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Where to mail your certificate application in District of Columbia

Mail your completed District of Columbia certificate application to Vital Records Division, 2201 Shannon Pl SE, Washington, DC 20020. This office issues certified copies of birth and death certificates registered in the state. $23 for a birth certificate, $18 for a death certificate. Send the signed form, any required ID, and payment, and keep proof of mailing if your certificate is for a passport, estate, or other deadline.

Certificate applications — birth and death certificates

Vital Records Division
2201 Shannon Pl SE
Washington, DC  20020

Use this address for birth and death certificates for events registered in District of Columbia.

Verified September 2026cdc.gov

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Mail my certificate application — $5

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  • You write & pay
  • We print & envelope
  • USPS, next business day
  • Confirmation of Mailing emailed

Your name
Your return address

Vital Records Division2201 Shannon Pl SEWashington, DC 20020

Your letter, printed and mailed for you.

Key facts

  • District of Columbia's vital records office issues certificates only for events (births, deaths) registered in District of Columbia — apply to the state where the event happened, not the state you live in now.
  • $23 for a birth certificate, $18 for a death certificate.
  • Personal check or money order payable to "DC Treasurer."
  • Include a copy of a government-issued photo ID.
  • Marriage certificates come from the DC Superior Court, 500 Indiana Avenue NW, Rm. 4485, Washington, DC 20001 ($10 per copy) — not the Vital Records Division.
  • Mailed applications take longer than online orders because processing only starts once the envelope arrives — allow extra time if you need the certificate for a passport, estate, or other deadline.
  • PostPal prints your completed application and mails it to Vital Records Division the next business day — no printer, envelope, or trip to the post office.

How to send your letter

  1. 1

    Confirm the event was registered in District of Columbia

    Certificates come from the state where the birth, death was registered. If the event happened in District of Columbia, Vital Records Division is the right office; if it happened elsewhere, apply there instead.

  2. 2

    Fill out and sign the application

    Download the current application from District of Columbia's vital records website (linked in the sources below), complete it, and sign it. Include a copy of a government-issued photo ID. Include your payment: Personal check or money order payable to "DC Treasurer."

  3. 3

    Address the envelope to the vital records office

    Mail it to Vital Records Division, 2201 Shannon Pl SE, Washington, DC 20020. Put your own return address on the envelope so anything undeliverable comes back to you. Note: Marriage certificates come from the DC Superior Court, 500 Indiana Avenue NW, Rm. 4485, Washington, DC 20001 ($10 per copy) — not the Vital Records Division.

  4. 4

    Send it without leaving home

    Upload your completed application to PostPal with this address prefilled. We print it, add it to a sealed envelope, and deposit it with USPS within one business day for $5 — postage included.

Common questions

Where do I mail my birth certificate application in District of Columbia?

Mail it to Vital Records Division, 2201 Shannon Pl SE, Washington, DC 20020. $23 for a birth certificate, $18 for a death certificate.

Can I mail a vital records application instead of ordering online?

Yes. District of Columbia accepts certificate applications by mail — send the signed form, any required ID, and payment to Vital Records Division. Mail is a common choice when you can't order online or need to include documents the online system won't accept.

What do I need to include when I mail my application?

Include the completed and signed application form, include a copy of a government-issued photo ID., and payment: Personal check or money order payable to "DC Treasurer."

How long does a mailed certificate take?

Longer than an online order, because processing only begins when your envelope arrives and the finished certificate is mailed back to you. If you're up against a passport, travel, or estate deadline, mail early and keep proof of the date you sent it.

Can I get a marriage certificate from this address?

Marriage certificates come from the DC Superior Court, 500 Indiana Avenue NW, Rm. 4485, Washington, DC 20001 ($10 per copy) — not the Vital Records Division.

Can PostPal mail my District of Columbia vital records application for me?

Yes. Upload your completed, signed application and PostPal prints it and mails it to Vital Records Division the next business day for $5, with a dated Confirmation of Mailing emailed to you. You still fill out and sign the form yourself — we handle the printing, envelope, and postage.

Sources

Addresses verified September 2026 against official sources. Always confirm on the official site before time-sensitive filings.

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