How to Get a Birth or Death Record
IMPORTANT NOTICE: If you are planning a trip outside the United States, the Department of Homeland Security has instituted new traveling requirements.
As of January 23, 2007, ALL PERSONS traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean region are required to present a passport or other valid travel document to enter or re-enter the United States.
As of January 31, 2008, U.S. and Canadian citizens traveling by LAND AND SEA will need to present either a passport or a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, plus proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate.
Birth and death certificates can be obtained in person, through the mail or on-line. The application is suitable for both English and Spanish language users.
In Person
The Office of Vital Records is located at 719 S. Santa Rosa Street. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. The office is closed on City holidays. Free parking is available in the front and back parking lots of the building.
It is recommended that all persons seeking birth certificates to support a passport application obtain the record from the Santa Rosa location, or by mail or online. Birth Certificates for all other purposes can be obtained at the five City of San Antonio Community Link Centers. The addresses, operating hours and phone numbers are:
• Brooks City Base
Brooks City-Base Landing (near Longhorn Cafe)
3154 SE Military Dr., Suite 102
Monday - Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
(210)207-6570
• Las Palmas Community Link Center
Las Palmas Shopping Center (next to EZ Pawn Shop)
803 Castroville Rd., Suite 417
Monday - Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
(210)207-6545
• Oak Ridge Community Link Center
Oak Ridge Plaza Shopping Center
11220 Perrin Beitel, Suite 112
Monday - Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
(210)207-5165
• South Park Community Link Center
South Park Mall
2310 SW Military Dr.,
Suite 530 (next to JC Penney)
Monday - Friday: 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
(210)207-6141
• Valley View Community Link Center
8523 Blanco Rd. at West Ave.
(near Marshall’s Dept. Store and Blockbuster Video)
Monday - Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
(210)207-6150
Mail your request to:
Office of Vital Records
San Antonio Metropolitan Health District
719 S. Santa Rosa, Suite A
San Antonio, Texas 78204
Your request is processed within three days after it is received. You may request the certificate by completing and mailing in the application or by writing a simple letter. In your letter provide:
1) the person's name on the certificate
2) the date of the event (date of birth if requesting a birth certificate or date of death if requesting a death certificate)
3)
the parents' names If requesting a birth certificate
4) your relationship to the person named in the certificate
5) the purpose for which you are requesting a copy
6) a return address and a phone number
In your envelope, you also must include a photocopy of your photo ID and a check or money order in the appropriate amount payable to the City of San Antonio.
The City of San Antonio's Vital Records Office does not accept credit cards for online orders. However, for your convenience, you can process online requests through an independent company that we have partnered with to provide you this service; VitalChek Network, Inc.
VitalChek can be reached either through it's website or by phone at 1-800-255-2414. An additional fee of $9.00 is charged by VitalChek for using this service, and all major credit cards are accepted, including American Express®, Discover®, MasterCard® or Visa®.
After you have submitted your on-line request, VitalChek will send you an order confirmation at your email address. In that email there is a section titled "What Next?" This section states "San Antonio Bureau of Vital Statistics requires that you provide documentation to verify your identity. If you have not done so already, please use the link below to provide us with the required documents. Once your documents have been submitted, it will take 24-48 hours for approval. You will be contacted by email once your documents have been received.
Click here to Login and Scan/Upload or Fax your documentation”
