There are two versions of a birth certificate: Long Form and Short Form. When you apply for a copy of a Birth Certificate, you might choose between this depending on the reasons for requesting. In both cases can be used to establish identity and citizenship.

This version is often referred to as ‘abstract’ because it contains the most important information but only a fraction of information of the long-form. This version may not be valid for all applications in some states. 

This is also known as the official birth certificate form or full-size birth certificate. It is a copy of the original and includes legal information, signatures, file number, etc. This version is officially certified and valid for all applications.