgment through the Bureau of Vital Records. This adds the father's name to a birth certificate if the parents were not married when the child was born. Both parents must sign the form. The filing fee is $30. Once processed, the father's name appears on the birth certificate.
The Arizona Genealogy Records portal at genealogy.az.gov helps people research family history. This site has historical records that are no longer confidential. You can search old vital records for ancestors. These records are useful for building family trees. The Arizona State Library also maintains genealogy collections that include birth records from the early 1900s.
If you need help with the application process, call the Bureau of Vital Records at 602-364-1300. Staff can answer questions about eligibility, required documents, and processing times. They cannot look up records or give out information over the phone, but they can tell you what steps to take. County offices also provide phone support during business hours. Some counties have email addresses listed on their websites where you can ask questions before visiting.
Browse Birth Records by Location
Counties in Arizona
Each Arizona county has a vital records office that issues birth certificates. Select a county below to find contact info, fees, and hours for that office.
Major Cities in Arizona
Arizona cities rely on county health offices for birth certificate services. Find the nearest vital records office for these major cities.