How do you get a birth certificate from Puerto Rico?

Question

A friend of mine was born in Puerto Rico and has a birth certificate in spanish . He cannot get a drivers license, a passport , state id or anything because the certificate is in spanish. We contacted the office in his home town and they tell us that he needs one of the above mentioned ids to get a new certificate. But he cant get the id without the certificate in spanish and english. His parents are dead. Anybody got any ideas?

Answer 1

Try a bilingual lawyer who will sign an "Affidavit" that certifies the autenticity of the birth certificate and the translation.

Answer 2

This should not be the case. My parents are from there and they got ids and everything just fine. Maybe he should bring in the certficate in spanish to the office in PR and have it translated or something.

Answer 3

Your friend may want to try the attached website.  I have not used it but apparently you can request a copy of an updated  birth certificate by filling some forms and paying a small fee.

Answer 4

Go to this weblink:

http://www.prfaa.com/services.asp?id=44

You can also call for additional information please contact the Division of Certificate Expedition at [phone], extensions 2401 or 3401.