How to get a Virginia birth certificate

In Virginia, order a certified birth certificate from the Virginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Records.¹ Also issued at local health departments and all DMV customer service centers from the statewide system.² Each certified copy costs $15³. You can order online, by mail, in person or at a local office. Anyone may order a certified copy. The fastest published option is in person: same day⁴.

Last checked November 6, 2026 against official sources.

On this page

Ways to order
What a Virginia birth certificate costs
How long it takes
Who can order a Virginia birth certificate
ID you need
What the application asks for
Forms
Years held and older records
Special situations
Warnings from the office
The state office
Questions people ask
Sources

Ways to order

How	Cost per copy	Processing time	Payment
Online	$15³	–	Card⁴
Online through VitalChek Network, Inc.	$20.80⁵, plus $12.70⁵ VitalChek service fee + 3 possible extra charges	2 to 5 days⁵	Card⁵
By mail	$15⁶ + one extra charge	–	Check and money order⁷
In person	$15¹	Same day⁴	Check, money order, card and cash¹
At a local office: Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles customer service centers	$17⁸ a search, which includes the $2⁹ processing fee	Same day¹⁰	–
At a local office (VDH health districts)	$15¹¹ (Fairfax County)	Same day⁴	–

Online

Run by: Virginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Records (state-run online application)⁴
Fees: Per copy $15³
Expedited service: Not offered⁴
Payment: Card⁴

Good to know

ID must be uploaded and the application e-signed⁴
Mailed by USPS First Class without tracking³
Allow 20 days for mail delivery before calling (portal notice, Nov. 6, 2026)⁴
Amendments need signed paper documents delivered to OVR⁴

Go to the ordering site³

Online through VitalChek Network, Inc.

Vendor: VitalChek Network, Inc.⁵
Fees: Per copy $20.80⁵
VitalChek service fee $12.70⁵
Shipping option $19.50⁵
Shipping option $18⁵
United States Post Office Regular Mail (No Fee) $0⁵
Processing time: 2 to 5 days⁵
Expedited service: Next day processing with express and trackable delivery options¹
Payment: Card⁵

Good to know

Credit card only⁵
No P.O. Box delivery addresses⁵
Signature required for UPS delivery⁵
VDH warns that all VitalChek fees are subject to change⁵
Phone orders through VitalChek: 1-877-572-6333, option 1⁵

Go to the ordering site⁵

By mail

Run by: Virginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Records⁶
Fees: Per copy $15⁶
Returned check charge $50⁶
Payment: Check and money order⁷
Make payable to: State Health Department⁶
Mail to: VDH, Office of Vital Records, P.O. Box 1000, Richmond, VA 23218-1000
¹

Good to know

Enclose an enlarged, legible photocopy of the requester's ID⁶
Unsigned applications are not processed⁶
Starter checks not accepted¹³
No cash by mail⁷

Open the application or mail instructions¹²

In person

Run by: Virginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Records (Richmond)¹
Fees: Per copy $15¹
Processing time: Same day⁴
Payment: Check, money order, card and cash¹
Make payable to: State Health Department¹
Office: Office of Vital Records, 8701 Park Central Drive, Suite 100, Richmond, VA 23227
¹⁴
Hours: Monday-Friday 7:00 AM-4:00 PM¹⁵
Appointment: Not required¹⁵

Good to know

Drop-off with same-day pick-up must be received by 2:00pm; released only to the requester¹
Drop-off option not for amendments, name changes or corrections¹
Amendments: drop-off or mail recommended¹⁵

Open the official page¹⁵

At a local office: Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles customer service centers

Run by: Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles customer service centers¹⁰
Fees: Search fee $17⁸
Processing fee, included in the search fee $2⁹
Processing time: Same day¹⁰
Make payable to: Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)⁸
Appointment: Not required¹⁵

Good to know

Bring original ID documents; photocopies not accepted at DMV¹⁶
If DMV cannot print the record, the application goes to VDH, which mails the certificate¹⁰
Returned-check charge at DMV: $85.00⁸
DMV birth certificates cover Virginia births 1912 to present⁸

Find a local office¹⁰

At a local office (VDH health districts)

Run by: Local health departments (VDH health districts)¹⁵
Fees: Per copy $15¹¹
Processing time: Same day⁴
Appointment: Not required¹⁵

Good to know

Call the health district first to confirm services and hours¹⁵
Vital records may be issued at a different address than the main health department building¹⁵
Amendments only at the Richmond office¹⁵
Example: Fairfax County health offices do not issue the long form (Special Use) birth certificate¹¹

Find a local office¹⁵

What a Virginia birth certificate costs

First certified copy: $15³
Each additional copy: $15³
If no record is found: The fee is kept as a search fee³
Fees in effect since: July 1, 2026¹

Types of copies

Copy	Accepted for	Fee
Short Form Birth Certificate⁶	Accepted by all local, state and federal agencies including passport and Social Security offices⁶	$15³
Special Use Birth Certificate (Long Form)⁴	Image copy of the original certificate; usually needed for dual citizenship⁶	$15³
"No Record" letter⁷	–	$15³
Pre-Adoptee Birth Certificate (adult adoptee's sealed original)⁶	For adult adoptees (from July 1, 2026)⁷	–

No-fee copies

Veterans or survivors: no charge for a copy needed for service-connected benefits⁹
Homeless youth: no fee⁹
At DMV: homeless youth under 21 may get a vital record free with the Virginia Affidavit Certifying Homeless Youth Status⁸
American Indian/Native American: one free copy with an incorrect pre-1960 racial designation removed²

How long it takes

These are the office's own published times. Mail and shipping time is extra unless the office says otherwise.

How you order	Processing time	Counted
Online through VitalChek Network, Inc.	2 to 5 days⁵	–
In person	Same day⁴	From receipt
At a local office: Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles customer service centers	Same day¹⁰	From receipt
At a local office (VDH health districts)	Same day⁴	From receipt

Who can order a Virginia birth certificate

Anyone may order a certified copy.¹⁷

The office also names these requesters and conditions. Each line gives the official wording.

The person named on the record, spouse, child and brother or sister⁶
A parent named on the record: Vital records are available to immediate family members only: mother, father, spouse, child, brother, sister, and grandparents with valid identification.¹
Grandparent⁶
Proof: Evidence of need required by statute¹⁷
Legal guardian: Birth records can be issued to a legal guardian with proof of custody.¹
Proof: Custody papers⁶
Attorney or legal representative: For the purposes of securing information or obtaining certified copies of birth records, the term "legal representative" shall include a registrant's attorney; a person with power of attorney for affairs of registrant; an attending physician; or a federal, state or local governmental agency acting in behalf of the registrant or his family.¹⁸
Proof: Power of attorney or other proof of representation, plus own ID⁷

Who cannot order a certified copy

Aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws, and any other person cannot obtain a person’s vital record.¹

Records open to the public after: 100 years¹⁷

ID you need

Photo ID: Required¹⁹
Accepted ID: Photo ID card or driver's license issued by a U.S. state, territory or jurisdiction (incl. Global Entry card), unexpired or expired not more than one year
Learner's/instruction permit (unexpired or expired not more than one year)
Current school or employment photo ID with ID number (not check-cashing cards)
Unexpired U.S. military card (active duty or retired)
Unexpired U.S. passport or passport card
Unexpired foreign passport, I-94 or I-94W
Certificate of Naturalization (N-550, N-570, N-578)
Certificate of Citizenship (N-560, N-561)
U.S. Citizen Identification Card (I-197)
Temporary Resident Card (unexpired I-688)
Employment Authorization Document (unexpired I-766)
Refugee Travel Document (unexpired I-571)
Resident Alien / Permanent Resident / Northern Marianas Card (unexpired I-551)
Asylum: first and last page of the asylum application
Consular Report of Birth Abroad (FS-240)
Certification of Report of Birth (DS-1350)
Virginia Criminal Justice Agency Offender Information Form
U.S. Probation Offender Information Form
Certificate of Birth Abroad (FS-545)¹⁹
Without that ID: Two documents from the secondary list (e.g., Selective Service card, DD214, certified school records, life insurance policy, Medicare/Medicaid card, driver's license/state ID/passport expired not more than 5 years, utility bill within 6 months, valid voter registration card, foreign photo ID). If you cannot meet the ID rules, VDH suggests an eligible immediate family member request the record.⁶
ID copy with a mail order: Include a copy of your ID⁶

What the application asks for

Have these details ready before you fill in the form or start an online order.⁶

Name at birth
Changed name (if not by marriage)
Date of birth
Place of birth (Virginia city or county)
Hospital (if any)
Sex
Full maiden name of mother/parent one
Full name of father/parent two
Requester name, address, phone, email
Relationship to the registrant
Reason for request
Certificate type and number of copies
Requester signature

Forms

Years held and older records

Years the issuing office holds: 1853 to today (except 1897 to June 1912 (no statewide registration))⁷
Older records: The Library of Virginia (Archives Division) holds 1853-1896 birth and death registers on microfilm²⁰

Special situations

Delayed registration: Delayed birth registrations have no set delivery time frame⁷ Details
Adoption: Original birth records of adoptees are sealed; adult adoptees may request a copy from July 1, 2026⁷ Details
Adoptees born abroad: Virginia residents who adopt a foreign-born child can get a Certificate of Foreign Birth²¹ Details
Sex marker: Sex designation changed with form VS42 from the health care provider; $10 + $15 per copy²² Details
Paternity: Paternity added by notarized Acknowledgement of Paternity, Virginia court order, or AABB-lab DNA results⁶ Details
Dual citizenship: Order the Long Form (Special Use) birth certificate for dual citizenship⁶ Details
Use abroad: Apostilles come from the Secretary of the Commonwealth, not VDH²³ Details
People without housing: Homeless youth get a free certified birth record² Details
Name change: List any non-marriage name change on the application⁶ Details

Warnings from the office

VDH is not associated with genealogy websites²⁰
A false application is a felony²⁴
The State Registrar may accept or deny any application¹⁹
Virginia certified copies have no raised seal; VDH provides a letter for agencies that question this²⁵

The state office

Office: Office of Vital Records¹
Phone: (804) 662-6200¹
Contact: Contact form¹⁴
Mailing address: VDH, Office of Vital Records, P.O. Box 1000, Richmond, VA 23218-1000
¹
Walk-in address: Office of Vital Records, 8701 Park Central Drive, Suite 100, Richmond, VA 23227
¹⁴
Hours: Walk-in Monday-Friday 7:00am-4:00pm; Customer Care Center phone Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm¹
Website: Official website¹

Questions people ask

How much is a certified Virginia birth certificate?

Each certified copy costs $15.³

How long does it take to get a Virginia birth certificate?

Online through VitalChek Network, Inc.: 2 to 5 days. In person: same day. At a local office: same day. At a local office: same day.⁵⁴¹⁰

Can I order a Virginia birth certificate online?

Yes. Online: Virginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Records (state-run online application). Online through VitalChek Network, Inc.⁴⁵

Who do I make the check or money order payable to?

Write it exactly as the office prints it: State Health Department.⁶

What ID do I need?

The state accepts: Photo ID card or driver's license issued by a U.S. state, territory or jurisdiction (incl. Global Entry card), unexpired or expired not more than one year; Learner's/instruction permit (unexpired or expired not more than one year); Current school or employment photo ID with ID number (not check-cashing cards); Unexpired U.S. military card (active duty or retired); Unexpired U.S. passport or passport card; Unexpired foreign passport, I-94 or I-94W; and the other documents listed above.¹⁹

Where are older Virginia birth certificates kept?

The Library of Virginia (Archives Division) holds 1853-1896 birth and death registers on microfilm.²⁰

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from these official sources, checked on November 6, 2026. Tap a source number next to a fact to read the exact words.

Office of Vital Records (home)Virginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated October 5, 2026
Code of Virginia § 32.1-272 (certified copies)Virginia General Assembly, Legislative Information System (Code of Virginia)
Online Application for a Vital RecordVirginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated October 5, 2026
OVR Online - How it Works (Application for Certification of a Vital Record)Virginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
Express Delivery through the VitalChek NetworkVirginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated April 16, 2026
Application for Certification of a Birth Record (VS6B-07/26)Virginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated July 1, 2026
Frequently Asked QuestionsVirginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated October 16, 2026
Virginia Birth Certificate Application (DL 81)Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles
Code of Virginia § 32.1-273 (fees)Virginia General Assembly, Legislative Information System (Code of Virginia)
Vital Records at DMVVirginia Department of Motor Vehicles
Vital Records (Birth, Death, Marriage and Divorce Records)Fairfax County Health Department
Vital Records FormsVirginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated July 1, 2026
How to Complete a Money Order or CheckVirginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated June 30, 2026
Virginia Department of Health: Contact usVirginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated June 30, 2026
Vital Record Walk-In LocationsVirginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated April 16, 2026
Acceptable Vital Records DocumentsVirginia Department of Motor Vehicles
Code of Virginia § 32.1-271 (disclosure; records made public)Virginia General Assembly, Legislative Information System (Code of Virginia)
12VAC5-550-470 Individual requestsVirginia General Assembly, Legislative Information System (Virginia Administrative Code)
ID RequirementsVirginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated January 28, 2026
GenealogyVirginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated June 30, 2026
AdoptionVirginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated June 30, 2026
What is the procedure to update a Virginia birth certificate after a person has undergone gender…Virginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated June 30, 2026
Foreign AuthenticationVirginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated April 16, 2026
Application for Certification of a Marriage and/or Divorce Record (VS6MD-07/26)Virginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated July 1, 2026
Virginia Office of Vital Records Certification Paper (raised seal letter)Virginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Records