Most states ask for a copy of a current government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, state ID card, passport or military ID. If you have none, many states accept two or more other documents that show your name, and some accept a notarized application instead. The exact list depends on the state of birth.
Why the office checks your identity
Birth certificates are identity documents, so states release certified copies only to eligible people and check who is asking. The national model law lets the state registrar require identification or a sworn statement from every applicant, and state rules turn that into a list of documents. A request without acceptable ID is usually returned unprocessed.
Primary photo ID
The first choice almost everywhere is one current photo ID issued by a government: a driver's license or state ID card, a US passport, or a military ID. Georgia, for example, wants a physical, valid, government-issued photo ID and does not accept digital IDs, and Illinois returns requests that arrive without one. Several states also accept tribal IDs, permanent resident cards or foreign passports.
If your ID has expired or you have none
States differ most here. Texas counts an expired primary ID as a secondary document and accepts two secondary IDs, or one secondary ID with two supporting documents such as a utility bill or pay stub. Connecticut accepts two documents such as a Social Security card, a W-2 or pay stub, a school ID, a car registration or a utility or bank statement. Some states, including Texas for mail orders and several others, accept or require an application signed in front of a notary.
Another eligible person can order
If you have lost every form of ID, a parent or other eligible relative with valid ID can often order your certificate for you. USAGov notes that rules vary by state and that some states accept a sworn statement of identity or a notarized letter with a copy of a parent's photo ID. Once you have the certificate, it helps you replace your other documents.
Matching names
If the name on your ID differs from the name on the birth record, for example after marriage, the office may ask for the document that links them, such as a marriage certificate or a court order for a name change. Having it ready avoids a request coming back for more information.
How ID works when you order with BirthChek
After payment, BirthChek asks you to photograph the front and back of your photo ID. We check it before filing, and if the state needs anything more, your order page tells you what to send. Your ID images are encrypted and kept only as long as needed to complete your order.
Facts checked October 24, 2026 against the sources below.
Sources
- Acceptable identification — Texas Department of State Health Services – Vital Statistics
- Requirements for mail and in-person orders — Texas Department of State Health Services – Vital Statistics
- Ways to request a vital record: birth — Georgia Department of Public Health – Vital Records
- Obtain a birth certificate — Illinois Department of Public Health – Vital Records
- How to replace your birth certificate — USAGov
- Model State Vital Statistics Act and Regulations (1992 revision) — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – National Center for Health Statistics