What Is a Vaulted Birth Certificate?

by Chezley Pillow

Overview

Sample certificates

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Everyone has a vaulted birth certificate. A vaulted birth certificate is a copy of the original birth certificate which is certified by Home Affairs. It is kept sealed and private by Home Affairs unless requested by the owner.
Function

The purpose of a vaulted birth certificate is for the government to have an official record of all individuals living and dead to contribute to statistics and operations. A copy of a vaulted birth certificate is required when applying for particular foreign passports.

Features

The vaulted birth certificate is a copy of the original "notice of birth" that the mother and father registered when the child was born. It has all long-version information including history of the mother and father.
Benefits

The vaulted birth certificate is held by Home Affairs and protects the privacy of the owner of the certificate. This certificate avoids the chance for fraud or loss of the certificate by the owner. It is kept in a fire-protected vault for ultimate protection.
Famous Ties

A large controversy with President Obama involved a copy of his vaulted birth certificate and his initial decision to keep it private. Many people demanded to see a copy of the vaulted version to prove he was an American citizen. In January 2010, a judge ordered him to release it.
Time Frame

When requesting a copy of a vaulted birth certificate, it typically will take between 60 and 90 working days to be received.