Dominican Birth Certificates: Frequently Asked Questions
Clear answers about costs, timelines, requirements, and how our birth certificate service works.
Need help with your Dominican birth certificate? Our specialists
have been retrieving birth records from Dominican registry offices
since 2012. Whether you need a certificate for immigration,
passport renewal, citizenship applications, or legal purposes, we
handle the entire process—from searching the archives to
delivering your apostilled certificate worldwide.
Why choose our service?
We know the Dominican civil registry system inside and out. With access to over 160 registry offices throughout the country, plus church archives and historical collections, we locate records others cannot find. Many of our clients come to us after unsuccessful attempts elsewhere—births from the early 1900s, records with missing information, damaged ledgers, or complex cases requiring legal corrections.
Our certificates are properly apostilled and meet USCIS requirements. We've provided thousands of birth certificates for successful US immigration cases, passport renewals, and legal proceedings worldwide.
Why choose our service?
We know the Dominican civil registry system inside and out. With access to over 160 registry offices throughout the country, plus church archives and historical collections, we locate records others cannot find. Many of our clients come to us after unsuccessful attempts elsewhere—births from the early 1900s, records with missing information, damaged ledgers, or complex cases requiring legal corrections.
Our certificates are properly apostilled and meet USCIS requirements. We've provided thousands of birth certificates for successful US immigration cases, passport renewals, and legal proceedings worldwide.
Dominican Birth Certificate: Frequently Asked Questions
Clear answers about costs, timelines, requirements, and how our Dominican birth certificate service works. Whether you need a certificate for immigration, passport renewal, or other purposes, we handle the entire process from searching the archives to delivering your apostilled certificate. For information about other Dominican vital records, visit our certificates page.
Pricing & Payment
How much does a Dominican birth certificate cost?
In most cases, we charge US$210 total: US$95 for the search, then US$115 for the certificate with legalization, apostille, and certified airmail shipping. For births before 1970 or when the date/location is unknown, search fees range from US$195-395 depending on the complexity.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept PayPal (which processes credit cards, debit cards, and PayPal balances), bank transfers, and Western Union. Payment is processed in two stages: first for the search, then for the certificate once you approve the draft.
Do I pay everything upfront?
No. You pay the search fee first. Once we locate your record and send you a draft copy for approval, you then pay for the certificate, apostille, and shipping.
What if you can't find my birth record?
If we cannot locate your record after a thorough search, you only pay the search fee—nothing more. We search over 160 registry offices, church archives, and historical records throughout the Dominican Republic.
Are there any additional fees?
Yes, some countries such as Germany and a few others also require that the Dominican birth certificate also be legalised by their embassy or consulate in Santo Domingo. We can provide this extra service where required.
Timeline & Delivery
How long does it take to get my birth certificate?
We usually locate records and send draft copies within 2-7 days. Once you approve the draft, obtaining the official certificate, legalization, and apostille takes an additional 2 to 4 business days, then shipping time varies by destination. Most of our clients are happy with delivery by certified airmail which can take up to 8 weeks to arrive from the day that we ship, but usually only takes 2 to 3 weeks.
Can I get my certificate faster?
Yes. We offer express UPS courier shipping for an additional US$125. This typically delivers within 3-5 business days after the certificate is issued.
What are my shipping options for document delivery?
We include free shipping by certified airmail, which generally takes 2 to 3 weeks to arrive in North America and Europe but can occasionally take up to 8 weeks. To ensure faster international delivery, we always ship from the Central Post Office in Santo Domingo rather than local branches. If you need your documents urgently to meet a deadline, embassy appointment, passport application, or other time-sensitive purpose, we recommend choosing our UPS courier option for an additional US$125, which typically delivers within 3-5 business days.
Will I receive tracking information?
Yes. For UPS shipments, you receive full tracking. For certified airmail, we provide the tracking number, though updates may be limited once the package leaves the Dominican Republic.
Requirements & Information Needed
What information do you need from me to search for a birth record?
We need the full name of the person (as it appears on the birth record), parents' full names (including mother's maiden name), date of birth (exact date or approximate month/year), and the town or city of birth in the Dominican Republic. The more details you provide, the faster we can locate the record.
What if I don't know the exact date of birth?
We can still search, but it requires more time and effort, which increases the search fee. If you know the approximate year and month, or at least the decade, we can check the ledgers manually. For births before 1970 with unknown dates, the search fee is US$295-395.
What if I don't know which town the person was born in?
Without knowing the town, locating a birth record—especially from the early 1900s—is extremely difficult. The Dominican Republic has over 160 civil registry offices, each maintaining separate records. If you know the province or have other clues (like where the family lived), we may be able to help, but success is not guaranteed. If the person whose birth certificate you need, later as an adult had a Dominican cédula ID card, it would help if you could give us the cédula number.
Can anyone request a Dominican birth certificate?
Yes. Dominican birth records are public documents, and anyone can request one.
Certificate Types & Format
What type of birth certificate do you provide?
We provide long-form birth certificates (Acta de Nacimiento), which include all information from the original registry ledger: full names, parents' names and nationalities, place and date of birth, and registration details. This is the format required by most government agencies, embassies, and immigration authorities.
What does "legalized and apostilled" mean?
The legalisation is a QR code which appears in the bottom right of the certificate certifying the document is genuine. An apostille is an international certification from the Dominican Foreign Ministry (Chancellery) that authenticates the document for use in countries that are part of the Hague Apostille Convention. Most countries require both. When we ship your birth certificate, we staple the apostille to the back of it.
Is the certificate you send identical to the one I already have?
Not necessarily. If your existing certificate is very old, the new one will be issued on modern security paper with a hologram, a raised seal and a signature. The information should match the original ledger entry, but the format and appearance will reflect current standards.
Apostille & International Use
Is my Dominican birth certificate valid for use with US immigration (USCIS) and other countries' immigration departments?
Yes. Our certificates are properly apostilled by the Dominican Foreign Ministry and meet USCIS requirements. We have provided thousands of birth certificates for successful US immigration cases, including green card applications, citizenship by descent, and visa petitions.
Do I need an apostille?
If you are using the certificate outside the Dominican Republic, generally yes, with just a few exceptions. An apostille certifies that the document is genuine and is recognized by over 120 countries that are part of the Hague Apostille Convention, including the US, Canada, UK, and most European nations.
What if I need to use the certificate in a country that is not part of the Hague Convention?
For countries not part of the Hague Convention, you typically need embassy legalization instead of (or in addition to) an apostille. Contact us to discuss your specific country's requirements.
Translations
Can you translate my birth certificate?
Yes. We offer certified translations into English (US$79), French (US$89), and German (US$99), prepared by certified legal translators. Many clients find this more convenient and less expensive than arranging translation in their country of residence.
Is the translation certified?
Yes. Our translations are prepared by certified legal translators and include a certification statement affirming the accuracy of the translation. This meets the requirements of most government agencies and courts.
Old & Historical Birth Records
Can you find birth records from the early 1900s?
Yes, though older records are more challenging. We regularly locate records from 1900-1944 and earlier, but many ledgers from this period are fragile and incomplete. Search fees are higher (US$295-395) because these searches require extensive manual research.
What if the birth was never registered?
If a birth was never officially registered with the civil authorities, there will be no civil record. However, we may be able to locate a baptismal record from the local church, which can sometimes be used as part of supporting documentation for a late birth registration process.
What if the original birth record is damaged or illegible?
If the original ledger is damaged, we can initiate a "restoration of record" process. This involves providing supporting documentation (baptismal certificate, school records, affidavits) to the registry office and seeking approval from the Judicial Department to reconstruct the record. This is a complex legal procedure that can take several months.
Errors & Corrections
What if there is a spelling error in my birth record?
Errors fall into two categories: (1) Transcription errors made during computerization—these can usually be corrected quickly by checking the original ledger. (2) Errors in the original handwritten ledger—these require a formal correction procedure called an administrative correction through the registry office and judicial system, which can take time.
Can you correct errors in the birth record?
Often, yes. We can also facilitate the correction process. If the error is a recent transcription mistake, the registry office can often fix it after verifying the original ledger. If the error is in the original ledger itself, a formal legal correction is required, involving documentation and approval from the courts.
What if my birth certificate shows the wrong father?
This requires a paternal recognition process if the biological father was not listed originally, or a legal correction if the wrong person was listed. Both processes involve legal procedures in the Dominican Republic and require supporting documentation such as DNA tests or court orders.
Special Situations
I have two different birth certificates with different information. What should I do?
Duplicate registrations occur when births are declared to different registry offices. The Dominican authorities typically block both records until the discrepancy is resolved through a legal unification process. This requires court action in the Dominican Republic to have one of the records annulled. Generally one cannot specify which of the records to annul. The authorities normally rule that the earlier of the two birth declarations is the valid one, and will annul the later of the two.
I was born in the Dominican Republic but adopted. Can you help?
Yes. We can locate your original birth record and also help obtain adoption decrees if needed. Adoption records are held separately and may require additional legal procedures to access.
I am a US investigator verifying the authenticity of a Dominican birth certificate. Can you help?
Yes. We can verify whether a presented birth certificate matches the official ledger entry at the registry office. We work with law enforcement, background check companies, and government agencies to authenticate Dominican documents.
My old Dominican birth certificate is no longer accepted for US identification. Can you help?
Yes. Older certificate formats (especially pre-1990s) often lack security features required today. We can obtain a new certificate issued on modern security paper with holograms and apostille, meeting current US requirements.
Process & Communication
How does your search process work?
After you submit your order and payment for the search fee, we contact the relevant registry office and request a consultation (draft printout) of your birth record. In most cases, this takes 2-7 days. We then email you the draft to review and approve before proceeding with the official certificate.
What is the draft print-out that you will send me before I order the certificate?
A consultation sheet (hoja de consulta) is a basic computer printout of your birth record data, used to verify we have found the correct entry and to check for any transcription errors before the official certificate is issued. This is your opportunity to review the information and request corrections if needed.
How will you communicate with me?
Primarily by email, our address is info@dominicancertificates.com, our WhatsApp is +1-829-607-2025. We send updates at key stages: when we receive your order, when we locate the draft record, when the certificate is ready, and when it ships. We also ask for your mobile/WhatsApp number in case we cannot reach you by email.
What if I need to make changes after I see the draft?
If you spot errors in the draft, we check the original ledger. If the ledger is correct and the error is in the database, the registry office can usually correct it before issuing the certificate. If the ledger itself contains the error, we discuss options for formal correction.
Dominican Citizenship & Dual Nationality
I was born in the US to a Dominican parent. You are handling the transcription of my US birth certificate in the Dominican Republic so I can obtain my Dominican birth certificate, cédula ID card, and passport. Why have you recommended obtaining my Dominican father's birth certificate when it's not on the official list of required documents for transcription?
Once we lodge your US birth certificate and your Dominican parent's cédula photo with the transcription department, your case undergoes thorough review by lawyers at the Junta Central Electoral. They don't simply rubber-stamp applications—they investigate all associated records, including your Dominican parent's birth record. If they discover any discrepancy (such as a name spelled differently or a different date of birth), your transcription will be paused and referred to the legal department, potentially delaying the process by weeks or even months. By obtaining and reviewing your parent's birth certificate in advance, we can identify and resolve potential issues before submitting your transcription request, avoiding delays. This proactive approach also helps us address any problems that may have prevented your parent from obtaining their own birth certificate in the past. Learn more about our Dominican dual citizenship by parent service.
Alternative Sources
What if the civil registry office has no record of the birth?
We search alternative sources, including church baptismal records (especially in San Pedro de Macorís cathedral, which has preserved extensive records), the General Archive of the Nation, and local parish churches. These records can sometimes serve as supporting evidence for late birth registration.
Can I use a baptismal certificate instead of a birth certificate?
For most official purposes (immigration, passports, legal proceedings), you need a civil birth certificate, not a baptismal certificate. However, a baptismal certificate can be used as supporting documentation to establish a late birth registration if no civil record exists.
You have told me that my mother's birth record no longer exists in the Dominican Republic because the book containing her record was destroyed in a fire. Why have you recommended that I contact the USCIS Immigration Department?
Because often US immigration files contain a copy of the old Dominican birth certificate. If you can get us an old copy of your mother's birth certificate, we can help you to get her birth record reconstructed.
Start the search for your Dominican birth record
Ready to get started? This is not an enquiry form—by completing this order form, you're initiating the search process for your Dominican birth record. We'll begin searching registry offices immediately upon receiving your information and payment.
Our two-stage payment process means you only pay the search fee now. Once we locate your record and you approve the draft, you'll pay for the certificate, apostille, and shipping.
