Alaska Birth Records

Statewide recording of Alaska's vital records, including birth records, began in 1913 with the creation of the Vital Statistics Unit under the State's Department of Health. Before 1913, birth records existed as delayed birth registrations, compiled using evidence from church records, family Bibles, or census data.

Alaska's birth records are the documents issued by the state confirming a live birth. Alaska issues two primary types of birth certificates, each serving distinct legal purposes:

• Authorized Copies: The authorized copy of a birth record is the certified, official copy of a registrant's birth, containing the signature of the State Registrar and the official state seal. Authorized copies, also called certified copies of a birth record, are required by federal and state agencies for any official transaction. Certified copies of Alaska birth records may be issued as:
• Long-Form Birth Certificates: The long-form birth certificate is the full-sized, certified copy of a live birth in the state. The document contains detailed information about a registrant's birth, including full legal name, birth date, time, and location of birth, gender, parents' names, birthplaces, and occupation. The long-form birth certificate also contains the attending physician's signature, filing date, and certificate number. The long-form birth certificate is ideal for all legal, administrative, and personal processes.
• Short-Form Birth Certificates: The short-form birth certificate is the condensed abstract of a registrant's birth. It contains basic information, such as the child's name, gender, birth date and place, parents' full names, registration number, and filing date. It excludes detailed information, such as the parents' birthplace and occupation, and does not hold the signature of the issuing office. The short-form birth certificate is not valid for all legal transactions, but it is acceptable where routine identification is required.
• Informational Copies: Informational copies of birth records are the non-certified version of a registrant's birth, lacking official signatures and the state seal. Usually, informational birth records are printed on plain paper and marked "Informational, Not Valid for Identity". Therefore, the document cannot be used for legal identification or benefits. Instead, it is ideal for tracing family history and personal scrapbook heirlooms.

How To Order an Alaska Birth Certificate?

Certified copies of Alaska birth records issued from 1913 to date are accessible at the Alaska Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics. Record seekers may order the document by mail, fax, in person, or online. Online requests for birth certificates are through an independent vendor approved by the Alaska Department of Health. The vendor charges additional fees in addition to the certificate cost to process and ship the record.

Persons ordering certified copies of Alaska birth certificates by mail, fax, or in person may complete the Alaska Birth Certificate Request Form. All requests for birth certificates may include a copy of a government-issued photo ID and the fees. In addition, include legal documents proving your eligibility to order the record if you are not the person named on the birth certificate.

It costs $30 to order a certified copy of the Alaska birth certificate. Extra copies ordered simultaneously cost $25. Mail the completed application and fees to:

Persons ordering birth certificates in person may visit:

Interested persons may access certified copies of Alaska birth certificates issued before 1913 at the Alaska State Archives.

Are Birth Records Public in Alaska?

No. Alaska birth records are not public records. Per the Alaska Public Records Act, birth records are unavailable for viewing or copying by the general public for a predetermined period. During the restriction period, only eligible persons may access certified copies of the birth certificate.

Who Can Order A Birth Certificate in Alaska?

Per state law, only persons with a direct and tangible interest in the birth record may access certified copies of a birth certificate. In Alaska, these individuals include:

• The person named on the birth record
• The parents listed on the birth certificate
• Legal guardians with proof of guardianship
• Immediate family members, including spouses, children, or siblings, with proof of relationship
• Authorized legal representatives with notarized consent
• Persons with a court order

How Long Does it Take to Get an Alaska Birth Certificate?

It takes the Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics 2-3 months to process birth certificate requests by mail or fax. The office does not offer expedited processing for birth certificates. Record seekers who need the document faster may order the record in person. Walk-in requests are typically processed on the same day.

The standard processing time for online requests is 2-3 weeks. However, record seekers may get the document faster if they pay the Rush fee. Expedited processing of birth certificates costs an extra $17.50 for shipping the document. Rush requests are processed within five business days.

Where Can I Find Alaska Birth Records Free?

Alaska restricts certified birth certificates to the registrant, immediate family, or their legal representatives, who pay a fee to obtain the record. Therefore, unauthorized persons may access informational copies and indexes of older birth records from other resources for free.

FamilySearch.org offers free access to indexes and image collections of Alaska birth records from multiple Alaska collections. The collection includes statewide vital records from 1816 to 2005, containing indexes and high-resolution images of birth documents. In addition, users may access specialized local collections from boroughs, such as Fort Yukon birth records from 1890 to 1968 and Kotzebue birth records from 1913 to 1952. The database provides information on the registrant's name, exact birth date and location, parents' names, and registrar's name.

While full record images on Ancestry.com require a paid subscription, its free index allows access to basic birth data. The platform covers Alaska's vital records, including birth records from 1818 to 1963. Users may access the registrant's name, birth year, borough of birth, and parents' names on the platform.

The Alaska State Archives holds state birth records older than 100 years. The platform provides access to Territorial Vital Statistics, including birth registrations, church records, and census data from 1816 to 1998.

When Would I Need My Alaska Birth Records?

An Alaska birth certificate is the foundational, state-issued document that establishes your legal identity, citizenship, and parentage. Therefore, the original copy of your birth certificate would be required for many life situations, including:

• Applying for a U.S. passport
• Obtaining or replacing your Social Security card
• Getting a state-issued ID or a driver's license
• Enrolling in public or private schools, colleges, and universities
• Applying for a marriage license
• Accessing governmental benefits
• Changing your legal name
• Establishing employment eligibility
• Applying for a tribal enrollment or benefits
• Court proceedings, such as adoptions and guardianships
• Enlisting in the U.S. Armed Forces
• Establishing familial relationships in inheritance matters

How Much is A Replacement Birth Certificate in Alaska?

When your Alaska birth certificate has been damaged, lost, stolen, or destroyed, you will need to order a replacement certificate. The process to replace your birth certificate is similar to ordering a certified copy of the record.

To order a replacement birth certificate, complete the Alaska Birth Certificate Request Form. Include a copy of a government-issued ID and proof of eligibility to order the document if not the person named on the birth record. You may order the replacement birth certificate by mail, fax, online, or in person. It costs $30 to purchase a replacement birth certificate and $25 for extra copies requested simultaneously.

When Can the Public Access Alaska Birth Certificates?

Under Alaska law, birth certificates are confidential vital records for 100 years from the birth date. Only authorized individuals may obtain certified copies of birth certificates during the restriction period. Once the birth is 100 years old, anyone may view the record and order copies without proving eligibility.

How To Correct an Error on an Alaska Birth Certificate?

You may correct the following errors on your Alaska birth certificate:

• Administrative/Clerical Errors
• Clerical errors, including misspelled names, locations, or surnames
• Omissions, such as missing middle names or suffixes
• Transposed digits in birth date and time
• Substantive Errors
• Legal name changes
• Sex marker corrections
• Adding or removing a parent

To amend birth certificates in Alaska, contact the Special Services Unit by email, informing them of your intention to correct your birth certificate. The office will send you an amendment packet and instructions on how to complete the application.

Detail the incorrect information and specify the accurate date. Notarize the amendment form and include documentary proof of the correct information, such as a baptismal card or early school documents, to correct clerical errors. For substantive amendments, include a copy of the original birth certificate containing the error and a court order. It costs $30 to amend a birth certificate in Alaska.

Does Alaska Provide Non-binary Birth Certificates?

Alaska does not legally recognize or offer non-binary gender-neutral birth certificates. Alaska only permits the traditional gender markers "Male" or "Female" on birth certificates. State law does not allow the inclusion of a thyroid gender marker "X" on birth records, nor does it permit amending birth records to reflect the non-binary gender marker.