--- title: "Order an Irish birth certificate: choose the right copy and keep a scan" description: "Order an Irish long-form birth certificate through the HSE, distinguish it from a research copy, and prepare a readable personal scan." canonical: "https://dokus.app/en-ie/ireland-order-birth-certificate-copy/" lang: "en-IE" category: "Official documents" reviewed: "2026-10-21" app_store: "https://apps.apple.com/ie/app/dokus-private-id-wallet/id6781915709" translations: en-IE: "https://dokus.app/en-ie/ireland-order-birth-certificate-copy/" --- # Order an Irish birth certificate: choose the right copy and keep a scan For an Irish birth certificate for administrative use, order a long-form certified copy through the HSE and receive it by post. A scan you make afterwards is a personal copy, so check whether the organisation needs that scan or the issued paper certificate. A form asks for a birth certificate, but the file you have is a cropped photo or a family-history record. Before paying for another copy, ask the receiving organisation what it needs: a long-form certificate, an upload of that certificate, or the paper document itself. Those are different tasks. ## Choose the document before you order | What you need | Start here | |---|---| | A certificate for an administrative application | HSE long-form certified copy | | An uncertified record for research | Ask a civil registration service about research copies | | A readable upload of a certificate you already hold | Confirm the recipient accepts a scan, then capture the complete page | | Help with an existing online order | Use the order contact route linked by the HSE | The [HSE birth-certificate page](https://www2.hse.ie/services/births-deaths-and-marriages/order/birth-certificate/) describes the long-form document as a certified copy of the register entry. Its standard certificate is posted to you. Ordering online does not mean that a downloadable PDF certificate will be supplied. Keep a personal copy of your Irish birth certificate in Dokus behind Face ID or Touch ID, ready to find when an application asks for its details. 4.8 out of 5 stars [Free on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/ie/app/dokus-private-id-wallet/id6781915709) ## Prepare the details for your order Use the HSE page to enter the official ordering service. Prepare the birth and parental details listed there, checking spellings against your existing records before submitting. Check the current fee, postage and delivery destination at checkout. If you prefer to order by phone or in person, confirm the civil registration office's arrangements before travelling. Keep the order reference and confirmation somewhere you can find them separately from the certificate. A payment receipt helps you follow up an order; it does not stand in for the certificate in another application. The [HSE certificate hub](https://www2.hse.ie/services/births-deaths-and-marriages/order/) links to the service for questions about an online order. ## Make a useful personal copy when it arrives 1. Read the issued certificate first. If something appears wrong, contact the issuing service rather than editing the wording in your scan. 2. Put the page on a plain surface in even light. Include all four edges, the complete text and any stamps or endorsements. 3. Open the saved file and zoom in. Check names, dates and small print, rather than relying on a thumbnail that only looks clear. 4. Name it so you can identify the holder and document, without adding unnecessary personal numbers to the filename. 5. Keep the paper certificate safely. If the recipient requests a scan, send a separate copy through its specified channel. If the recipient asks for PDF and you only have a photograph, the [image-to-PDF tool](/en-ie/irp-passport-to-pdf/) can prepare a PDF copy. It does not certify the image or turn it into an issued digital original. Preview the output for cut-off edges before sending it. ## Avoid sending more than the application needs An application may ask for several family members' certificates. Open each attachment and match it to the correct person before uploading. Keep a small note of the application reference, the requested document and the version sent. That makes it easier to answer a follow-up without sending a whole family folder again. Do not obscure names or other fields that the organisation needs to verify. If it permits a marked or redacted copy, make that derivative separately and retain your unchanged scan. If you receive an official signed digital file in another process, preserve that original file too; a screenshot or conversion may discard its verification features. ## Before you submit - The recipient's required certificate type is confirmed. - The issued certificate and your personal scan are clearly distinguished. - Every edge and relevant endorsement is visible. - The attachment belongs to the correct family member. - The paper certificate and order reference remain easy to locate. For a separate document copy your recipient accepts, the [Irish document tools](/en-ie/tools/) prepare IRP, passport and driving licence copies. These tools do not certify the document; use the original whenever an unchanged file is required. ## Questions about Irish birth certificate copies ### Is the certificate ordered online delivered as a PDF? The HSE describes its online long-form certificate as a certified copy sent by post. Do not plan an application around receiving an instant downloadable certificate. ### Can I use an uncertified research copy for an application? Check the receiving organisation's requirements. The HSE distinguishes uncertified research copies from its long-form certified certificate, so do not assume that they serve the same purpose. ### Does saving the certificate in Dokus certify my scan? No. Dokus stores a personal copy. Certification, original-document requirements and whether an upload is accepted remain matters for the issuing service and the receiving organisation. ## Sources Reviewed on 21 October 2026 - [HSE: Order an Irish birth certificate](https://www2.hse.ie/services/births-deaths-and-marriages/order/birth-certificate/) - [HSE: Order a certificate and online-order contact](https://www2.hse.ie/services/births-deaths-and-marriages/order/)