Quick Question about Birth Certificate Cards

[sc4125]

I hate to be the person in my family who is thought of as the "cruise specialist" but unfortunately I am.  I have a cousin who is going on a cruise with us on Thursday and today she told my sister that she doesn't have a birth certificate, she has a birth certificate card.  Her and her husband have only been on one other cruise and at that time they used passports (which have since expired).

 

I always thought that you had to have an official birth certificate and didn't think a bc card would work, but don't want to give incorrect information.  I tried checking on CCL FAQ's but it doesn't specify what is acceptable as proper documents (or at least I didn't see it).  She can go to the county seat to get an official b.c. if that's required, but she was told by "someone" at CCL that a b.c. card is sufficient.  I just don't want to see them turned away at the pier - this is a family cruise with 13 members sailing.

 

 

[soonernstlouis]

I wouldn’t risk taking someone’s word when she can easily pick up a valid copy.  I’m posting below Carnival’s official policy but one thing I’m certain of: ceremonial birth certificates/ones with the hand & footprints that hospitals used to give out that were not filed with a government agency DO NOT qualify.

https://www.carnival.com/help#section-0
 

Birth Certificate Information 

The following are acceptable: 

• An original or copy of a birth certificate issued by a government agency (state/county/city) or the Department of Health and Vital Statistics 
• A clear, legible copy (photocopy) of a birth certificate that was originally issued by a government agency (state/county/city) or the Department of Health and Vital Statistics. The copy does not need to be notarized or certified. 
• Birth Certificate Card
• A Consular report of Birth Abroad
• Internationally adopted children (under the age of 18): If the adoptive parent was not issued a birth certificate, we will accept as proof of citizenship, a Certificate of Citizenship by the U.S. and adoption paperwork. A Certificate of Citizenship is issued by the U.S. once the adoption is finalized.
• Guests may obtain a copy of a birth certificate by contacting: The Department of Health and Vital Statistics at: www.vitalchek.com. If the guest has laminated their birth certificate, it is acceptable.

 

Birth certificates from Puerto Rico issued prior to July 1, 2010 are not valid forms of proof of citizenship and are not accepted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Guests from Puerto Rico either need to present a WHTI-compliant document or a government-issued photo I.D. with a validated birth certificate issued after July 1, 2010.

Edited November 11, 2019 by soonernstlouis

[buckeyefrank]

sooner beat me to it.

Edited November 11, 2019 by buckeyefrank

[soonernstlouis]

No problem, buckeye.  We had this same rush of fear the night before our cruise 2 months ago when I pulled out my wife’s BC and I thought it might be considered ceremonial.  Our TA viewed it & felt it was acceptable but I had a cloud over my head until after we checked in.  Never again.

[ray98]

No way I would try it.  I would want a certified copy directly from the state in the common form.

[joepeka]

2 hours ago, ray98 said:

No way I would try it.  I would want a certified copy directly from the state in the common form.

Just to be safe I suppose you're correct but Carnival's requirements (posted above) specifically mention BC cards as acceptable, unless you're referring to soonernstlouis's post directly above yours? Of course, a BC card has to be accompanied with a government issued photo ID.

Edited November 11, 2019 by joepeka

[coevan]

I never even heard of a birth certificate card

[amyotravel]

1 minute ago, coevan said:

I never even heard of a birth certificate card

Me neither. Kept thinking they meant passport card!! 🙂 

[Lottacruises]

If unsure why risk?

[coevan]

1 minute ago, amyotravel said:

Me neither. Kept thinking they meant passport card!! 🙂 

 

 

which would be acceptable ID

[AdGuyMG]

A BC Card is acceptable

 

Birth Certificate Information 

The following are acceptable: 

• An original or copy of a birth certificate issued by a government agency (state/county/city) or the Department of Health and Vital Statistics 
• A clear, legible copy (photocopy) of a birth certificate that was originally issued by a government agency (state/county/city) or the Department of Health and Vital Statistics. The copy does not need to be notarized or certified. 
• Birth Certificate Card
• A Consular report of Birth Abroad

[soonernstlouis]

26 minutes ago, joepeka said:

Just to be safe I suppose you're correct but Carnival's requirements (posted above) specifically mention BC cards as acceptable, unless you're referring to soonernstlouis's post directly above yours? Of course, a BC card has to be accompanied with a government issued photo ID.

Sorry if my post was not clear.  Here is the quote from Carnival about the hospital/ceremonial certificate NOT being acceptable.

 

• Hospital certificate, hospital-issued birth notice, Certificate of Live Birth, live record of birth or announcement of birth

 

 

[joepeka]

Just now, soonernstlouis said:

Sorry if my post was not clear.  Here is the quote from Carnival about the hospital/ceremonial certificate NOT being acceptable.

 

• Hospital certificate, hospital-issued birth notice, Certificate of Live Birth, live record of birth or announcement of birth

 

 

Actually, your post was quite clear. What wasn't clear (to me) was who ray98 was referring to in his post. I guess that's what happens when you don't quote someone that you're responding to. 

[Tiger0613]

33 minutes ago, coevan said:

I never even heard of a birth certificate card

My mother was born in the 50s.  Her official birth certificate is basically a folded unlined index card.  If she got another copy now, it would be the usual 8.5x11 piece of paper.

[EBONI325]

1 hour ago, amyotravel said:

Me neither. Kept thinking they meant passport card!! 🙂 

Some states do give a birth card, my husband had one and so did my niece, who years ago tied to fly with hers but they didn't accept it only because it was laminated.

 

[DryCreek]

1 hour ago, EBONI325 said:

Some states do give a birth card, my husband had one and so did my niece, who years ago tied to fly with hers but they didn't accept it only because it was laminated.

 

This is true.

My wife had a Birth Registration Card, issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia.  It was an official record of live birth, and acceptable for every use except when we applied for our passports books and cards.  Even though it had raised letters and the official seal of the state, we still had to order a paper re-issued birth certificate.

It is the size of a credit card and is (was) considered an official, permanent record.

Edited November 12, 2019 by DryCreek
eliminated a redunancy.

[lobster1313]

I have a bc card from Massachusetts, it wasn't accepted to get married in 2010 and for my real ID license in Florida.

[sc4125]

Thanks for all of the replies & info, I obviously didn't read down far enough to see the list - and it does indeed include a birth certificate card.  I'll print that out & tell her that if she has the time to get a copy of her actual certificate she might want to just in case.

 

But, hey it's on her.  At least she will have something in writing that says a birth certificate card is acceptable.

 

Again, thanks for the info.

[sparks1093]

Birth certificates are issued in many forms by many jurisdictions but the bottom line is as long as it's issued by a government authority it's official with very few exceptions (Puerto Rican birth certificates have to be issued after a certain date in order to be considered valid). 

[Jamericannn]

I could not find my daughter's  Birth Certificate the day I was about to leave to go get her first passport. I called the BC office and they say I could get it the same day. I was in and out of the office with a BC in about 8 minutes.

 

All they do at some places is just print it. You sign a form, show ID and they print it. There is still plenty of time to get that done.