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Average response time for birth certificates by mail/online/in person (days)
Provide high-quality and timely service to the public. — Provide birth and death certificates to the public quickly and efficiently.
Birth certificate response times rose in fiscal 2025 and have stayed elevated because request volume jumped, largely driven by the federal Real ID policy pushing more New Yorkers to obtain certified birth certificates. The Health Department says it has kept response times within its 3-day target through process improvements like promoting online requests, even as order volume climbed further into fiscal 2026.
Researched July 15, 2026 — DOHMH, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report, DOHMH, Fiscal 2026 Preliminary Mayor's Management Report
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 5.4 days | 3 days |
| FY23 | 2 days | 3 days |
| FY24 | 1.6 days | 3 days |
| FY25 | 2.7 days | 3 days |
| FY26 (YTD) | 2.8 days | 3 days |
Why this is tracked
Beyond its policy and inspection work, DOHMH runs many services that touch New Yorkers directly, including issuing birth and death certificates, operating sexual health clinics, and responding to public health inquiries. Because delays or poor service at these everyday touchpoints can mean someone doesn't get a needed document, referral, or answer in time, the agency treats responsiveness and service quality as a goal in its own right, alongside its broader public health mission.
NYC Health - About the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Source: Office of Vital Records — via NYC Open Data: Mayor's Management Report, Agency Performance Indicators
Coverage shown: FY22–FY26, reported monthly.
Definition: The average response time for birth certificates by mail/online/in person (days) from receipt of necessary documentation to response/issuance. Outlier, voided and canceled orders are excluded.