Escambia County birth records are official documents that show a person was born in Escambia County, Florida. The Florida Department of Health in Escambia County (DOH-Escambia) keeps these records and gives out certified copies to people who qualify.
This office sits on Fairfield Drive in Pensacola and serves more than 331,000 people who live in the area.
Birth records are needed for school enrollment, jobs, passports, driver licenses, sports sign-ups, Social Security, and many other things. The process to get one is simple once you know the steps. This page covers every way to get a birth certificate in Escambia County, who can ask for one, what it costs, and how to fix errors.
Escambia County Birth Certificate Office
The DOH-Escambia Vital Statistics office is the main place to get birth records in the county. It is located at 1295 West Fairfield Drive, Pensacola, FL 32501. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The phone number is 850-595-6500.
This office can issue certified copies of birth records for any birth that was filed in the state of Florida. You do not have to have been born in Escambia County to get a copy from this office. Any Florida birth record can be picked up here.
Under Florida Statute 382.013, every birth in the state must be filed with the Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville. Local hospitals in the Pensacola area send birth data to the state within days of the birth. Once the record is in the state system, the local office can pull it up and print a certified copy on official security paper with a raised state seal.
What to Bring to the Office
- A valid photo ID (driver license, state ID, passport, or military ID)
- The full name on the birth record
- The date of birth
- The place of birth (city or county)
- The full names of both parents listed on the record
- Payment for the fee ($15 for the first copy)
Walk-in service is available every weekday. Most people wait less than 30 minutes to be helped. The office handles hundreds of requests each week, so the staff is trained to process them quickly.
How to Get a Birth Certificate in Escambia County
There are three main ways to order a birth certificate in Escambia County: in person, by mail, or online. Each method has its own steps, fees, and wait times.
Option 1: Walk-In Service
Going to the DOH-Escambia office in person is the fastest way to get a birth certificate. You fill out a short application, show your ID, pay the fee, and the clerk prints your certified copy on the spot. Most walk-in requests are done in the same visit.
The office is busiest during back-to-school season in July and August. It also gets crowded right before major holidays. If you go early in the morning on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, the wait is usually shortest.
Option 2: Mail Request
You can mail your request to the Escambia County office. To do this, you need to fill out the DH726 application form. This form is available on the Florida Department of Health website. You also need to include a copy of your photo ID and a check or money order for the fee. Make the payment out to “DOH-Escambia.”
Mail your packet to:
DOH-Escambia
1295 West Fairfield Drive
Pensacola, FL 32501
Mail requests take about two to three weeks to come back. The office sends the certificate by regular first-class mail. If you want tracking, include a self-addressed stamped envelope with tracking from the post office.
Option 3: State Bureau of Vital Statistics
You can also mail your request to the state office in Jacksonville. The Bureau of Vital Statistics processes mail orders for the whole state. The address is:
Bureau of Vital Statistics
PO Box 210
Jacksonville, FL 32231
Mail requests to the state take three to five business days to process, plus mail time in both directions. This option is helpful when the local office is busy or closed.
Online Birth Certificate Orders
Florida uses VitalChek as the only approved online vendor for birth records. The VitalChek website is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can order from your phone or computer at any time.
To order online, go to vitalchek.com and select Florida. Fill out the form with the birth details, upload a photo of your ID, and pay with a credit or debit card. The state fee for online orders is $19. VitalChek adds a service fee of about $7. Rush shipping costs extra.
Online orders ship by mail. Standard delivery takes 5 to 7 business days. Rush delivery arrives in 2 to 3 business days. The total cost for one certificate through VitalChek is usually between $30 and $45, depending on the shipping speed.
Online orders work well for people who cannot visit the office during work hours. They also help people who live in other states but need an Escambia County birth certificate for a family member.
Escambia County Birth Certificate Fees
The fees for birth records in Escambia County come from Florida Statute 382.0255. The fee schedule is set by the state and applies to every county in Florida.
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| First certified copy (in person or mail) | $15 |
| Each additional copy (same order) | $7 |
| Online order (state fee) | $19 |
| VitalChek service fee | ~$7 |
| Rush shipping | Varies |
The in-person option at the Escambia County office is the cheapest way to get a birth certificate. The office accepts cash, checks, money orders, and debit or credit cards. Online orders only accept credit or debit cards through VitalChek.
Who Can Request Escambia County Birth Records
Florida law controls who can get a certified copy of a birth record. Under Florida Statute 382.025, birth records are private for 125 years from the date of birth. Only people in certain groups can ask for a certified copy.
People who can request a certified birth certificate include:
- The person named on the record, if they are 18 or older
- A parent listed on the birth certificate
- A legal guardian with court papers
- A husband or wife of the person on the record
- An adult child, grandchild, or sibling of the person on the record
- A lawyer or legal representative acting for one of these people
You must show proof of your identity and your relationship to the person on the record. The office staff will check your ID before they process the order. If you cannot show proper ID, the request will be denied.
Informational Copies
If you do not qualify for a certified copy, you can ask for an informational copy. This version has the same data as the certified copy but is stamped to show it is not valid for legal use. Informational copies work for family history research, school projects, and personal records. They cost the same as a certified copy.
Expedited Birth Certificate Service
Same-day service is available for walk-in requests at the DOH-Escambia office. When you go in person, the clerk prints your certificate on security paper while you wait. This is the fastest way to get a birth certificate in Escambia County.
For mail and online orders, rush shipping is available through VitalChek for an extra cost. Rush orders arrive in 2 to 3 business days. Next-day shipping is also available in some cases. The shipping fee is added to the base fee at checkout.
If you need a birth certificate for a trip or emergency, the walk-in option at the Fairfield Drive office is the best choice. You can get your certificate the same day if you bring proper ID and pay the fee.
Correcting or Amending Birth Certificates
Mistakes on a birth certificate can be fixed. The process depends on the type of error. Small errors like a misspelled name or wrong date can often be fixed with a simple form. Bigger changes, such as adding or removing a parent, may need a court order under Florida Statute 382.016.
Amendments are handled by the Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville, not at the Escambia County office. You send your paperwork to the state office. Once the change is approved, the updated record goes into the state system. Then you can get a new certified copy from the Escambia County Health Department that shows the corrected information.
Common reasons to amend a birth record include:
- Spelling errors in the name
- Wrong date of birth
- Wrong place of birth
- Wrong parent information
- Adding a parent after adoption
- Changing a name after marriage or court order
The amendment fee is separate from the copy fee. Each change has its own fee, which is set by the state. The state will tell you the total cost when they review your request.
Older and Historical Birth Records
The DOH-Escambia office can issue birth certificates for births from 1930 to the present. Florida started keeping state-wide birth records in 1927. For births before 1930, you need to contact the state Bureau of Vital Statistics at 1217 N Pearl Street, Jacksonville, FL 32231. The state phone number is 904-359-6900.
The state office keeps the oldest birth records on file. Some very old Escambia County birth records may also be at the county clerk’s office or local historical archives. Pensacola is one of the oldest cities in the United States, so there may be church and cemetery records that go back hundreds of years.
For genealogy research, the state office is the best place to start. You can call them to ask what they have before you pay any fees. They can search the index and tell you if a record exists for the person you are looking for.
Genealogy Research Tips
- Call the state office first to confirm the record exists
- Have the full name, date of birth, and county of birth ready
- Ask about the exact fee for older records
- Allow extra time for old records to be pulled from the archive
- Check local libraries and historical societies for church and family records
Apostille for Birth Certificates
An apostille is a stamp that proves a document is real for use in another country. If you need to use a Florida birth certificate in a country that is part of the Hague Apostille Convention, you may need an apostille.
Apostilles in Florida are handled by the Florida Department of State, not the health department. You send a certified copy of the birth certificate to the state office in Tallahassee along with the apostille application and fee. The Florida Department of State then adds the apostille to the document.
Plan ahead for apostille requests. The process takes several weeks from start to finish. You need a fresh certified copy of the birth certificate before you can get the apostille. The state office will not apostille a photocopy.
Birth Verification for Government Agencies
Some government agencies only need to verify a birth, not get a full certified copy. In these cases, the agency can contact the state Bureau of Vital Statistics directly. This is called a “verification only” request. The agency pays a small fee and gets a letter from the state that confirms the birth record exists.
Private citizens cannot order a verification-only letter. This service is only for federal, state, and local government agencies, as well as some employers who need to verify identity or age.
Cities and Communities in Escambia County
Escambia County includes many cities and towns. All of them are served by the DOH-Escambia office in Pensacola. You do not need to go to a different office based on where you live in the county.
Main communities in Escambia County include:
- Pensacola (county seat)
- Perdido Key
- Cantonment
- Bellview
- Brent
- Ensley
- Warrington
- West Pensacola
- Ferry Pass
- Gonzalez
- Molino
- McDavid
Nearby Counties
Any Florida county health department can pull up a birth record for any birth that happened in Florida. If you live closer to a neighboring county, you can visit that office instead. The two counties that border Escambia County are Santa Rosa County to the east and Escambia County, Alabama, to the north.
Santa Rosa County has a health department in Milton that can also issue birth certificates. Okaloosa County to the east also has a health department office. However, all three offices pull from the same state database, so the fees and rules are the same no matter which office you visit.
Office Location and Contact
DOH-Escambia Vital Statistics Office
1295 West Fairfield Drive
Pensacola, FL 32501
Phone: 850-595-6500
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Official website: escambia.floridahealth.gov
Frequently Asked Questions
These are the most common questions people ask about getting birth records in Escambia County. The answers below are based on Florida law and the current rules of the Florida Department of Health.
How long does it take to get a birth certificate in Escambia County?
Walk-in requests at the DOH-Escambia office are processed the same day. Most people wait less than 30 minutes and leave with their certified copy. Mail requests to the local office take 2 to 3 weeks. Mail requests to the state office in Jacksonville take 3 to 5 business days plus mail time. Online orders through VitalChek take 5 to 7 business days for standard shipping or 2 to 3 business days for rush shipping. Plan ahead for school enrollment and travel deadlines.
Can I get a birth certificate if I was not born in Escambia County?
Yes. The DOH-Escambia office can issue certified copies of any Florida birth record. Florida has a single state database, so any county health department can pull up any birth that was filed in the state. If you were born in another state, you need to contact that state’s vital records office. If you were born in another country, you need to contact that country’s government or the U.S. State Department for naturalized citizens.
What forms of ID are accepted at the Escambia County office?
The office accepts a Florida driver license, state ID card, U.S. passport, military ID, or permanent resident card. The ID must have your photo, signature, and current address. If your ID has an old address, bring a utility bill or bank statement to show your current address. Expired IDs are not accepted. If you do not have proper ID, your request will be denied.
How much does it cost to replace a lost birth certificate?
The fee is the same as getting a new copy. The first certified copy costs $15 in person or by mail. Each additional copy of the same record costs $7. Online orders through VitalChek cost $19 plus a $7 service fee and shipping costs. There is no extra fee for replacing a lost certificate. You just order a new certified copy through the normal process.
Can a grandparent order a grandchild’s birth certificate?
Yes, if the grandchild is 18 or older. Under Florida Statute 382.025, an adult grandchild can request their own certificate, and a grandparent can request the certificate of an adult grandchild. For minor grandchildren, only the parents or legal guardians can request the certificate. The grandparent must show their photo ID and proof of their relationship to the grandchild, such as a family Bible, census record, or other document showing the family line.
How do I fix a misspelled name on a birth certificate?
To fix a small error like a misspelled name, fill out the DH426 amendment form from the Florida Department of Health. Include a copy of your photo ID and a document that shows the correct spelling, such as a hospital record, school record, or other government ID. Mail the form to the Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville. The state will review the request and make the change if approved. The amendment fee is $20 plus the cost of a new certified copy.
Can I use a birth certificate from another state in Florida?
Yes, birth certificates from other U.S. states are accepted in Florida for most purposes, including school enrollment, driver license applications, and job applications. The certificate must be a certified copy with a raised seal or stamp from the issuing state. Hospital birth announcements, photocopies, and notarized copies are not accepted. If you need a new certified copy of an out-of-state birth, you must contact that state’s vital records office.