Certified copies of Virginia vital records — births, deaths, marriages, and divorces recorded in the Commonwealth — cost $12 each from the Office of Vital Records, and standard processing runs about two weeks whether you apply online, by mail, or in person.1Virginia Department of Health. Office of Vital Records Access is restricted by law, so you’ll need to show your relationship to the person on the record and provide valid ID before the state will release anything.
Which Records the State Holds
The Office of Vital Records, a division of the Virginia Department of Health, keeps:
- Birth and death records from 1912 to the present
- Divorce records from 1918 to the present
- Marriage records from 1936 to the present2Virginia Department of Health. Genealogy
For older events, the Library of Virginia in Richmond holds surviving birth and death records from 1853 to 1896 and marriage records prior to 1936. Those are public and available on microfilm.3Library of Virginia. Birth, Marriage, and Death Records (1853-Present) – Overview
Who Can Request a Certified Copy
Virginia law makes it unlawful to inspect, disclose, or copy vital records except as authorized by statute or Board regulation. In practice, that means the person named on the record, immediate family, and legal representatives with a documented interest. The statute specifically authorizes grandparents to request a grandchild’s birth certificate when they can show a need, and grandchildren or great-grandchildren to request the death certificate of a deceased ancestor.4Virginia Code Commission. Virginia Code 32.1-271 – Disclosure of Information in Records If the State Registrar denies a request, a court can order disclosure.
These restrictions expire. Birth records become public 100 years after the birth, and death, marriage, and divorce records open up after 25 years.4Virginia Code Commission. Virginia Code 32.1-271 – Disclosure of Information in Records After that, anyone can request them without proving a family connection.
What the Application Requires
Every request uses the Application for Certification of a Vital Record, available on the Virginia Department of Health website and at walk-in locations.5Virginia Department of Health. Application for Certification of a Vital Record You’ll need to provide the full name of the person on the record, the date and location of the event, parents’ names (including the mother’s maiden name, for birth certificates), and your relationship and reason for requesting.
Identification You’ll Need
You can present one primary photo ID or two secondary documents. Primary IDs include a current driver’s license or state photo ID, an unexpired U.S. passport or passport card, a current military ID, or a current school or employment photo ID with an identification number.6Virginia Department of Health. ID Requirements – Vital Records An expired primary document is accepted if it has been expired for no more than one year.
If you don’t have a primary photo ID, two secondary documents are required. Acceptable options include a utility bill from the last six months, a voter registration card, a valid health insurance card, a life insurance policy, military discharge papers, and a certified school transcript.7Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. Acceptable Vital Records Documents A social security card by itself is not on the accepted list.
How to Submit Your Request
Online
The Office of Vital Records runs a full online system where you complete the application, upload your ID, sign electronically, and pay by credit or debit card.8Virginia Department of Health. Online Application for Certification of a Vital Record The fee is $12 per certified copy, and standard processing takes about two weeks. Expedited delivery is available through the VitalChek network for an added service fee.
By Mail
Mail the completed application, a copy of your ID, and $12 per copy by check or money order payable to the State Health Department to the Office of Vital Records in Richmond.1Virginia Department of Health. Office of Vital Records Add mailing time in both directions to the two-week processing window.
In Person
Walk-in service is offered at the Office of Vital Records at 8701 Park Central Drive in Richmond (Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.), at participating DMV offices, and at local health departments across the state.9Virginia Department of Health. Vital Record Walk-In Locations Same-day service is sometimes possible if the record is already digitized. Call ahead before driving to a DMV or local health department to confirm they handle vital records and to check current wait times. In-person payment options include check, money order, payment card, mobile pay, or cash.1Virginia Department of Health. Office of Vital Records
Correcting or Amending a Record
Virginia charges a $10 administrative fee for any amendment to a certificate. If you also want a new certified copy showing the change, add the standard $12, for $22 total.10Virginia Department of Health. How to Request an Amendment to a Birth Certificate You submit the request online or by mail, and the Office of Vital Records reviews it and tells you what supporting documentation they need. What counts as sufficient proof depends on the type of change. Amendments can only be processed by the central Office of Vital Records, not at DMV offices or local health departments.9Virginia Department of Health. Vital Record Walk-In Locations
Gender Marker Changes
To update the sex designation on a Virginia birth certificate, the State Registrar requires a completed Changing Sex Designation form (VS42) signed by a healthcare provider who has treated the person for gender transition, a copy of the requester’s valid ID, and the $10 administrative fee. If you’re also changing your name, include a certified copy of the court order. Each new certified copy of the amended certificate is $12.11Virginia Department of Health. What Is the Procedure to Update a Virginia Birth Certificate After a Person Has Undergone Gender Transition A parent can submit the request for a minor.
When No Birth Record Exists
If your Virginia birth was never registered, you can file for a delayed birth certificate. Any birth registered a year or more after it occurred is marked “Delayed” on the face of the certificate and shows the date of the delayed registration.12Virginia Code Commission. Virginia Code 32.1-259 – Filing and Registration of Delayed Birth Certificates
For applications filed seven or more years after the birth, the request goes to the State Registrar. You’ll need at least three pieces of documentary evidence supporting the birth facts. Only two are required if one document was created before the person’s seventh birthday, or if the person is 15 or younger.13Virginia Code Commission. 12VAC5-550-260 – Procedure and Requirements for Delayed Birth Registration Acceptable documents include school admission records, physician records, insurance applications, baptismal records, federal census abstracts, immunization records, and passports. Only one affidavit of personal knowledge counts as a supporting document, and all documents must be originals or certified copies.
The application must be signed and sworn to before a notary by the person whose birth is being registered, or by a parent, guardian, or other person with knowledge of the birth facts if the registrant cannot sign.13Virginia Code Commission. 12VAC5-550-260 – Procedure and Requirements for Delayed Birth Registration If the State Registrar questions the evidence or finds it insufficient, the application is denied and you’re advised of your right to petition a court for an order to register the birth.12Virginia Code Commission. Virginia Code 32.1-259 – Filing and Registration of Delayed Birth Certificates
Using a Virginia Record Abroad
If a foreign government needs to accept your Virginia vital record, you’ll likely need an apostille, and that does not come from the Department of Health. Apostilles for Virginia-issued documents are issued by the Secretary of the Commonwealth for countries that are members of the 1961 Hague Convention.14USAGov. Authenticate an Official Document for Use Outside the U.S.
The Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office verifies that the Virginia official who issued or notarized the document is in good standing, then attaches the apostille. Submissions are accepted by mail or by appointment, and documents do not need to be translated before submission. If the destination country isn’t a Hague member, you’ll need an authentication certificate instead. The Secretary of the Commonwealth handles only state-level documents; federal documents like an FBI background check must be authenticated by the U.S. Department of State.15Secretary of the Commonwealth. Authentications
Order a fresh certified copy from the Office of Vital Records first, then send that copy to the Secretary of the Commonwealth for the apostille. Foreign governments often reject older or previously used copies.