The Birth Certificate Application (form VIT100, printed as "Application for a Birth Certificate or Letter of No Record") is the form the San Diego County Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk uses for in-person and mail requests. It is how you ask for a San Diego County birth certificate, either a certified copy for authorized persons or a certified informational copy for everyone else. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the form itself is published by the County at sdarcc.gov, and the County receives it only through the channels described below.
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What is VIT100?
The Birth Certificate Application (form VIT100, "Application for a Birth Certificate or Letter of No Record") is the County of San Diego form used to request a copy of a birth record, or a Letter of No Record, from the Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk, in person or by mail.
The form offers two kinds of copy. A Certified Copy is limited, under California Health and Safety Code, Section 103526(c), to authorized persons, who must mark their relationship to the person named on the certificate. A certified Informational Copy is for anyone else and is marked "INFORMATIONAL, NOT A VALID DOCUMENT TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY." The county's page adds that a Certified Copy is what you need to obtain a driver's license, passport, Social Security card and other identity-related services.
If the office cannot find the record from the information you give, State Law requires it to keep the fee and issue a "Letter of No Record."
The County issues birth certificates for anyone born within the County of San Diego. For a birth in another county, the county's page says to contact that County Recorder's office. Online orders go through a separate vendor, VitalChek, not through this paper form.
Who needs to file VIT100?
Anyone who wants a birth certificate for a person born in San Diego County can use this form, with the type of copy depending on who you are.
Authorized persons may request a Certified Copy:
- the person named on the certificate, or a parent or legal guardian;
- a child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse or domestic partner of that person;
- a party entitled to the record by court order, or an attorney or licensed adoption agency seeking it to comply with Family Code Section 3140 or 7603 (a certified copy of the court order must be included);
- a member of a law enforcement agency or a representative of another governmental agency conducting official business, as provided by law;
- an attorney representing the person named or their estate, or any person or agency empowered by statute or appointed by a court to act for that person or estate.
Everyone else receives a certified Informational Copy. You do not need to select a relationship or complete the Statement of Identity, Sworn Statement or notarization to receive an Informational Copy or a Letter of No Record.
Do not use this form for a birth that occurred in another county; contact that County Recorder.
When to file VIT100
Submit the application when you need a copy of a San Diego County birth record; no filing deadline is printed on the form. The form asks you to wait 2 weeks from the date of the event before submitting, while the county's birth certificate page says to allow 3 weeks after the date of birth. If you are requesting a recent birth, use the longer wait to avoid a "Letter of No Record."
If the record cannot be found from the information provided, the office keeps the fee and issues a Letter of No Record. Mail requests for a Certified Copy also need time for notarization of the Sworn Statement before you send the package.
Documents you need
- Valid government-issued photo ID, for in-person requests; the form lists driver's license, military ID, passport or other as the type of identification provided.
- Notarized Sworn Statement with the Certificate of Acknowledgment completed by a notary public, for mail requests for a Certified Copy; one notarization covers several requests by the same person.
- Certified copy of the court order, only if you request a Certified Copy as a party entitled by court order or as an attorney or licensed adoption agency under Family Code Section 3140 or 7603.
- Check or money order for the per-copy fee, for mail requests, payable as described under How to submit; do not send cash.
How to fill out VIT100
Choose the type of copy
On page 1, select a Certified Copy, or a Certified Informational Copy or Letter of No Record. Leave the "FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY" areas blank.
Select your relationship
For a Certified Copy, mark the line under "I am:" that matches your relationship to the person named on the certificate. You do not select from the list for an Informational Copy or Letter of No Record.
Enter the birth information
Under BIRTH INFORMATION ON CERTIFICATE, print or type the First Name, Middle Name and Last Name, Date of Birth, County of Birth and # of Copies.
Enter the parent's full birth name
In the Full Birth Name of Parent field, enter first, middle and last name.
Complete the Statement of Identity
For an in-person Certified Copy request, print your name and the city and state, then sign only in the presence of a County Clerk. Skip it for an Informational Copy.
Complete the Sworn Statement for mail
On page 2, for mail requests for a Certified Copy, enter your printed name, the name of each person listed on the certificate, your relationship to each and the # of Copies. Sign and date it.
Have the acknowledgment notarized
A notary public completes the Certificate of Acknowledgment; a notary outside California may cross out California and enter the correct state. One notarization is enough per requester.
Fill in the mailing block
Under Mail Birth Certificate to, enter name, address, city, state, ZIP, email and phone, and the # of Copies multiplied by the per-copy fee.
Review and download the PDF
Check names, dates and the county of birth, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and submit it through the channels under How to submit.
How to submit VIT100
You can submit a request in person, by mail, or online through VitalChek; this form covers the first two.
- In person: Visit a San Diego County Recorder/County Clerk office in downtown San Diego, Chula Vista, Santee or San Marcos. The service is not available at the Kearny Mesa office, and no appointment is required. Complete the application and sign the Statement of Identity in the presence of a County Clerk. Bring valid government-issued photo ID. Payment is by cash, check or money order, or credit/debit card; a surcharge applies to card payments.
- By mail: Send the completed application with your payment to San Diego Recorder/County Clerk, ATTN: Vital Records, P.O. Box 121750, San Diego, CA 92112-1750. Pay by check or money order only; do not send cash. The form's payment line names "San Diego County Recorder" as payee, while the county's page says "San Diego Recorder/County Clerk," so confirm the payee on the county's page. For a Certified Copy, the Sworn Statement must be notarized.
- Online: Order at VitalChek.com, the only third-party vendor authorized by the County. Select "Authorized Copy" for a Certified Copy and "San Diego County Recorder" as the agency. VitalChek charges a handling fee and an optional expedited delivery fee.
The per-copy fee is non-refundable even if no record is found; see the County for the current amount. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Signing the Statement of Identity before reaching the office: for in-person requests it must be signed in the presence of a County Clerk.
- Mailing a Certified Copy request without a notarized Sworn Statement and completed Certificate of Acknowledgment on page 2.
- Sending cash with a mail request; mail payments must be by check or money order.
- Going to the Kearny Mesa office for an in-person request, which does not offer this service.
- Submitting before the waiting period: the form says 2 weeks after the event, and the county's page says 3 weeks after birth.
- Requesting a Certified Copy without selecting a relationship from the list on page 1.
- Leaving out the certified copy of the court order when applying as a party entitled by court order, or as an attorney or adoption agency.
- Expecting a refund when no record is found; fees are non-refundable and a Letter of No Record is issued.
- Requesting a record for a person born in another county from the San Diego County office.
Frequently asked questions
Who can get a certified San Diego County birth certificate?
Only authorized persons, as defined in California Health and Safety Code, Section 103526(c): the person named, a parent or legal guardian, certain relatives, a court-ordered party, an attorney or adoption agency, government representatives, and legal representatives. Others receive an informational copy.
What is the difference between a certified copy and an informational copy?
A Certified Copy can be used to establish identity, for example for a driver's license or passport. An Informational Copy is marked "INFORMATIONAL, NOT A VALID DOCUMENT TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY." Anyone can request an informational copy without a sworn statement.
Does my birth certificate application need to be notarized?
Only for a mail request for a Certified Copy: complete the Sworn Statement and have the Certificate of Acknowledgment notarized. In person, you instead sign the Statement of Identity before a County Clerk. Informational Copies need neither.
Where do I mail the San Diego County birth certificate application?
Mail it with a check or money order to San Diego Recorder/County Clerk, ATTN: Vital Records, P.O. Box 121750, San Diego, CA 92112-1750. Do not send cash. A certified copy request also needs the notarized Sworn Statement.
Can I order a San Diego County birth certificate online?
Yes, through VitalChek.com, the only third-party vendor the County authorizes. Choose "Authorized Copy" for a Certified Copy and "San Diego County Recorder" as the agency. VitalChek adds a handling fee, plus an optional expedited delivery fee.
What is a Letter of No Record?
It is what the office issues if it cannot find the record from the information you provided. State Law requires the office to keep the fee, which is non-refundable, so check names, date of birth and county of birth first.
Can I fill out the birth certificate application online on FillingPDF?
Yes. You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF does not submit it or order the certificate for you; you deliver it to the County in person or by mail.
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