Vital Records Online (VRO) is a secure and user-friendly service that allows you to order New Mexico vital records online. Obtain birth, death, and marriage certificates from the comfort of your home, and have your vital records delivered safely to your address. Rest assured that your private information is kept confidential and secure.
Summary:
- Find more information about how to order New Mexico vital records.
- Search for New Mexico health department locations.
- Learn about the requirements for requesting New Mexico vital records.
- Calculate the costs and fees associated with requesting replacements.
- Confirm that you are legally authorized to request the replacement for someone else.
- Check current processing and wait times for orders.
- How to track your order for a vital record replacement.
- Get answers to other frequently asked questions about New Mexico vital records.
- Find free New Mexico public records online.
Find your county’s vital record office: 
History of Vital Records in New Mexico
New Mexico Government-Issued Vital RecordsThe New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) is the state agency that handles all medical and health-related fields within New Mexico. New Mexico’s health system consists of many components across multiple organizations, all contributing to assessing, maintaining, and improving health in New Mexico.
New Mexico Vital Records & Health Statistics preserve birth, death, marriage, and divorce records that occur in New Mexico.
Find out how to obtain official New Mexico vital records, including birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates. Find out what information they contain, where to order certified copies, and why they are crucial to possess.
New Mexico Birth Certificate
Request a certified copy of live birth for your baby or child.
New Mexico Marriage Certificate
Obtain marriage records for yourself or a family member.
New Mexico Death Certificate
Get an original copy of a death certificate replacement for a lost record.Why Do I Need Certified Copies of My New Mexico Vital Records?
Vital records are crucial as they can be used to prove your identity, citizenship, and family relationships. Birth, death, and marriage certificates are required for several important life events, such as enrolling in school, getting married, joining the military, or traveling. They can also help settle legal disputes, claim an inheritance, and investigate family history. Vital records contain essential information about your ancestors, including their full names, dates of birth and death, and locations. If you have lost a vital record, it is recommended that you file a police report and request a certified replacement as soon as possible. The FAQs section provides more information about birth, death, and marriage certificates.
Where to Get New Mexico Vital Records
In New Mexico, vital records such as birth, death, and marriage certificates can be obtained through various methods, depending on which county issued the original record. While all vital records in New Mexico are issued at the county and state levels, each county within New Mexico certifies and issues vital records that occur within its jurisdiction. You can search the complete list of vital record issuing agencies in New Mexico. The list provides locations, contact information, and access to online applications for every county in the state.
The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) also centrally issues birth and death certificates. In contrast, marriage certificates are issued by the county where the marriage was recorded. Death certificates can only be obtained through the Santa Fe office of the state health department. Depending on the county, you can request your birth certificate through the state or county offices or online. All vital records can be ordered online from any location through Vital Records Online (VRO).
❗️If you’re seeking ancestral records for genealogy research in New Jersey, they are freely available from various public archives.
Visiting the Vital Records Office
- Required In-Person Application
- Long Waiting Lines
- Complex & Tedious Application Process
- Strict Business Hours & Closed During Holidays
- Extremely Busy Phone Lines
- No Trackable Application
- Only Accept Checks & Money Orders
Ordering Vital Records Online
- No Waiting in Long Lines
- Simplified & Streamlined Application Process
- Open 24 Hours/Day — 365 Days/Year
- Online Assistance By Specialists
- Verification And Error-Checking
- Custom Trackable Application Interface
- Convenient Credit Card Fee Payments
- Additional Service Fee
- Remote Processing Time
How to Order New Mexico Vital Records
To obtain New Mexico vital records, residents have the option to request them online, in person, or by mail. Online requests are often the most reliable and often the only option available. The New Mexico NMDOH-BVRHS is responsible for producing and certifying the vital record copies.
Depending on the type of certificate needed and the ordering method, there are associated costs, eligibility criteria, requirements, and processing times to consider. Whether ordering online, by mail, or in person, it is crucial to carefully review the steps and conditions before requesting a certified copy of the vital record from the NMDOH-BVRHS. Additionally, it is crucial to ensure that the documents, application, and payment for the fee are sent to the correct vital record location that issues certified copies of the original records.
❗️ The NMDOH-BVRHS only issues birth and death certificates; marriage certificates are issued from the county office that created the original certificate.
Ordering Online
Ordering New Mexico Vital Records online is quick and effortless and involves two simple steps:
- Complete the online application, upload your documents, and
- process your order.
(Choose additional options if you need to insure, expedite, or obtain premium customer support for your application.)
Ordering New Mexico vital records online is a simple and convenient process. If you meet the eligibility requirements as an authorized person, you can apply to order a New Mexico birth, death, or marriage certificate online.
Before starting the application, confirm that you have the required documents on hand. During the secure online application process, you will be prompted to upload copies of these documents. Vital Records Online provides a user-friendly system that helps you quickly collect and generate the necessary documents and submit the correct application with your packet to the health department’s vital records office that issues the certified record.
The online application can be completed from any device with an internet connection and finalized in as little as five minutes. Vital Records Online with avoiding rejections due to common mistakes or missing documents in your application.
✔︎ Our $29 processing fee includes your automated document processing and first-class shipping & handling.
✔︎ Additional copies of your certified vital records can be purchased for the state’s fee during the online application to save future costs.
✔︎ Vital Records Online’s support team manages scanning and printing your application and documents. Learn more about how the online ordering and handling process works.
✔︎ A notarized sworn statement is not required when ordering a New Mexico birth, death, or marriage certificate online.
Ordering In-Person or By Mail
Ordering New Mexico vital records can be done in person or by mail. Applying in person is viable for those who live within travel distance to the state health department office that issues certified copies of the original vital records. However, confirm if the office is open to the public for walk-ins and be prepared for potentially long queues. On the other hand, ordering by mail or online can be a more efficient approach, especially for those living abroad or out-of-state. Whether applying in person or by mail, the steps are generally the same. It is recommended to rely on mail or online ordering if the local vital records office is closed or to avoid potential difficulties and long queues.
If you choose to apply in person at the vital records office, prepare to complete the following steps:
- gathering your documents,
- getting photocopies of your documents,
- completing the correct form, and;
- presenting everything to the health department during regular business hours.
Additionally, when ordering by mail, you will need the following:
- purchasing an envelope,
- including a physical check or money order,
- issuing it to the NMDOH-BVRHS.
Vital Records Online services provide a quick and effortless way to request certified vital record replacements for you or your family members. Each certificate type has unique requirements for who can request a replacement. Vital Records Online helps streamline the process and reduce mistakes, resulting in quicker processing times. Learn more about our services and how we can assist you in obtaining the vital records you need.
❗️ To avoid your application being denied due to mistakes or incomplete information, review the requirements for each vital record before mailing it.
❗️ Be certain that your documents, application, and payment are submitted to the correct health department that issues certified copies from the preserved original record.
❗️ If you choose to mail your application and documents manually, it is recommended to purchase mail tracking to confirm their arrival at the correct office.
Requirements
Before gathering the documents for your vital record application, it is essential to understand the conditions and requirements.
Proof of Identity for Verifying Authorization:
When ordering certified copies of New Mexico vital records, it is necessary to provide the required information and documents to prove your identity. The NMDOH-BVRHS requires all applicants to verify their identity, usually by presenting a driver’s license or a state-issued photo ID. These forms of identification are acceptable for most types of records. However, if you do not have a valid ID, you may need to submit two secondary forms of identification.
Note: The identification requirements for requesting a marriage certificate may vary by county since the NMDOH-BVRHS does not issue marriage certificates.
When requesting a certified birth certificate, you must verify your identity by providing a valid, government-issued ID or two secondary forms of identity accepted by the NMDOH-BVRHS.
What Documents Are Required to Order Vital Records in New Mexico?
The NMDOH-BVRHS defines unique conditions for each type of certificate and personal circumstance. Review the list below to confirm the required information and documents.
❗️ Without proper ID and a fully completed application, your request will be returned, causing considerable delays in processing your order.
| Certificate | Required Information | ID Requirements Options | Secondary IDs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birth Certificate | Date of Birth, Daytime Phone Number, Father's Name, Full Name of Person of Record, Mailing Address, Mother's Maiden Name, Place of Birth, Purpose for the Certificate, Sex, Your Name, Your Relationship to the Person of Record, Your Signature |
Driver's License, Mexican Matricula, Passport, US Military ID, Valid Government ID |
Baptismal Certificate, College ID, Marriage Application, School Records, Social Security Card, Social Security Numident, Tax Documents, Tribal ID, Voter Registration Card |
| Death Certificate | Date of Birth, Date of Death, Daytime Phone Number, Full Name of Person of Record, Funeral Home Name, Mailing Address, Place of Death, Purpose for the Certificate, SSN, Sex, Spouse Maiden Name, Your Name, Your Relationship to the Person of Record, Your Signature |
Driver's License, Mexican Matricula, Passport, US Military ID, Valid Government ID |
Baptismal Certificate, College ID, Marriage Application, Medical Card, School Records, Social Security Card, Social Security Numident, Tax Documents, Tribal ID, Voter Registration Card |
| Marriage Certificate |
Who is Authorized to Order
Who can request vital records in New Mexico?
The person on record can request certified replacements for themselves. However, they must provide proof of identity with the application. If someone else is ordering a birth, death, or marriage certificate on behalf of another person, they must confirm their eligibility. The eligibility of third parties to request vital records varies depending on the certificate type.
Immediate family members of the individual on record are generally authorized to request certified copies as defined by the NMDOH-BVRHS. However, third-party applicants who are not immediate family members must provide proof of a “direct and tangible interest” in the record. You can check the eligibility requirements for each birth, death, and marriage certificate in the list below to ensure you are an authorized third party. Legal representatives or family members acting on behalf of the individual on record must also provide proof of their authorization.
| Certificate | Authorized People |
|---|---|
| Birth Certificate | Children, Grandchildren, Grandparents, Parents, Person on Record, Siblings, Spouse |
| Death Certificate | Children, Grandchildren, Grandparents, Parents, Siblings, Spouse |
| Marriage Certificate |
✔︎ If you can provide documentation of legal interest or hold a Power of Attorney from the person on record, you are eligible to request the vital record.
❗️Third-party requests for New Mexico birth or death certificates must show that they are an immediate family member or provide tangible proof of legal interest in obtaining the record.
Notarized Sworn Statement
Do I need a notary with my application?
The NMDOH-BVRHS does not require notarizations for these vital record replacements, regardless of whether the request is made online, by mail, by telephone, or in person.
❗️ A Notarized sworn statement may be required under the following circumstances:
- When correcting or amending a vital record.
- When obtaining an apostille for a vital record.
Find more information regarding these conditions in other FAQs below or other unique circumstances that may require a notary with your application on the NMDOH-BVRHS website.
Costs and Fees
The total costs and fees associated with ordering New Mexico vital records depend on the fees set by the NMDOH-BVRHS for each certificate and the ordering method. When applying for birth, marriage, divorce, or death certificates through Vital Records Online, the online Application Assistant starts at $29.
The NMDOH-BVRHS charges a $10.00 fee for each certified copy of a birth record and $5.00 for each copy of a death certificate. Marriage certificate fees may vary by county.
❗️ If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $10.00/$5.00 for a search fee. The processing fee for online orders is also non-refundable.
| Certificate | Fee | Additional Copy |
|---|---|---|
| Birth Certificate | $10.00 | $10.00 |
| Death Certificate | $5.00 | $5.00 |
| Marriage Certificate | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Divorce Certificate | $0.00 | $0.00 |
✔︎ Additional copies can be requested during the same order to save future costs in case your vital records are lost, destroyed, or stolen.
VitalRecordsOnline.com processing fee is $29.
Processing and Delivery Times
How long will it take to receive my vital records from New Mexico?
The total processing and delivery times for ordering vital record replacements in New Mexico are determined by several factors. First, the type of vital record requested, whether a birth, death, or marriage certificate, can impact the processing time.
Additionally, the method of submitting the application and documents can affect the overall processing and delivery times. VRO provides a streamlined process and expedited orders quicker processing. Note: Processing times may vary based on the volume of requests the NMDOH-BVRHS receives. The current processing and delivery times are listed in the chart below.
| Certificate | Processing Time | Rush Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| Birth Certificate | 6 to 12 weeks | N/A |
| Death Certificate | 6 to 12 weeks | N/A |
| Marriage Certificate | N/A | N/A |
| Divorce Certificate | N/A | N/A |
❗️ The processing and replacement duration of birth, death, or marriage certificates by NMDOH-BVRHS may increase based on a high volume backlog of orders.
❗️ A simple error, typo, or missing document can cause wait times to double, repeat shipping costs, or expose personal information.
How to Track My NM Vital Record?
After you submit your application through Vital Records Online, you can monitor the order and processing status. You can also track your application packet to the NMDOH-BVRHS with the prepaid mail postage included with every order.
If you mail the application packet to the Vital Records Health Department manually, remember to purchase first-class mail tracking to know when your application arrives successfully. The NMDOH-BVRHS ships all vital records via USPS first-class mail to your home for protection but does not claim responsibility for any misdirected or lost certificates.
Be mindful that a simple error or typo could expose your personal information if sent to the wrong address. If your vital record is lost or stolen, immediately file a police report of the missing record.
❓ Find more frequently asked questions below the New Mexico counties office locations directory.
New Mexico (NM) Vital Record Office Locations
Search (A-Z) New Mexico vital records issuing agencies in your county.
Other Frequently Asked Questions
Apostille
An Apostille is required when a vital record needs to be submitted to a foreign government. The Secretary of State only issues Apostilles for vital records initially filed with the NMDOH-BVRHS.
How can I get an apostille for a vital record?
Apostilles for New Mexico vital records can only be obtained through the New Mexico Secretary of State or Vital Records Online. Vital Records Online offers reliable apostille services for birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates. Our services have legal validity by numerous governments in over 100 countries. Vital Records Online ensures a smooth three-step process, conveniently completed online, starting at $149 (plus government fees) with professional assistance.
- Complete the Apostille Express online application.
- Submit the required documents for approval.
- Receive your apostille document.
Under most circumstances, sending physical copies of your documents is unnecessary as the entire procedure can be completed online. Once you have completed the apostille documentation, it will be sent to you through global courier services (FedEx or DHL)) ensuring delivery within the US or overseas.
You will need to provide the following information:
- Authentication Submittal Form, which can be filed online at https://enterprise.sos.nm.gov/,
- Certified vital record certificate
- $3.00 per document. Checks and money orders should be payable to the New Mexico Secretary of State or “NMSOS.“
- If your documents are being returned to a foreign country, you must enclose a complete prepaid, pre-addressed international air bill and international envelope.
You can submit requests for vital record apostilles to the HD-ACRONYM at the following addresses:
For express shipping (UPS, DHL, or Federal Express), submit the request to the physical address:
New Mexico Secretary of State,
New Mexico Capitol Annex North,
325 Don Gaspar, Suite 300,
Santa Fe, NM 87501
For standard mail, use the following address:
New Mexico Secretary of State,
New Mexico Capitol Annex North,
325 Don Gaspar, Suite 300,
Santa Fe, NM 87501
You can reach the office at 1-800-477-3632 or online at https://www.sos.nm.gov/notary-and-apostille/apostille-authentications/.
Correcting or Amending Vital Records
The NMDOH-BVRHS has provided a list of common scenarios to assist individuals in acquiring legal amendments to their birth, marriage, or a family member’s death certificate.
Different forms are required to amend vital records, depending on the information that needs to be changed. Any changes made to the original document are recorded as addendums. However, the original document cannot be altered by any entity. The process for requesting changes or amendments may vary depending on the specific vital record that needs to be changed. In some cases, such as when a court order is required, it may be necessary to consult an attorney.
Correcting or amending vital records usually will require the following:
- A completed amendment application;
- Supporting documentation;
- Appropriate fee(s);
- A notarized sworn statement completed by an authorized person.
Learn more about correcting or amending birth, death, and marriage certificates.
Search Public Records
Where can I search for free public records?
To search for free public vital records in New Mexico, you can explore the archives of birth, marriage, and divorce records. It’s important to note that New Mexico birth records become public after 100 years, while death records become public after 50 years. Although finding free public records can be time-consuming, New Mexico offers access to some vital records for public use. Be prepared to devote a significant amount of time to reviewing these records.
Are New Mexico Vital Records Open to the Public?
In New Mexico, some vital records are public. However, the availability depends on the type of record and the year of the birth, death, or marriage. It is important to note that permitting inspection or disclosing information in vital records is unlawful without proper authorization. The New Mexico Department of Health’s Vital Statistics Bureau maintains and controls access to these records, ensuring their confidentiality and privacy. While third-party websites can provide a convenient way to research specific types of vital records, it is essential to remember that the data on these sites may differ from official government records. Therefore, it is advisable to refer to the official government sources for accurate and reliable information regarding vital records in New Mexico.
To find a record on a third-party website, the person requesting must provide the following information:
- The location of the record you’re looking for, including the city, county, or state where it was recorded.
- The name of the person on record, if it is not a minor.
How to Verify if Your Vital Record is Official
To confirm if your birth, death, or marriage certificate from New Mexico is an official (certified) copy or an informational copy, you can examine the appearance of your copy. Vital records may have different formats depending on the state, county, or municipality. One way to identify informational copies is by looking for a stamp or large print on the document that says “Informational, Not a Valid Document to Establish Identity” or something similar.
What Are the Differences between Authorized Copies Versus Informational Copies?
Authorized Copy:
In New Mexico, an authorized copy of a vital record is a certified document that holds legal validity and can be used for official identification purposes. These copies are only issued to individuals who have a “direct and tangible interest” in the document.
Informational Copy:
Informational copies of birth or marriage certificates in New Mexico are unofficial (non-certified) copies, also known as “short-form,” “heirloom,” or “commemorative” certificates. These copies are intended for display or personal reference and are not considered official legal documents.
Informational copies generally cannot be used for any official purposes such as establishing identity, obtaining a passport, or proving eligibility for benefits. They are typically used for personal record-keeping or genealogical research. It’s worth mentioning that citizens have the right to inspect or obtain copies of public records in compliance with the Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA).
Find more references regarding birth, death, and marriage certificates in the resources section.
Find More Online Resources and Information for Vital Records
Visit the official New Mexico government website at https://www.nmhealth.org/about/erd/bvrhs/vrp/
