Idaho Birth Records

An Idaho birth record is an official document certifying a live birth in the state. Idaho began statewide recording of births in July 1911. Before 1911, births reported in the state were recorded at the county level.

There are two main types of birth records in Idaho.

• Certified Copies: A certified copy is the government-issued original copy of a birth record bearing the State Registrar's seal and signature. It is the true copy of a birth record that is valid for all legal purposes. Certified birth records in Idaho may be issued as long-form birth certificates or short-form birth certificates.
• Long-Form Birth Certificate: This is the exact reproduction of the original filed document. The long-form birth certificate is the full version of an individual's birth in the state. Usually, the document includes detailed information about the registrant, including full names, date of birth, gender, time and place of birth, parents' names, and parents' birthplaces and occupations. The document also includes information on the attending physician, filing date, issue date, state file number, and the signature and seal of the issuing office. The long-form birth certificate is required for all legal processes in Idaho.
• Short-Form Birth Certificate: The short-form birth certificate is the condensed, abridged version of a birth certificate. Also called an abstract or computer-generated certificate, it contains essential facts about a registrant's birth, such as full names, date and place of birth, and parents' names. It is less detailed than the long-form birth certificates and omits detailed data, such as parents' birthplaces, the place of birth, and the registrar's signature. Although the short-form birth certificate is a legal document, it is not valid for all legal uses and may be best suited for informal identification purposes, where the full details are not required.
• Informational Copies: An informational copy of a birth record provides selected information from the original birth record. However, it is usually printed on plain paper and lacks the official state seal. Therefore, informational copies are not valid for legal use. It is suitable for family research, school projects, or personal references, where a certified document is not required.

How To Order an Idaho Birth Certificate?

You may order Idaho birth certificates issued from May 1911 to the present at the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics. You may order the document online or by mail. Online orders for birth certificates may be processed by an independent service provider approved by the State Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics. Usually, the vendor charges additional fees to process and ship the records.

Persons ordering Idaho birth certificates by mail may complete the Idaho Vital Records Certificate Request Birth Form. All requests for certified copies of birth certificates may include a copy of a valid government-issued photo ID and a check or money order for the fees. If the record seeker is not the person named on the birth certificate, they may include documentary proof of their relationship with the person named on the document. It costs $16 to order a certified copy of an Idaho birth certificate, with an additional $10 to expedite the record request. Mail the record request to:

For older birth certificates, pre-May 1911, contact the county recorder's office in the county where the birth occurred to view or obtain certified copies of the birth certificate.

Are Birth Records Public in Idaho?

In Idaho, birth records are considered confidential vital records. The documents are closed to the public and cannot be viewed or copied by just anyone. Per state law, vital records are unavailable to the public for a predetermined period, during which only authorized individuals may access the document.

Who Can Order A Birth Certificate in Idaho?

Under Idaho law, only persons with a direct, familial, or legal interest may order certified copies of the birth certificate. In Idaho, these individuals include:

• The individual named on the birth certificate
• The parents listed on the birth record
• Legal guardians
• Immediate family members, including spouses, children, siblings, or grandparents
• Legal representatives, including attorneys and court-appointed guardians

How Long Does it Take to Get an Idaho Birth Certificate?

It takes the Idaho Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics 3-5 weeks to process standard requests for mail requests for birth certificates. Expedited mail record requests are typically processed within 2-3 weeks. The standard processing time for online requests for Idaho birth certificates is 3-4 weeks, with expedited requests processed within 1-2 weeks.

Where Can I Find Idaho Birth Records Free?

While the general public cannot view or obtain certified copies of birth records, there are several resources where you can obtain informational copies of the state's birth records at no cost.

Although the National Vital Records Archives is not a repository of birth records, its "Where to Write for Vital Records" page lists contact information for Idaho's Vital Records Unit and county recorders' offices. The platform shows where you may find indexes or microfilm to view on-site or request copies of birth records at county archives.

Idaho State Archives and Historical Society offers birth records older than 100 years. Its repository includes scanned microfilms of registers, church baptismal records, newspaper announcements, from Idaho counties dating pre-1911, and some 19th-century births documented in diaries or family Bibles.

FamilySearch.org provides name indexes and digitized images of original registers for Idaho county birth records from 1883 to 1929. This genealogy website offers free access to a searchable database of Idaho birth indexes with names, birthdates, and counties from 1911 to 1955

Ancestry.com provides free access to Idaho births and christenings, which include partial church and county records from 1856 to 1965. The database contains index entries and scanned registry images of Idaho birth records searchable by name, date, or county.

PublicRecords.us aggregates public records from multiple governmental sources to offer a comprehensive database of vital records, including Idaho birth certificates. The platform provides information on more current birth records, including full names, birth dates, and county of birth, for free. Detailed access may require a minimal fee.

When Would I Need My Idaho Birth Records?

An Idaho birth certificate is a foundational document, proving U.S. citizenship, age, and identity. Generally, you will need your birth certificate for major life events and legal purposes, including:

• Applying for a U.S. passport
• Obtaining a driver's license or state-issued ID
• Obtaining or replacing your Social Security card
• Accessing veterans' benefits
• Applying for a marriage license
• Enlisting in the U.S. Armed Forces
• Enrolling in public schools and universities
• Verifying employment eligibility
• Applying for name changes
• Establishing a familial relationship for tax and insurance purposes
• Prove lineage in estate settlement proceedings
• Establishing parental rights during adoption and child custody matters

How Much is A Replacement Birth Certificate in Idaho?

Replacing your birth certificate becomes crucial if the original document becomes illegible, faded, stolen, destroyed, or missing. In Idaho, obtaining a replacement birth certificate mirrors obtaining a certified copy of the birth certificate.

Persons interested in replacing a birth certificate in Idaho may download and complete the Idaho Vital Records Certificate Request Birth Form. Include a valid government-issued ID and the fees with the application form. If ordering the replacement on behalf of the record holder, include documentary proof, such as a copy of your marriage or birth certificate, with the application. Mail the replacement request to the Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics. You may also request the replacement birth certificates online. It costs $16 to replace your birth certificate in Idaho.

When Can the Public Access Idaho Birth Certificates?

Idaho birth certificates are confidential for 100 years after the date of birth per state law. During the confidentiality period, only eligible persons may access certified copies of the birth certificate. Once 100 years have elapsed, the records become public records and may be accessed by anyone.

How To Correct an Error on an Idaho Birth Certificate?

The Idaho Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics permits residents to amend the following inaccuracies on their birth certificates:

• Typographical mistakes, including misspellings in given names, surnames, or parent names
• Missing data, such as blank fields on the place of birth, time of birth, or middle names
• Transposed information, such as the date of birth, was entered incorrectly
• Court-ordered name changes
• Gender-marker change
• Adding or removing a parent named on the birth certificate

To correct the document, download and complete the Correction Request Form, describing the incorrect information and stating the correct information. Provide supporting evidence, such as original hospital records, school documents, or baptismal certificates. For substantial changes such as name changes or gender marker updates, obtain a court order, then download the appropriate correction request form, including documentary evidence for your request.

Mail the birth certificate correction request to the Idaho Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics. The office charges $20 to amend birth certificates if the event occurred over a year ago. There is an additional $16 fee if ordering a certified copy of the amended birth certificate.

Does Idaho Provide Non-binary Birth Certificates?

Although Idhao permits amending gender markers on birth certificates, it does not issue gender-neutral non-binary birth certificates with an "X" marker. Birth certificates are restricted to the traditional gender markers "Male" or "Female".