The Center for Health Statistics can provide birth certificates for children born outside the United States if the child was adopted in a Washington State Superior Court (RCW 26.33.290 and 70.58.210). To get a birth certificate:
1. Send a certified copy of the adoption decree.
2. Complete the Application for Adoption Registration (DOH 422-040).
- Non-refundable $15 processing fee to register the birth.
3.Complete a Birth Certificate Order Form (DOH 422-182) (en español). This application must be completed with the adoptee's name and the adoptive parents' names.
- Non-refundable fee of $25* for each certified copy of the amended birth certificate.
- Provide proof of identity and eligibility.
If the adoption decree was granted after January 1, 1985, it must provide the information specified in RCW 26.33.250:
- Adoptee’s full original name.
- Adoptee’s full new name, if changed.
- Adoptee’s date and place of birth.
- Full name of each petitioner.
- Whether the petitioner(s) is/are: married, stepparent, domestic partners, or a single parent
If the adoption decree was granted prior to January 1, 1985, the Center requires evidence of the child’s date and place of birth. (NOTE: Original documents are returned when the registration is complete.) Send only one of the following:
- A certified copy of the original birth certificate.
- A certified extraction/translation of the original birth certificate by a certified translator.
- An original or certified copy of record of United States Immigration and Naturalization Service (such as a birth data card).
- An original or certified copy of a United States Department of State document that gives both date and place of birth of the child.
- Other documents equivalent to the above, include:
- Holt Adoption Agency papers (or from any other adoption agency) that include the original birth document.
- A Certificate of Acknowledgement signed by the minister of the interior of the country.
- Any documents signed by the minister for foreign affairs of the country if they contain the child’s date and place of birth.
- A passport.
*You can combine the adoption registration and certificate fees in one payment.
Make check or money order payable to Department of Health.
Mailing address:
Attn: Adoptions
Center for Health Statistics
PO Box 9709
Olympia, WA 98507-9709
For questions contact our office at 360-236-4300.