Procedures

Birth, marriage, death certificates in Missouri — vital records

Name: Where to order birth, death and marriage certificates by state (CDC directory, 56 jurisdictions)
Creator: MigrantUSA
License: https://migrantusa.com/terms/

How to obtain certified Missouri birth, death and marriage records from the DHSS Bureau of Vital Records. Real fees (birth $15, death $14 first copy), ordering options, timelines, ID rules. Critical for immigration cases.

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The Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City.

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Vital records in Missouri

Official office: Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), Bureau of Vital Records, 930 Wildwood Drive, Jefferson City, MO 65109. Phone: 573-751-6387. Email: VitalRecordsInfo@health.mo.gov. (As of 2026-06-28.)

Missouri vital records are not public. The state issues a copy only to a person with a “direct and tangible interest” in the record.

Types of records and fees

Fees below are from the May 2024 Missouri Notice of Fees and are current as of 2026-06-28.

Record	Fee
Birth certificate	$15 per copy (includes a 5-year search; each copy is $15, no multi-copy discount)
Death certificate	$14 for the first copy + $11 each additional copy
Statement of Marriage	$15 (see note below)
Divorce / single-status statement	$15
Fetal death record	$15
Record correction by affidavit	No fee

Marriage records — important: The state Bureau of Vital Records does not issue a marriage certificate or license. It issues a Statement of Marriage confirming the event appears in the statewide index (records from July 1, 1948 onward). The actual marriage license/certificate is held and issued by the county Recorder of Deeds in the county where the license was obtained.

What each record is used for

Certified birth certificate

Immigration cases (USCIS petitions, naturalization)
US passport
Social Security card
Driver license and DMV
School enrollment
Employment (I-9 verification)
Federal and state benefits

Marriage record (county license + state Statement of Marriage)

Name change
I-130 petitions (spouse petition)
Social Security benefits
Taxes (filing status)

Certified death certificate

Settling an estate
Collecting life insurance benefits
I-360 self-petition (widowed US citizen)
Social Security survivor benefits

How to request in Missouri

Option 1: Online or by phone — VitalChek

Missouri’s authorized vendor is VitalChek (call 877-817-7363, or order online).

Credit card and acceptable ID required
VitalChek adds its own service fee
Typical turnaround about 5 to 7 business days

Option 2: By mail

Use the DHSS application form (the birth/death application or the Statement of Marriage application)
The application must be notarized
Pay by check or money order (not cash)
Mail to the Bureau of Vital Records, 930 Wildwood Drive, Jefferson City, MO 65109
Processing about 4 to 8 weeks

Option 3: In person

Visit the Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City
Bring acceptable ID and payment

Option 4: Local public health agency

Many county and city local public health agencies issue Missouri vital records
Often issued the same day

Who can request — eligibility and ID

To obtain a Missouri record you must show a direct and tangible interest and present acceptable identification:

One primary photo ID — driver license or state ID, US passport, or a military, school, or work ID; OR
Two alternate documents that show your name.

Missouri also issues a no-fee (exempt) birth certificate to a person obtaining a free nondriver ID for the purpose of voting.

For immigrants specifically

Your US-born child

If you have a US-born child, the child is automatically a US citizen. The child’s birth certificate is:

Needed for the child’s US passport
Needed for Social Security
Useful for a future I-130 (if the child later petitions a parent)
Useful for FAFSA and college scholarships

Requesting as a parent

A parent listed on a child’s Missouri birth certificate may request that record. The eligibility standard is the same direct and tangible interest, with acceptable ID as described above.

Consulate of your country in the US — birth, marriage, death-certificate transcription and apostille
Apostille (document legalization) — required for foreign use of US vital records
Translate documents for USCIS — certified translation standard for immigration filings
USCIS forms — I-130, I-485, N-400 — vital records support most family-based filings
Immigration court in Missouri — for cases before the Missouri immigration court
Find an immigration attorney — for complex name-change or paternity proceedings

Last verified: 2026-06-28.

General procedural information for educational purposes. Not legal, tax, or immigration advice. Laws and fees change — verify with the issuing agency before taking action. For case-specific guidance, consult a licensed immigration attorney or other appropriate professional.

Order vital records in Missouri

Birth, death, and marriage certificates are issued by each state. Use your state's official guide:

Missouri — how to order birth, death & marriage certificates (official CDC guide)
Birth certificate copy: about $15.00 (verify current fee)

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a certified birth certificate for my immigration case?

USCIS requires a CERTIFIED certificate (with the issuing agency’s seal), not a plain copy or a photo. Request several certified copies — you may need one for USCIS, one for court if applicable, and one to keep. A record made abroad usually also needs an apostille; a US record from Missouri is accepted as the state-sealed certified copy.

How much does a Missouri vital record cost?

As of the May 2024 Missouri Notice of Fees: a birth certificate is 15 dollars per copy (each copy is 15 dollars, no multi-copy discount, and that includes a 5-year search). A death certificate is 14 dollars for the first copy plus 11 dollars for each additional copy. A Statement of Marriage, a divorce or single-status statement, and a fetal death record are each 15 dollars. VitalChek adds its own service fee on top. (As of 2026-06-28.)

How long does it take to get a certificate in Missouri?

Online or by phone through VitalChek: about 5 to 7 business days. By mail to the Bureau of Vital Records: about 4 to 8 weeks. In person, or through a local public health agency, the record is often issued the same day. For urgent USCIS deadlines, plan several weeks ahead.

Can I get my own Missouri birth certificate regardless of immigration status?

If you were born in Missouri, you have a direct and tangible interest in your own record, which is the eligibility standard the state applies. You will need acceptable identification: one primary photo ID (such as a driver license, state ID, US passport, or a military, school, or work ID) OR two alternate documents that show your name.

Can I request someone else's certificate (not my own)?

Missouri records are not public — only someone with a direct and tangible interest may obtain a copy. That typically includes a parent listed on the certificate, a legal guardian, an adult child, or a surviving spouse. Other relatives may need a court order. For a minor child, any parent listed on the certificate may request it.

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General information, not legal advice. MigrantUSA is an independent publisher and is not a law firm; using this site does not create an attorney-client relationship, and this content is not a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney about your specific situation. US federal, state, and local government procedures, fees, and forms change. Always verify current details directly with the relevant agency before acting. For immigration, tax, or other legal matters specific to your situation, consult a licensed attorney or BIA-accredited representative.