Utah birth certificate fee waiver fact sheet

1. Who can apply for a birth certificate fee waiver?

Homeless individual

An individual is eligible for the fee waiver if they are homeless as defined in Utah Code 26B-3-207(1)(e):

• an individual who is chronically homeless, as determined by the department; and
• includes someone who was chronically homeless and is currently living in supported housing for the chronically homeless.

Or as defined in Utah Code 35A-5-302:

"Person who is homeless" means an individual whose primary nighttime residence is:

• a public or private place not designated for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for an individual. Including a car, park, abandoned building, bus station, train station, airport, or camping ground
• or a publicly or privately-operated shelter designated to provide temporary living arrangements, including a permanent housing, permanent supportive, or transitional facility.

DCFS Youth

A person who is in DCFS custody or has been in DCFS custody but is no longer because of age, may order a birth certificate with a fee waiver. If the youth is still in custody, their caseworker will help them fill out the fee waiver form. If they have aged out of custody, they can email [email protected] to contact the DCFS constituent services manager.

2. How do you use a fee waiver to get a free birth certificate?

Birth certificates can be ordered 3 different ways: by mail, in-person at a local vital records office, or online. Instructions for how to order are provided below:

a. Mail: The following documents must be mailed to the DHHS Office of Vital Records and Statistics to use a fee waiver for a free birth certificate. If the documents meet the requirements, a birth certificate will be mailed within 2 weeks to the mailing address provided in the application. If they do not, the person will be contacted at the email or phone number given on the application.

1. A birth certificate application.
2. Acceptable identification of the individual.
3. A completed "Verification of homelessness to waive fee for Utah birth certificate or ID card or DCFS custody for Utah birth certificate, ID card, learner permit, or driver license" form.

b. In-Person: A homeless individual or DCFS youth can go to any local vital records office in Utah to order a free birth certificate in-person. See here for list of locations. Make sure you bring the following documents with you:

1. A birth certificate application.
2. Acceptable identification of the individual.
3. A completed "Verification of homelessness to waive fee for Utah birth certificate or ID card or DCFS custody for Utah birth certificate, ID card, learner permit, or driver license" form.

c. Online: Only an approved facility or agency that has a subscriber account with SILVER, Utah's web-based system for ordering vital record certificates, can use a fee waiver online to pay for a birth certificate for a homeless individual or DCFS youth. The steps to submit an order online are:

1. A representative of the facility or agency with a SILVER subscriber account submits the request online at Silver 2.0 website and records the SILVER order number provided.
2. The "Verification of Homeless Status to Waive Fee for Utah Birth Certificate or Identification Card" form and ID documents are scanned and emailed to [email protected] along with the SILVER order number.
3. If all application requirements are met, a birth certificate will be mailed within 2 weeks to the mailing address provided online.

3. What homeless service provider agencies are approved to verify homeless status?

See the Homelessness Service Providers list. A representative of an approved homeless service provider facility or agency must verify to the vital records office that an applicant qualifies for the fee waiver.

4. How can a homeless services facility or agency get on the approved list?

A representative of the agency may apply at this link.

5. What is the OVRS mailing address?

Utah Department of Health, Office of Vital Records and Statistics, PO Box 141012, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-1012

6. What forms of identification must be submitted to a vital records office by people who request free birth certificates?

People who ask for birth certificates must submit acceptable identification to prove they are entitled to the birth certificate. Acceptable identification includes 1 primary form of identification or 2 secondary forms of identification.

Examples of primary forms of identification include government-issued driver license or photo identification. Secondary forms of identification include social security card, school ID, or court documents. See complete list of acceptable primary and second forms of identification.

7. How can a facility or agency set up an organization subscriber account in SILVER to order birth certificates online?

Visit the Silver 2.0 site to set up an organization subscriber account for your facility or agency.

8. How can I get a copy of my birth certificate if I wasn't born in Utah?

The Utah Department of Health and Human Services only has birth certificates for people who were born in Utah. If you were born outside Utah, you must order your birth certificate from the state or country where you were born.

9. Do separate fee waiver forms need to be completed to request fee waivers for multiple members of the same family?

Yes. Each applicant needs a separate fee waiver form.