Nassau County birth records are official documents that prove a person was born in this Long Island county. Anyone born in Nassau County, NY can request a certified copy of their birth certificate through the New York State Department of Health.
The Nassau County Clerk’s Office at 240 Old Country Road in Mineola also holds older records and can help with certain requests. This page explains the full process for 2026, including fees, forms, processing times, and who qualifies to order a copy.
Two Main Offices Handle Nassau County Birth Records
People often get confused about which office to contact. Nassau County, NY falls under New York State law for birth certificates. The state keeps all modern birth records. The county clerk keeps some older local records. Most people will order from the state office. A smaller group needs the county office for older files or genealogy research.
The New York State Department of Health runs the Office of Vital Records. This office holds every birth certificate filed in New York State outside New York City. Nassau County is outside NYC, so all births here go through the state system. You can order online, by mail, or in person at designated locations.
The Nassau County Clerk’s Office at 240 Old Country Road, Mineola, NY 11501, also plays a role. The clerk keeps birth records filed in Nassau County before 1914. The clerk can issue copies of these older records. The clerk also handles corrections to birth records filed locally. Phone: (516) 571-1444. Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Nassau County Clerk’s Office Location and Contact Details
The Nassau County Clerk’s main office sits at 240 Old Country Road in Mineola, New York. This is the county seat. The building sits near the intersection of Old Country Road and Franklin Avenue. Free parking is available in the lot behind the building. The office is accessible by bus on the NICE line and is a short walk from the Mineola Long Island Rail Road station.
| Office | Nassau County Clerk’s Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 240 Old Country Road, Mineola, NY 11501 |
| Phone | (516) 571-1444 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| Records Held | Births filed in Nassau County before 1914, corrections, genealogy searches |
New York State Department of Health Vital Records Office
The state office processes all modern Nassau County birth certificate requests. The main address is 800 North Pearl Street, Albany, NY 12204. The office serves every county in New York State outside of the five boroughs of New York City. Nassau County residents cannot visit a local vital records office for certified copies. They must go through Albany or use the online system.
The Albany office processes mail requests, online orders routed through VitalChek, and a limited number of in-person appointments. Phone support is available at (518) 474-3077. The phone line is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wait times can be long during peak seasons like late spring and early summer.
How to Order a Nassau County Birth Certificate Online
Online ordering is the fastest and most popular method. The New York State Department of Health partners with VitalChek as the only approved online vendor. You can order any time of day or night through the VitalChek website. The process takes 10 to 15 minutes for most people.
To start, go to the VitalChek New York birth certificate page. Select “Birth Certificate” from the menu. Choose New York State as the jurisdiction. You will need the following details about the person named on the certificate: full name at birth, date of birth, place of birth (city or town), hospital name, parents’ full names, and parents’ dates of birth. You also need to provide your own name, address, phone, email, and your relationship to the person on the record.
The system asks you to upload a copy of your valid photo ID. A driver’s license, state ID, or passport all work. The state fee is $30 per certified copy. VitalChek adds a service charge of $8.50 plus shipping. Standard shipping is $13.95 and takes 5 to 7 business days. Rush shipping options cost more. You can pay with credit card, debit card, or electronic check.
How to Order a Birth Certificate by Mail
Mail orders work well for people who are not in a hurry. Download Form DOH-296A from the New York State Department of Health website. Print the form and fill it out with a black pen. Do not sign the form until you are in front of a notary if you are requesting a certified copy for legal use. Some applications need a witness or notary depending on your relationship to the person on the record.
Include a clear photocopy of your current photo ID. If your address on the ID does not match your current address, include a second document like a utility bill or bank statement. Write a check or money order for $30 per copy made payable to “New York State Department of Health.” Do not send cash through the mail.
Mail the form, ID copy, and payment to:
New York State Department of Health
Vital Records Section
P.O. Box 2602
Albany, NY 12220-2602
Standard mail processing takes 4 to 6 weeks. The state sends the certificate by first-class mail in a flat envelope. If you want tracking, send your request by certified mail at the post office.
How to Order a Birth Certificate in Person
In-person service is not available at the Nassau County Clerk’s Office for modern birth certificates. The state handles all certified copies through Albany. If you live near Albany, you can visit the state office at 800 North Pearl Street. Walk-in service is available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Bring a valid photo ID and payment.
For people in Nassau County, a better option is to use a local document service or visit the Albany office during a planned trip. Some private companies offer same-day birth certificate services in the Mineola and Garden City area. These companies charge extra fees but can produce a certified copy in under one hour. Make sure any private company is a registered New York State vital records expediter.
The Nassau County Clerk’s Office helps with a different set of records. If you need a birth record filed in Nassau County before 1914, visit the clerk’s office in Mineola. Fill out a records request form. Pay the $10 search fee and $10 per copy fee. Bring a photo ID. The clerk’s staff can pull the file while you wait in most cases.
Current Fees for Nassau County Birth Certificates in 2026
The state fee for each certified copy of a birth certificate is $30. This fee has not changed since 2018. New York State law does not allow refunds, so make sure you order the right number of copies. Most people need two copies: one for current use and one as a backup.
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| State certified copy (each) | $30.00 |
| VitalChek service charge | $8.50 |
| Standard shipping (5–7 days) | $13.95 |
| Rush shipping (2–3 days) | $26.50 |
| Next-day shipping | $34.95 |
| Nassau County Clerk older record search | $10.00 |
| Nassau County Clerk certified copy (pre-1914) | $10.00 |
Payment methods vary by location. The VitalChek site accepts credit and debit cards. Mail orders take checks and money orders. The Albany office accepts cash, checks, money orders, and credit cards. The Nassau County Clerk accepts cash, checks, money orders, and credit cards for older records.
Processing and Delivery Times
Standard processing through VitalChek takes 5 to 7 business days plus shipping. Most people in Nassau County get their certificate within 10 to 14 days of ordering. Mail orders take longer, usually 4 to 6 weeks from the date the state receives the request. The state does not count the day they receive the form in the processing time.
For urgent needs, use VitalChek with rush shipping. You can pay for next-day delivery if you order before 2 p.m. Eastern Time on a business day. The fastest option costs about $73 total per copy, including the state fee, service charge, and overnight shipping. Even rush orders need 24 to 48 hours of state processing before the package ships.
Travel plans and passport renewals need careful timing. Start the process at least 8 weeks before you need the certificate. The U.S. State Department can take 6 to 8 weeks to issue a passport, and they will not start until they have your birth certificate. The state of New York cannot speed up a birth certificate request for travel emergencies, but VitalChek rush shipping gets the document to you the fastest.
Who Can Request a Certified Birth Certificate in Nassau County
New York State law limits who can receive a certified copy of a birth certificate. The state treats these records as private for 125 years. You can only order a certified copy if you fall into one of these groups:
- The person named on the certificate (if 18 or older)
- A parent named on the certificate
- A legal guardian with court papers
- The spouse of the person named on the certificate
- An adult child, grandchild, or sibling of the person
- A person with a New York State court order granting access
- An attorney or licensed private investigator representing an eligible person
- A funeral director handling burial arrangements
You must prove your identity and your relationship to the person on the record. The state checks your ID before releasing the certificate. If you do not qualify, you can apply for an informational copy. The informational copy shows the same facts but has a watermark that says “Not for Legal Use.” Genealogists and family historians often use these copies.
Identity Documents You Need to Order a Birth Certificate
The state requires one valid, unexpired photo ID from this list:
- New York State driver’s license or learner’s permit
- New York State non-driver ID card
- U.S. passport or passport card
- Military ID card (active duty, retiree, or dependent)
- Employee ID with photo from a government agency
- Out-of-state driver’s license or ID
If your photo ID does not have your current address, add a second document. A utility bill, bank statement, or government letter dated within the last 60 days works. The address on the second document must match the address on your order form.
If you do not have any photo ID, you must submit two documents that show your name and address. Approved documents include a Social Security card, birth certificate (for someone other than the person on the new record), school ID with transcript, W-2 form, or insurance card. The state may take longer to process these requests because staff need to verify the documents by hand.
Nassau County Birth Records for Genealogy and Family History
Genealogy research in Nassau County is rich because the county has records going back to its founding in 1899. The Nassau County Clerk’s Office holds birth records filed from 1900 through 1913. Records before 1900 are limited because the county did not exist as a separate entity. People born in this area before 1899 were born in Queens County, which is now part of New York City.
For birth records from 1914 to present, genealogists need to order copies from the New York State Department of Health in Albany. Records become public 125 years after the birth. So a birth in 1900 became public in 2025, and a birth in 1901 becomes public in 2026. Anyone can request these public records without proving a relationship. The state charges the same $30 fee for informational copies.
Other sources for Nassau County genealogy include:
- Town clerk records in Hempstead, North Hempstead, Oyster Bay, and other towns
- Church records from local parishes
- Cemetery records from local cemeteries
- New York State Archives in Albany
- FamilySearch.org, a free genealogy website run by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Long Island Genealogy website, a volunteer-run database of local records
Apostille and Authentication for International Use
A New York State birth certificate can be used in most countries without extra steps. Some countries need an apostille. An apostille is a certificate the U.S. State Department issues to confirm a document is real for use in countries that joined the 1961 Hague Convention. The U.S. State Department stopped issuing apostilles in October 2023, and the New York Secretary of State took over this role for documents filed in New York.
To get an apostille, you need a current certified copy of the birth certificate from the state. You then submit the certificate, an apostille request form, and a $3 fee per document to the New York Department of State. Processing takes 4 to 6 weeks by mail, or you can pay for expedited service. The Secretary of State attaches the apostille to the back of the birth certificate.
Countries that do not follow the Hague Convention may need a different process. You might need a consular authentication from the U.S. State Department and the embassy of the destination country. Check with the embassy for the most current rules. Italy, China, and several Middle Eastern countries have their own rules that differ from the apostille process.
Birth Certificates for Passport Applications
A birth certificate is the main proof of citizenship for a U.S. passport. The U.S. State Department is strict about which certificates they accept. The certificate must have all of these features:
- Raised or embossed seal from the issuing office
- Registrar’s signature with the date filed with the registrar’s office
- Full name of the person, date of birth, and place of birth
- Parent or parents’ full names
- Issued by the city, county, or state of birth
A standard certified copy from the New York State Department of Health meets all these rules. The certificate has a raised state seal. Hospital birth certificates and baptismal certificates do not count. Informational copies marked “Not for Legal Use” do not count. If your certificate does not have a raised seal, order a new certified copy from the state.
For a first passport, the child must appear in person. The parent brings the child’s certified birth certificate, both parents’ IDs, and a passport photo. For a renewal, you can mail the application. The State Department recommends sending a new certified copy rather than your original birth certificate, because the document is hard to replace if it gets lost in the mail.
How to Fix Errors on a Nassau County Birth Certificate
Mistakes happen on birth certificates. A misspelled name, wrong date, or missing parent information can cause problems with school, travel, and government records. New York State has a formal process for fixing these errors. The type of correction depends on the type of mistake.
For a clerical error, such as a misspelled name or wrong date, fill out Form DOH-297 (Application for Correction of a Birth Certificate). Attach proof of the correct information. A hospital record, doctor’s note, or insurance card with the correct data works. Mail the form and documents to the New York State Department of Health. The state reviews the request and issues a corrected certificate. The fee is $30 for a new certified copy plus any service charges.
For a legal change, such as adding a parent’s name, changing a name, or correcting a place of birth, you need a court order. File a petition in Nassau County Family Court or Supreme Court. The court holds a hearing and issues an order. You then bring the court order to the state vital records office. The state updates the record and issues a new certificate.
Common errors people try to fix include: spelling mistakes in the first or last name, wrong gender marker, wrong hospital name, missing middle name, and wrong parents’ names. Each case is different. Call the New York State Department of Health at (518) 474-3077 to ask which form fits your situation.
Local Town Clerks and Other Record Holders
Town clerks in Nassau County can also help with birth records in some cases. The Town of Hempstead clerk, Town of North Hempstead clerk, and Town of Oyster Bay clerk all keep records filed in their towns. Many of these records go back to the early 1900s. Each town has its own fee schedule. Most town clerks charge $10 to $25 per certified copy of older records.
Cities and villages in Nassau County, such as Long Beach, Glen Cove, and the villages in the Town of Hempstead, may have their own record offices. These offices hold records for births filed within their borders. Some villages no longer keep these records and will refer you to the town or state office.
Common Mistakes That Delay Birth Certificate Requests
Many requests get sent back or take longer because of simple errors. Here are the most common mistakes to avoid:
- Missing signature on the application form
- Not including a copy of photo ID
- Wrong payment amount or unsigned check
- Requesting a record filed in New York City (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, Staten Island) from Albany. NYC has its own vital records office at 125 Worth Street, New York, NY 10013
- Using a P.O. Box for delivery. The state will not ship to P.O. Boxes. Use a physical street address
- Ordering a record that does not exist, such as a birth certificate for a person who was not born in New York State
Double-check the spelling of every name and every date before you send the form. The state charges $30 for each replacement if you make a mistake on your order.
Replacing a Lost or Stolen Birth Certificate
If your birth certificate was lost, stolen, or damaged, you can order a new certified copy. Follow the same process as a first-time order. The state treats replacement orders the same as original orders. You do not need to report the loss to the police unless you suspect someone used your identity to commit fraud. The state tracks the number of copies issued for each record. If you order more than a few copies, the state may contact you to verify the request.
To prevent identity theft after a loss, consider placing a fraud alert with the three major credit bureaus. You can also request a copy of your credit report at AnnualCreditReport.com. Keep your new birth certificate in a safe place. A fireproof safe or safe deposit box works well for storing vital records.
Frequently Asked Questions About Nassau County Birth Records
The questions below cover the most common concerns people have when ordering a birth certificate from Nassau County, NY. These answers come from current state and county rules as of 2026.
1. How long does it take to get a birth certificate from Nassau County?
Standard mail orders through the New York State Department of Health take 4 to 6 weeks. VitalChek online orders with standard shipping take 5 to 7 business days for state processing, then 5 to 7 business days for delivery. VitalChek rush shipping with overnight delivery can get a certificate to you in 2 to 3 business days from the time you order. The Nassau County Clerk can issue copies of older records (pre-1914) the same day you visit the office in Mineola. Plan ahead and order at least 8 weeks before you need the certificate for a passport, school enrollment, or government benefits.
2. Can I get a birth certificate at the Nassau County Clerk’s Office?
The Nassau County Clerk’s Office at 240 Old Country Road in Mineola handles birth records filed in the county before 1914. For all other birth records filed in Nassau County, you must order through the New York State Department of Health in Albany. The clerk can help you start the state process and can answer questions about older local records. The clerk does not issue certified copies of modern birth certificates. If you need a current certificate, use VitalChek online or mail Form DOH-296A to the Albany office.
3. What is the phone number for Nassau County birth records?
The Nassau County Clerk’s Office phone number is (516) 571-1444. The clerk handles older records, corrections, and genealogy questions. For modern birth certificate orders, call the New York State Department of Health at (518) 474-3077. For online order help, call VitalChek customer service at (877) 456-1770. Phone lines are open during regular business hours. The state line gets busy during peak seasons. Plan to call early in the day to avoid long hold times.
4. How much does a Nassau County birth certificate cost?
The state fee is $30 per certified copy of a birth certificate. This fee is set by New York State law and is the same in every county outside New York City. VitalChek adds an $8.50 service charge plus shipping costs. Total cost for a standard online order runs $52 to $60. Mail orders cost $30 per copy plus a stamp. The Nassau County Clerk charges $10 for the search fee and $10 per certified copy of older records (pre-1914). There are no fees for processing corrections to records caused by state or hospital errors.
5. Can a grandparent order a birth certificate in Nassau County?
Yes. A grandparent can order a certified copy of a grandchild’s birth certificate as long as the grandchild is under 18 and the grandparent is named on the record or has legal custody. For adult grandchildren, the grandparent cannot order a certified copy. The grandparent can order an informational copy with a watermark marked “Not for Legal Use.” The grandparent must provide a photo ID and proof of the relationship, such as the grandparent’s own birth certificate showing the link to the parent.
6. Where do I get a birth certificate for a passport in Nassau County?
Order a certified copy from the New York State Department of Health. The certificate must have a raised or embossed state seal, the registrar’s signature, and the date filed with the registrar’s office. Standard certified copies from the state meet all U.S. State Department rules. Order through VitalChek with rush shipping to get the document in time. Start the process at least 10 weeks before your travel date to allow for State Department processing. The Nassau County Clerk cannot issue certificates that meet passport rules for modern records.
7. How do I find old birth records in Nassau County for genealogy?
Start with the Nassau County Clerk’s Office for records filed before 1914. For records from 1914 to present, the New York State Department of Health holds the files. Records become public 125 years after the birth date. For example, a birth in 1900 became public in 2025. You can order public records without proving a relationship. Other sources include town clerk records, church records, cemetery records, FamilySearch.org, and the Long Island Genealogy website. Many older Nassau County births also appear in Queens County records because the area was part of Queens before 1899.
Quick Reference: Nassau County Birth Records Contacts
Use this list to reach the right office for your needs:
Nassau County Clerk’s Office (older records, pre-1914): 240 Old Country Road, Mineola, NY 11501, phone (516) 571-1444, hours Monday–Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
New York State Department of Health Vital Records Section (modern records): P.O. Box 2602, Albany, NY 12220-2602, phone (518) 474-3077, hours Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
New York State Department of Health Walk-In Service: 800 North Pearl Street, Albany, NY 12204, hours Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
VitalChek Online Orders: 1-877-456-1770, available 24 hours a day, website vitalchek.com
New York City Vital Records (if born in NYC): 125 Worth Street, New York, NY 10013, phone (212) 788-4520