Birth certificates can be obtained from the Office of the City Clerk in person or by mail. You may also obtain them online through our partnership with VitalChek.
Types of Birth Certificates
- Long Form
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Available for births within Bexar County. Accepted for all purposes including immigration and passports. Search Vital Records Index to see if we have your record.
- State Abstract
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Available for births in Texas after 1925. Not acceptable for genealogy, immigration or passports.
Born Outside of Bexar County
For information on how to get the long form, contact your county of birth or the Texas Department of State Health & Human Services (DSHS) Vital Statistics Unit at 1-888-963-7111.
NOTE: If you order records through DSHS or another city or county, we will not have access to your order information and cannot provide status updates.
Requirements
All original documents proving qualified applicant status must be presented when receiving services, copies or photos of required documents are not accepted.
Proof of Identity
Each applicant must present a valid form of identification along with their application.
Accepted Forms of Identification
Qualified Applicants
Birth certificates are confidential records with restricted access until 75 years after the file date.
Restricted access birth certificates can only be issued to qualified applicants. Proof of relationship or legal interest must be presented for requests by the following:
- Parent
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Parent’s name must be listed on birth certificate.
- Grandparent
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- Must prove relationship to the grandchild with a certified birth certificate of the mother/father of the child.
- Related parent must be listed on requested birth certificate.
- Spouse
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Certified marriage license
- Child
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Certified birth certificate with parent in question listed
- Sibling
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Certified birth certificate demonstrating at least one parent in common with sibling
- Legal Guardian
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Certified court order showing legal custody ("managing conservatorship")
- Attorney
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- Bar Card
- Certified copy of a court issued document explicitly demonstrating need for the record
Fees
Item |
Fee |
Details |
Birth Certificate (Bexar County only) |
$23 |
Fee per certificate for person born in Bexar County. |
Birth Certificate Search Fee |
$23 |
Fee charged to search for a birth certificate that is either not found or not purchased. |
Standard Certified Mail with Return Receipt |
$14.50 |
Fee for USPS mail with tracking. |