Kodiak Island Borough Birth Records

Kodiak Island Borough birth records are held at the state level by the Alaska Department of Health in Juneau. The borough covers Kodiak Island and nearby islands, with the seat at the city of Kodiak. About 13,000 people live here. The borough was incorporated in 1963 and is home to the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge. No local office on Kodiak Island issues birth certificates. To search for or order a Kodiak Island Borough birth record, you go through the state. This page covers the full process.

About Kodiak Island Birth Records

Kodiak Island Borough was incorporated in 1963. It covers Kodiak Island and the surrounding smaller islands in the Gulf of Alaska. The seat is the city of Kodiak. Other communities include Akhiok, Karluk, Larsen Bay, Old Harbor, Ouzinkie, and Port Lions. The borough has about 13,000 residents. Most live in the city of Kodiak. The island is also home to a large U.S. Coast Guard base. The borough clerk handles local services like property records and meeting minutes, but does not issue birth certificates.

All Kodiak Island Borough birth records are managed by the Health Analytics and Vital Records Section, or HAVRS, in Juneau. HAVRS is part of the Alaska Department of Health. It is the only office that files and issues Alaska birth certificates. Under AS 18.50.160, every birth must be filed with the state within five days. Providence Kodiak Island Medical Center handles most births on the island and sends the form to Juneau. The Alaska Department of Health vital records page has more on how this system works.

Kodiak Island Borough birth records include the child's name, date and place of birth, parent names, and the file number. They are the legal proof of birth for anyone born on the island.

Ordering Kodiak Island Birth Records

You can order a Kodiak Island Borough birth record in four ways. Online is the fastest. Mail costs the least. Walk-in is the only same-day choice, but the offices are in Juneau and Anchorage. Fax takes the same time as mail.

Online orders go through VitalChek. The state has approved VitalChek as its only online vendor for vital records. You fill out the form, upload a copy of your photo ID, and pay with a card. There is a service fee on top of the state fee. Orders ship in two to three weeks. For Kodiak residents, this is a popular choice since the walk-in offices are on the mainland.

Mail orders go to Health Analytics and Vital Records, P.O. Box 110675, Juneau, AK 99811-0675. Print the state form, fill it out, sign it, and mail it with a copy of your ID and a check or money order. Mail orders take two to three months. Fax orders go to (907) 465-3618. The Alaska vital records orders page has the form and the latest info on steps and timing.

The FamilySearch catalog below also has a large collection of Alaska vital records, including historical Kodiak Island Borough birth records that have been scanned and put online for free.

The FamilySearch Alaska vital records catalog is one of the largest free sources of older Alaska birth records.

Walk-In Options for Kodiak Residents

There is no walk-in vital records office on Kodiak Island. The state runs two offices. The Anchorage office is at 3901 Old Seward Highway, Suite 101. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Phone: (907) 269-0991. The Juneau office is at 5441 Commercial Boulevard. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Phone: (907) 465-3391.

From Kodiak, you can fly to Anchorage in about an hour. That makes the Anchorage office the closer choice for same-day service. Both offices can issue a Kodiak Island Borough birth record the same day you walk in. Bring a valid photo ID and the fee. The offices take cash, checks, money orders, and cards. All Alaska birth records are in one system, so either office works.

Note: There is no vital records office on Kodiak Island itself, so plan to use VitalChek, mail, or a trip to Anchorage.

Who Can Order Kodiak Island Birth Records

Alaska is a closed-record state. Recent Kodiak Island Borough birth records are private. Only people with a direct tie to the record can order a certified copy. The state checks ID with each request.

You may order a Kodiak Island Borough birth record if you are:

• The person on the record, age 14 or older with a photo or school ID
• A parent listed on the birth certificate
• A legal guardian with court papers
• A third party with a notarized consent letter from the person named
• An attorney or government agency with a letter on letterhead

Valid IDs include a driver's license, state ID, passport, military ID, Tribal or BIA card with photo, or a school ID for minors. Expired IDs are accepted if less than one year past the date. Make the copy large and clear, and sign your name under it. The CDC where to write page for Alaska also lists the same rules and contact info for the state office.

Under Alaska Statute 18.50.310, birth records become public after 100 years. A Kodiak Island Borough birth record from 1926 or before is now open to anyone. These older records are helpful for family history work.

Kodiak Island Birth Record Fees

A certified copy of a Kodiak Island Borough birth record costs $30. Each extra copy at the same time is $25. Heirloom certificates are $55 for the first and $50 for each extra. Two designs by Alaska artists are sold through the state. Make checks out to the Alaska Vital Records Office.

Other fees may apply. A name change or fix costs $60, which gets you one new copy. An apostille for foreign use is $42. Special research is $75 per hour. The state warns against sending the same order through two methods. That can cause double charges. Applications expire after 180 days if the state asks for more documents and you do not provide them. Cards are taken at the walk-in offices in Juneau and Anchorage.

Historical Kodiak Island Birth Records

Kodiak Island has a deep history. Russian traders arrived in the late 1700s, and the island was the first capital of Russian America. The Russian Orthodox church kept some of the earliest written records in Alaska, including births, marriages, and deaths. These church records are among the oldest vital records in the state. The state began to require birth filing in 1913. Most births on Kodiak were being filed with the state by the 1930s.

The Alaska State Archives has vital statistics indexes from 1816 to 1998. FamilySearch and the archives scanned more than 1.1 million pages. Kodiak Island Borough birth records are indexed in the FamilySearch set. You can browse them for free on the FamilySearch Alaska vital records wiki. The wiki covers how to use church records, delayed birth filings, and state indexes. Russian Orthodox parish records from Kodiak are some of the richest sources for pre-1913 births.

Under Alaska Statute Title 18, Chapter 50, birth records open to the public after 100 years. A Kodiak Island Borough birth record from 1926 or before is now public. The Alaska State Archives in Juneau holds the broadest set of older files. Delayed birth records were also made for people born before formal filing began. The state used church logs, school records, and other proof. They carry the same legal weight as a standard birth record.

The Kodiak area also has ties to Alutiiq (Sugpiaq) communities that have lived on the island for thousands of years. Some Alutiiq heritage organizations can help with family history research in the region.

Kodiak Island Borough Local Resources

The borough seat is the city of Kodiak. The borough government website is at kodiakak.us. The clerk handles local services but does not issue birth records. For a Kodiak Island Borough birth record, call the state at (907) 465-3391 or the Anchorage office at (907) 269-0991.

The CountyOffice.org Alaska birth records page also has contact info for each borough. The Alaska record dates page shows when the state began to keep each type of record. If you need to fix or change a Kodiak Island Borough birth record, the Special Services Unit at HAVRS handles all corrections. Call (907) 465-1200 or email BVSSpecialServices@alaska.gov. Changes take about three months.

Nearby Boroughs and Census Areas

Kodiak Island Borough is in the Gulf of Alaska. Other boroughs in the region use the same state system for birth records. These pages may help.

Kenai Peninsula Borough, Lake and Peninsula Borough, Aleutians East Borough.