Getting Birth Certificate Copy to Get Driver's License

My question involves a driver's license issued by the State of: Ohio

I was told you have to have a birth certificate or passport (which I don't have) to get an Ohio Driver's License, to prove citizenship. In my case I currently have an Arkansas license and am new to Ohio.

Is there any way to request a copy of my birth certificate from the government, and would a copy suffice? I'd really like to avoid making my parents track down the original.

If anyone knows a reliable way to avoid having to present a birth certificate, that might work, too.

Thanks in advance.

If you're asking whether you can present a photocopy of your birth certificate rather than an authenticated copy, no, that's not going to work.

If you are an adult and were born in Arkansas, you will have no problem getting a copy of your birth certificate. I don't know why you're fretting about asking your parents for a copy, but you don't need to do that. Arkansas doesn't have its own online service for ordering vital records, but instead works through VitalChek.

Quote:

---

Quoting james9999

---

I was told you have to have a birth certificate or passport (which I don't have) to get an Ohio Driver's License, to prove citizenship.

---

Told by who?

The milkman? The pool boy? The grocery clerk? Somebody at the DMV?

If it wasn't somebody at the DMV I suggest you go there and present your Arkansas driver license and you'll find out if you need the BC or not.

Many states will accept another state's license as sufficient.

The lady from the BMV on the phone told me this.

I don't remember the first location I visited mentioning I needed it, though I didn't get very far with them because they told me I had to go to another location to get a vision test.

I just want to get what I need so that I don't waste a taxi fare and time on an extra trip.

Thanks for all the help so far.

Welcome to the REAL ID law (another federal unfunded mandate on the states).


Follow Mr. K's advice and order a certified true copy of your birth certificate, you'll find having it is going to be helpful as well if you decide to ever go get a passport.

Quote:

---

Quoting flyingron

---

Welcome to the REAL ID law (another federal unfunded mandate on the states).


Follow Mr. K's advice and order a certified true copy of your birth certificate, you'll find having it is going to be helpful as well if you decide to ever go get a passport.

---

And it could be required for other purposes.

I requested the original from my parents. I didn't want to ask them for personal reasons, but now that's resolved. Thus I'll wait for the original to come.

I'll keep your advice in mind - thanks again.

The hospital should also have a copy?