Birth Certificates and Vital Records
General information
Birth certificates are an extremely important part of almost any residency or non-tourist visa application. They are, for countries, undeniable proof of your identity, your heritage, and other information used to verify your identity. They can also be, in many cases, challenging to acquire or amend due to constantly shifting political situations in the US. The process also varies heavily state-by-state. For this reason it is recommended to verify any info here against what is shown on the website of the vital records agency of the state or territory from which your records originate. The CDC has a list of links and instructions for obtaining vital records, including birth and marriage records, in each state.
An important part of using any vital record abroad that many people are not aware of is the apostille. This is a requirement that was established in 1961, as an attempt to create a simplified system for notarizing documents for use abroad. Any country which has entered into the Hague Convention will request any document issued by a foreign government - if the document is used within that country - to have an apostille included with it. While visa applications made within the US do not always require an apostilled document, many others do. And applications made within Hague Convention countries, such as for residency, will often require an apostille. An apostille is only valid for a singular country specified by the requester.
Currently, 127 countries are members of the Hague Convention. Countries which are not Hague Convention members, which primarily are located in Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, as well as the Carribean, will require authentication and legalization.
Authentications and apostilles are typically issued from a state's Secretary of State office. A full list of apostille issuing authorities in the United States is available from the website of the Hague Convention.
For every state and most territories, there are private companies that can speed up processing of vital records and, usually, apostilles. VitalChek is the most commonly used service, and the only one known to operate in every U.S. State.
Note that there are significant and high fees associated with using such services. Listings below assume one is procuring the needed documents without the use of an expediting service.
State by state information (WIP)
Alabama
Alabama Public Health issues birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates.
Alabama Public Health offers direct service for apostilled and exemplified copies of vital records. Note that this service can only be provided via mail-in or telephone request.
Alaska
Alaska Health Analytics and Vital Records Division (HAVRD) issues birth, death, marriage and divorce certificates.
Divorce decrees and divorce records must be obtained through the Alaska Court System.
Per HAVRD's fee schedule, apostilles can be ordered with the vital record for a $12 additional fee.
Processing time via mail is estimated at 12 weeks for apostilled documents.
Arizona
Birth and death records are issued by the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS). Note that this site may be inaccessible outside the USA; a VPN may prove useful to access the site.
Marriage certificates and divorce decrees are issued from Arizona county clerks of court.
Apostilles and authentications are processed by the Arizona Secretary of State's office.
Note that there does not appear to be a method to directly forward documents from ADHS or from county clerks of court offices to AZSOS.
California
California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issues birth, death, marriage and divorce certificates.
County recorders and clerks also issue marriage certificates.
Clerks of Superior Court issue divorce decrees.
Apostilles and authentications are processed by the California Secretary of State's office. In addition to mail in service, walk in service is available in Sacramento and Los Angeles.
Note that there does not appear to be a method to directly forward documents from CDPH or from county offices to CASOS.
Colorado
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment issues birth, death, marriage and divorce certificates. County vital records offices also issue birth and death records.
County clerks also issue marriage certificates.
Clerks of District Courts issue divorce decrees.
Apostilles and authentications are processed by the Colorado Secretary of State's office. Note that Colorado issues a document that combines both the authentication and apostille functions. Walk in service is available in Denver for an additional fee.
Apostilles can be ordered at the same time as the vital record, using the same form.
Connecticut
Connecticut Department of Public Health (CDPH) issues birth, death, and marriage certificates. City and town clerks also issue these documents.
Clerks of Superior Courts issue divorce decrees.
The Connecticut Secretary of State's office issues apostilles and authentications.
Note that there does not appear to be a method to directly forward documents from CDPH, town clerks, or from county offices to CTSOS.
Delaware
Delaware has a comprehensive website for all certificates.
Delaware Office of Vital Statistics (DOVS) issues birth, death, and marriage certificates.
Divorce documents are issued from Family Court in the county where the divorce was granted.
The Delaware Secretary of State's office issues apostilles and authentications.
Note that there does not appear to be a method to directly forward documents from DOVS or family courts to DESOS.
Florida
Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics (FBVS) issues birth, death, marriage and divorce certificates.
County health departments can also issue birth and death certificates.
The Florida Department of State issues apostilles and authentications.
Per FBVS' website, there is no method to directly forward documents to FLDOS other than ordering through VitalChek, a third party vendor.
Georgia
Georgia Department of Public Health (GDPH) issues birth and death certificates.
County vital record offices issue marriage and divorce certificates.
Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority issues apostilles.
Note that there does not appear to be a method to directly forward documents from GDPH or county vital records offices to GSCCCA or GASOS.
Hawai'i
Circuit courts issue divorce decrees.
This page comprehensively explains how to obtain apostilles and authentications for certificates.
The Lieutenant Governor's Office issues apostilles and certifications.
Authentications are issued by the Chief Clerk of the First Circuit Court.
Orders for apostilled and authenticated documents from HDHVR must be sent by mail.
Idaho
County recorders also issue marriage certificates.
County clerks offices also issue divorce decrees.
The Idaho Secretary of State's office issues apostilles and authentications.
Note that there appears to be no way to directly forward documents from IDHW or county offices to IDSOS.
Illinois
Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) issues birth and death certificates.
The Illinois Secretary of State's Office issues authentications and apostilles. Walk in service is also available in Chicago and Springfield. Note that ILSOS's website is not accessible in Europe; a VPN may prove useful for accessing this site.
It is possible to get a birth certificate sent directly from DPH to ILSOS for this service.
Indiana
Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) issues birth, death, and marriage certificates. Note that this webpage may not properly load outside the US.
County health departments also issue birth and death certificates.
Clerks of county courts and superior courts also issue marriage licenses and divorce decrees.
Indiana Secretary of State's Office, Business Services Division issues apostilles and authentications. Note that this webpage may not properly load outside the US.
Note that Indiana uses the same form for both apostilles and authentications.
There does not appear to be a method to directly forward documents from ISDH or county offices to INSOS for authentication.
Iowa
Iowa Health and Human Services (IHHS) issues birth, death, and marriage certificates.
Note that if you presently have a wallet sized birth certificate, you can exchange that document, at no fee, for one long form copy of your birth certificate. This requires surrender of the wallet sized birth certificate.
County courts issue divorce decrees.
(PDF form) Iowa Secretary of State, Business Services Division issues apostilles and authentications. Walk in service is available in Des Moines.
There does not appear to be a method to directly forward documents from IHHS or county offices to for authentication.
Kansas
District courts issue divorce decrees.
The Kansas Secretary of State's Office issues authentications and apostilles.
There does not appear to be a way to directly forward documents from KDHE or county offices to KSSOS.
Reversal of corrections to birth certificates
Note that if you presently have a Kansas birth certificate with a corrected gender on it you may continue to use it, but a recently passed law, SB 180, requires KDHE to issue subsequent copies with the original sex assigned at birth.
Kentucky
CHFS requires that requests specifically indicate if a document is being requested to be apostilled or authenticated.
Clerks of county courts also issue marriage licenses and divorce decrees.
The Kentucky Secretary of State's Office issues apostilles and authentications. Note that Kentucky uses a single form for both authentications and apostilles. Walk in service is offered in Frankfort.
CHFS explicitly states on its website that it is the requester's responsibility to forward documents to KYSOS for authentication.
Louisiana
Note that LDH requires that you advise if a record is obtained for purpose of apostille.
Clerks of court issue marriage licenses in all other parishes and divorce decrees in all parishes.
Louisiana Secretary of State's Office issues apostilles and authentications. Walk-in service is offered in Baton Rouge.
LDH's website is explicit that it is the responsibility of the customer to forward documents from LDH to LASOS.
Maine
Maine Vital Records issues birth, death, marriage and divorce certificates.
Maine Secretary of State, Bureau of Corporations, Elections, and Commissions, issues apostilles and authentications. Walk in service is available in Augusta, but appointments are required for requests of fice or more authentications.
MESOS's webpage states that one may request that Vital Records forward documents to them for authentication. This will require filling in MESOS's application form and submission of a separate fee.
Correcting birth certificates
Maine has an exceptionally progressive method to correct biodata on birth records.
Note that correcting name and gender of a Maine vital record is a straightforward process. Maine Vital Records has a document that explains the process of correcting gender.
This process also permits an administrative change of name, so long as surnames are not changed, at the same time that gender is changed. This is rare in the US.
Importantly, the gender corrected certificate is a replacement certificate that does not show the original biodata.
Maryland
Marriage certificates annd divorce decrees prior to those dates are issued by Clerks of Circuit Courts in the county, or in the City of Baltimore, in which the act took place
The Maryland Secretary of State's Office issues apostilles and authentications. Walk in service is available in Annapolis with a limit of 15 documents.
There does not appear to be a method to directly forward documents from MDH or county offices to MDSOS.
Correcting birth certificates
Changing name requires a court order be submitted in addition to the form on the above linked page.
Massachusetts
Registers of Probate Courts issue divorce decrees.
The Secretary of the Commonwealth's office issues apostilles and authentications. Walk in service is available in Boston, Fall River, and Springfield, with a limit of three documents for same day service.
There does not appear to be a method to directly forward documents from RVRS or court offices to SOC for authentication.
Correcting birth certificates
The process for correcting gender on a Massachussets birth certificate is straightforward. The process only requires an affidavit to correct gender. Name changes require a copy of a court order.
Michigan
Michigan Vital Records Department issues birth, death, marriage and divorce records.
County courts also issue marriage certificates and divorce decrees.
The Michigan Secretary of State's Office issues apostilles and authentications.
Note that there does not appear to be a method to directly forward documents from Vital Records or county offices to MISOS.
Correcting birth certificates
Corrections to gender are straightforward.
In addition to the form to change a record (PDF link), one needs also include a Sex Designation Form (PDF link).
To change name requires a court order.
Minnesota
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) issues birth and death certificates.
Note that for foreign use, Minnesota does not issue a "long form" birth certificate as one document. MNDOH provides a certified birth certificate, a noncertified birth record, and a long-form birth certificate policy memo.
The three documents must be authenticated separately. The certified birth certificate must be presented as one document, while the noncertified birth record and long-form birth certificate policy memo must be properly notarized by a Minnesota Notary Public and then presented for apostille.
County vital health offices issue marriage certificates.
County district courts issue divorce decrees.
Minnesota Secretary of State issues apostilles and authentications.
Note that Indiana uses the same form for both apostilles and authentications.
There is no method to directly forward documents from MDH or county offices to MNSOS.
Correcting birth certificates
The process for amending a Minnesota birth record is not difficult. To amend sex requires a either a letter from a physician certifying that they are receiving treatment for gender transition or a court order directing a change to the birth record.
Notably, unless the court order for a new birth certificate is enclosed and directs creation of a new birth certificate, the amended birth certificate will include the note, "Data items other than the registrant’s name or date of birth were amended [date of amendment]".
Mississippi
Mississippi Bureau of Vital Records issues birth, death, and marriage certificates.
County Chancery clerks of court issue divorce decrees.
The Mississippi Secretary of State's Office issues apostilles and authentications.
It is possible to directly forward a vital record from Vital Records to MSSOS for authentication. Mail in orders require submission of an additional $5.00 fee in the form of a check or money order payable to Mississippi Secretary of State. It is unclear if there is a method to directly forward documents from county offices.
Missouri
Missouri Bureau of Vital Records issues birth and death certificates and marriage statements.
County Recorders of Deeds issue marriage certificates.
Clerks of Circuit Courts issue divorce decrees.
The Missouri Secretary of State's Office issues apostiles and authentications.
There does not appear to be a method to directly forward documents from Vital Records or county offices to MOSOS.
Correcting birth certificates
Missouri will amend a birth certificate only with a court order designating a change of sex. The amended birth record will reflect the amendment.
Montana
Montana Office of Vital Records issues birth and death certificates.
Clerks of district courts issue marriage certificates and divorce decrees.
The Montana Secretary of State office issues apostilles and authentications. Montana uses a single form for both.
It is possible to directly forward a vital record from Vital Records to MTSOS for authentication. Mail in orders require submission of an additional $10.00 fee in the form of a check or money order payable to Montana Secretary of State or online through this form. It is unclear if there is a method to directly forward documents from county offices.
Correcting birth certificates
Corrections of birth certificates require additional documentation. This document lays out the requirements and procedure (PDF link).
In addition to the application form (PDF link), one also needs to complete a Gender Designation Form (PDF link) and include appropriate documentation. A court order is required to change name.
Nebraska
Nebraska Office of Vital Records issues birth, death, marriage and divorce certificates.
The Nebraska Secretary of State's Office issues apostilles and authentications. Online payment is available, but the document must then be physically sent to NESOS's offices for the actual authentication. Walk in service is available in Lincoln.
There does not appear to be a method to directly forward documents from Vital Records to NESOS.
Nevada
Nevada Office of Vital Records issues birth and death certificates.
County recorders' offices issue marriage certificates.
County clerks of court issue divorce decrees.
This PDF document has a list of the appropriate offices for marriage and divorce records.
The Nevada Secretary of State's Office issues apostilles and authentications.
There does not appear to be a method to directly forward documents from Vital Records or county offices to NVSOS.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire Division of Vital Records issues birth, death, marriage and divorce certificates.
All city and town clerks in New Hampshire can also issue these documents.
The New Hampshire Department of State issues apostilles and authentications. Walk in service is available in Concord.
Despite Vital Records being a division of NHDOS, there does not appear to be a method to directly forward documents from Cital Records for authentication.
New Jersey
New Jersey Office of Vital Statistics and Registry issues birth, death, and marriage certificates.
Note that forms explicitly require one state that document is intended to be apostilled.
New Jersey Superior Court Clerk's Office issues divorce decrees.
The New Jersey Department of the Treasury issues apostilles and authentications. Online payment for service is available, after which the document needs to be dropped off or mailed to Trenton.
There is no method to directly forward documents from Vital Statistics or county offices to NJDOt for authentication.
New York State (EXCLUDING NEW YORK CITY)
New York State Department of Health allows online ordering of birth, death, and marriage certificates for outside NYC, as well as divorce certificates for all of New York State.
New York City
New York City has a separate vital records office and a separate marriage office from the rest of New York State. There also is an additional step necessary for those born within the five boroughs of NYC or married within NYC that others do not need.
New York City Health Department issues birth and death records for those who were born or died, respectively, within the five boroughs of NYC.
The City Clerk of New York issues marriage certificates for those who were married within the five boroughs of NYC.
It is necessary to specify that the document requested is for foreign use. Birth certificates for foreign use include a Letter of Exemplification which is a necessary part of the document bundle.
The next step is to go to the County Clerk's office for an additional authentication. Marriage licenses require authentication from the county in which the marriage occurred; birth certificates all get authenticated in Manhattan at 60 Centre Street Room 141B.
Finally, with the county clerk's authentication attached, the documents are then submitted to New York Secretary of State's Office for an apostille or authentication.
If at all possible, doing this in person is highly recommended. It is possible, on foot, to go from the NYC Health Department to the New York County Clerk's Office to the New York Secretary of State's office and obtain all the documents in under three hours. Doing this by mail will take several months. Alternatively, there are services which will obtain the necessary documents for a fee.
As of February, 2025, the clerk only accepts cash or checks/money order. The Secretary of State only accepts credit cards and checks/money order. It is $3/Document at the county clerk and $10/Document at the Secretary of State.
North Carolina
North Carolina Vital Records issues birth, death, and marriage certificates.
County Registers of Deeds also issue birth, death, and marriage certificates.
County Clerks of Courts offices issue divorce decrees.
The North Carolina Secretary of State's Office issues apostilles and authentications. Walk-in service is offered in Raleigh.
There does not appear to be a method to directly forward documents from Vital Records or any county office to NCSOS.
North Dakota
North Dakota Vital Records issues birth and death certificates.
County Clerks or Recorders' offices issue marriage and divorce documents.
The North Dakota Secretary of State's Office issues apostilles and authentications.
There is a process in place for Vital Records to forward birth or death certificates to NDSOS for authentication. There does not appear to be a process to forward from county offices to NDSOS.
Ohio
[Ohio Vital Statistics issues birth and death certificates.] Note that applications request explicitly if a vital record is being used for "International Legal Business."
County Probate Courts issue marriage certificates.
County Clerks of Courts of Common Pleas issue divorce decrees.
The Ohio Secretary of State's Office issues apostilles and authentications. Walk in service is available in Columbus.
There does not appear to be a method to directly forward documents from Vital Records or any county office to OHSOS.
Changing birth certificate
Per this page, Ohio will change gender marker on a birth record with an Ohio probate court order. It is unclear if they will correct a birth record with an out-of-state court order ordering a gender change on the birth certificate.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma Vital Records issues birth and death certificates.
County clerks of courts issue marriage certificates and divorce decrees.
The Oklahoma Secretary of State's Office issues apostilles and authentications. Walk-in service is available on Oklahoma City.
Note that marriage licenses and divorce decrees must be dated within one year of the date of submission of the request for authentication.
There does not appear to be a method to directly forward documents from Vital Records or county offices to OKSOS.
Oregon
Oregon Vital Records issues birth, death, marriage and divorce certificates. Note that applications request explicitly if a vital record is to be apostilled or authenticated, and this will require choosing the "full image" option. It is unclear how this would interact with a changed birth record (see below for instructions).
County Clerks offices also issue marriage certificats.
County Circuit Court Clerks offices issue divorce decrees.
The Oregon Secretary of State's Office issues apostilles and authentications. walk in service is available in Salem.
There does not appear to be a method to directly forward documents from Vital Records or county offices to ORSOS.
Changing birth certificate
Oregon has two distinct methods for changing gender on a birth record.
First, one can submit a court order including an order to change gender.
Alternatively, HB 2673 creates an administrative process for changing name and gender. Surnames can also be changed through this procedure.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Vital Records issues birth and death certificates. Note that applications request explicitly if a vital record is to be used for travel or for dual citizenship.
County Clerks of Court issue marriage licenses.
County Prothonotaries issue divorce decrees.
The Pennsylvania Department of State issues apostilles and authentications. Walk in service is available in Harrisburgg.
There does not appear to be a method to directly forward documents from Vital Records of county offices to PADOS.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island Vital Records issues birth, death, and marriage certificates.
The Clerk of Family Court issues divorce decrees.
The Rhode Island Secretary of State's Office issues apostilles and authentications. Walk in service is available in Providence.
There does not appear to be a method to directly forward documents from Vital Records or Family Court to RISOS.
Changing birth certificate
This page explains the process of changing gender on a birth certificate.
The process of changing gender is an administrative process. A request for an affidavit must be made to Vital Records, which will send the document to you.
Note that this process does not include changing name. Change of name requires a court order.
The gender field will not note that that it has been amended, but name changes may be noted as such.
South Carolina
South Dakota
South Dakota Vital Records issues birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates.
County Registers of Deeds also issue birth, death, and marriage certificates.
County Clerks of Courts offices also issue divorce decrees.
The South Dakota Secretary of State's Office issues apostilles and authentications. Walk-in service is offered in Pierre.
Note that SD SOS cannot accept or send documents by DHL.
There does not appear to be a method to directly forward documents from Vital Records or any county office to SDSOS.
Tennessee
Tennessee Vital Records issues birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates.
The Tennessee Secretary of State's Office issues apostilles and authentications. Walk-in service is offered in Naperville.
Note that vital records must have been issued within the last two years in order to be authenticated; however, there is a method to forward records from Vital Records to TNSOS.
Texas
Texas Vital Statistics issues birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates. Note that applications should explicitly mention that apostille is the purpose of the request.
County and city offices also issue birth, death, marriage, and death certificates.
The Texas Secretary of State's Office issues apostilles and authentications. Walk-in service is offered in Austin.
Texas issues a single document that serves as both apostille and authentication.
There does not appear to be a method to directly forward documents from Vital Statistics or any local office to TXSOS.
Utah
Utah Vital Records issues birth and death certificates.
County clerks of courts issue marriage certificates and divorce decrees.
The Utah Lieutenant Governor's Office issues apostilles and authentications.
There does not appear to be a method to directly forward documents from Vital Records or county offices to UTLG.
Vermont
Vermont Vital Records issues birth, death, marriage and divorce certificates.
[https://secure.vermont.gov/VSARA/vitalrecords/ Vermont has a unified, state run portal for ordering records.
Vermont State Archives and Records Administration issues apostilles and authentications.
There does not appear to be a method to directly forward documents from Vital Records or county offices to VSARA.
Virginia
Virginia Office of Vital Records issues birth, death, marriage and divorce certificates.
County Clerks of Courts also issue marriage certificates and divorce decrees.
[https://www.commonwealth.virginia.gov/official-documents/authentications/ The Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth's Office issues apostilles and authentications.
There does not appear to be a method to directly forward documents from Vital Records or county courts to VASOC.
Changing birth certificates
Virginia has an administrative procedure to change gender on a birth certificate. The affidavit requires the sign off of a healthcare provider.
To change name, a court ordered name change is required.
Washington State
Up to date information may always be found here: https://doh.wa.gov/licenses-permits-and-certificates/vital-records/apostilles
Washington state offers online ordering of birth certificates and marriage contracts through various methods. However, to request a new birth certificate with apostille, an order must be placed by phone. If you already have a certified certificate, you may send it directly to the secretary of state
Ordering a certificate
- An order may be made online through VitalChek.
- An order may also be placed by phone. This is the only way to order a certificate with an apostille.
- Orders by mail are available with a significant delay.
- Orders may be made in-person at some local county health departments.
Ordering an apostille & certificate
- Call VitalChek's phone number. As they only have a US phone number, you may incur fees or need to use a service like Skype while abroad.
- Tell the clerk that you would like to order a record (birth certificate, marriage, etc) with an apostille for the country it will be used in.
- Inform them of all requested info. This will usually include your name, parents name, DOB, and country of use.
- After your phone call, you should receive a verification email that the order was complete.
- Within 1 to 3 weeks, the document should arrive at your address. A foreign address can be used.
Washington DC
DC Health Vital Records offers mail in service and expedited service for birth and death records.
DC Courts provides copies of marriage certificates.
The Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications offerse apostilles for municipal DC documents, though if a document requires authentication, they will refer you to the US Authentications Office of the US Department of State.
There does not appear to be a way to direct either Health or Courts to send documents directly to ONCA for an apostille.
West Virginia
West Virginia Vital Registration Office issues birth, death, and marriage certificates.
County Clerks of Courts issue divorce decrees.
The West Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth's Office issues apostilles and authentications
There does not appear to be a method to directly forward documents from Vital Registration or county courts to WVSOS.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin Vital Records issues birth, death, marriage and divorce certificates.
County Registers of Deeds also issue birth, death, marriage and divorce certificates.
The Wisconsin Secretary of State's Office issues apostilles and authentications. Walk in service is available in Madison.
There is a method to directly forward documents from Vital Records to WISOS for authentication. Mail in both an application from Vital Records, an application from WISOS, two checks or money orders for the respective agencies, and a self-addressed stamped envelope or a prepaid waybill.
Wyoming
Wyoming Vital Statistics Services issues birth, death, marriage and divorce certificates.
Note that Wyoming requires filing a separate Excessive Copies Form if one has received four or more certified copies of a birth record in their lifetime.
County Clerks offices also issue marriage certificats.
County Circuit Court Clerks offices issue divorce decrees.
The Wyoming Secretary of State's Office issues apostilles and authentications.
It is unclear if it is possible to directly forward documents from Vital Statistics to WYSOS, based on the phrasing on this page. Contact Vital Statistics directly for clarification.
American Samoa
Guam
Guam's Office of Vital Statistics issues birth, death, and marriage certificates. No online service is available. All requests must be mailed.
The Judiciary of Guam Records Office issues divorce decrees.
The Guam Department of Administration issues apostilles. No information is available regarding authentications.
Northern Mariana Islands
The Judiciary of the Northern Marianas Islands issues marriage certificates and divorce decrees.
Apostilles and authentications are issued by the CNMI Office of the Attorney General. There is no information accessible online for this process.
To order an apostille for a CNMI document, include the original document, a money order for $50 per document requiring authentication, and a self addressed postage paid return envelope to:
Office of the Attorney General Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Caller Box 10007 Saipan MP 96950
Puerto Rico
The Demographic Registry of Puerto Rico issues birth certificates. (Spanish language website)
Note that, since 2012, Puerto Rico strictly limits the number of birth certificates one can order due to pervasive fraud connected to borriqueno birth records to three per 12 month period. This also means that any birth certificates from Puerto Rico from prior to 2012 are invalid and must be replaced with the current version for use in any official capacity.
PDF of the form to order a birth certificate
PDF of the form to order a marriage certificate
PDF of the form to order a death certificate
The Puerto Rico Department of State issues apostilles and certifications.
Note that there does not appear to be a method for records to be forwarded from the Demographic Registry or the courts to PRDOS for authentication.
Virgin Islands
US Virgin Islands Department of Health, Vital Records issues birth and death certificates.
Note that the request currently cannot be requested via any means other than via mail, and the request muse be sent to the specific office that covers where the birth or death occurred (St. Thomas and St. John, or St. Croix).
The Territorial Court of the Virgin Islands issues marriage and divorce documents.
There is no designated island authority for apostilles and authentications. Contact the US Department of State Office of Authentications for more information on the procedure to authenticate USVI documents.
Born at sea or on aircraft
If the aircraft or ship's first port of entry was in the United States, the birth should have been registered in the location where the aircraft landed or ship docked. (e.g. if you were born on a flight landing at JFK, New York City Vital Records would be where the birth record is located.)
If the aircraft or ship docked or landed at a foreign port, the birth record was likely created in that country. (e.g. if you were born on a flight to AMS, your birth record was likely created in the Netherlands.) Contact the consulate or embassy of that country for a copy of the birth record.
Born abroad
Note that a Consular Record of Birth Abroad is likely not usable as a birth record for purposes of immigration unless no other document is available, as the document's primary purpose is to document the birth of a US citizen in a foreign country.
In non-jus soli jurisdictions, a birth record alone is not necessarily sufficient as proof of citizenship.
In jus soli jurisdictions, a birth record alone *is* sufficient as proof of citizenship. Please contact the consulate or embassy of that country to inquire how to obtain a passport.