Certified Birth Certificate for Social Security or Military Enlistment
Applying for a Social Security card, correcting your SSA record, or enlisting? The SSA and the armed forces both require a certified — not photocopied — birth certificate.
Start My RequestWhy these applications stall
The Social Security Administration will not process a new card application, a replacement, or a correction to your name or date of birth without a certified copy of your birth certificate as evidence of age and identity. Military recruiters have the same requirement during enlistment processing, and a mismatch between your certificate and other records can stall an application for weeks.
What's typically required
- A certified copy with your full legal name, date of birth and parents' names
- The certificate should reflect your current legal name, or be accompanied by proof of any legal name change
- An original or certified document — the SSA will not accept a photocopy or a notarized copy
- Confirm the current document checklist with your local SSA office or recruiter before your appointment
How California Birth Certificates helps
We help you request the certified copy your SSA application or enlistment paperwork requires, so one missing document doesn't slow things down.
Other reasons people request a certified birth certificate
Important Information
- This website is operated by California Birth Certificates, a private company, and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or operated by the State of California or any federal, state, county, or local government agency.
- Our service provides online assistance and processing support for eligible requests. Government agencies may provide similar services directly.
- Any government-issued certificate is issued by the applicable government authority, not by our company.
- Any service fee charged by California Birth Certificates is separate from applicable government fees.
Our services
One document, one simple process
We help you prepare and submit your California birth certificate request correctly the first time.