Is a birth certificate print-out an acceptable form of ID?

A certified copy of a birth certificate is an acceptable form of identification when applying for a state-issued identification card or a passport. Some organizations require that the applicant show a photo identification card along with the birth certificate.

Short-form or abstract birth certificates are not valid identification when applying for a passport, and a person may not use his birth certificate as identification when taking the ACT test. A person who needs a certified copy of his birth certificate can obtain one from his birth state's Vital Records Office by showing a valid photo identification card and paying the processing fee. Processing time may take four to eight weeks, depending on location.