While the word is now getting out, it has apparently been only slowly spread: If you are assisting someone born in Puerto Rico you may not have heard the news. Effective July 1, 2010 without exception every person born on the island of Puerto Rico will have to apply for a new birth certificate. This astounding new requirement includes the approximately 1.5 million individuals now living in the 50 states who were born in Puerto Rico.

There is no exemption, even for advanced age. The new law does waive the $5 fee for a new birth certificate for veterans and anyone over the age of 60.

A new birth certificate will be required for any official transaction that requires a birth certificate, both in Puerto Rico and in any of the 50 states or U.S. territories. For seniors this includes enrolling for Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid benefits. This will affect any Puerto Rico born senior now participating in these programs or who will in the future. Their sons and daughters who were born on the mainland US and who have birth certificates from other states are not affected. However, if they are in any responsible for their parents or other Puerto Rican born seniors they should be aware of this development.

Why in the world would Puerto Rico invalidate all birth certificates?

Birth certificates have commonly been required for a wide range of "official" transactions in Puerto Rico. The custom has been for every facility or institution requiring a birth certificate to retain a copy in their files. The result was thousands and thousands of copies of birth certificates and other identifying documents stored insecurely, particularly in schools. Over the years these documents made their way into the hands of  the wrong people. The Puerto Rico legislature passed this draconian law after raids last March broke up a criminal ring that had stolen thousands of birth certificates and other identifying documents from several different schools in Puerto Rico.

Everyone born in Puerto Rico, a U.S. commonwealth, is a U.S. citizens at birth. Therefore, anyone with a stolen Puerto Rico birth certificate could easily commit identity fraud as well as enter and move about the U.S. easily. This poses national security problems over and above criminal concerns. Some say that as much as 40 percent of the identity fraud in the U.S. involves birth certificates from Puerto Rico. Puerto Rican birth certificates are said to bring prices as high as $10,000 because they are so useful for these organizations.

Therefore, as a last resort, the Puerto Rican legislature has decreed that all birth certificates must be replaced after July 1, 2010.

To obtain a new birth certificate everyone born in Puerto Rico must:

1.  Complete and sign the application:

English Version

Spanish Version

2.  On or after July 1, 2010, mail the application, a photocopy of official photo identification (drivers license or passport only), a self addressed postage paid envelope where the birth certificate should be sent, and a $5.00 money order to:

Puerto Rico Vital Statistics Record Office
(Registro Demográfico)
P.O. Box 11854
San Juan, PR 00910

Those using premium mail services (such as: FedEx, Express Mail, Registered Mail, UPS, etc.), should use the following address:

Puerto Rico Vital Statistics Record Office
(Registro Demográfico)
171 Quisqueya Street
Hato Rey, PR 00917

Here is more information directly from the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Commission