Virginia Birth Records

Virginia birth records are official state documents maintained by the Office of Vital Records at the Virginia Department of Health. The office holds certified birth certificates for all births in Virginia dating back to June 14, 1912, with additional historical records on file from 1853 to 1896. You can request copies online, by mail, or in person at the Richmond office. This guide covers how to search for and obtain Virginia birth records, who is eligible to request them, what fees to expect, and where to turn when official records are hard to find.

How to Get a Virginia Birth Certificate

Virginia gives you several ways to request a certified birth certificate. Your options include online ordering, walk-in service at the Richmond office, mail requests, and drop-off. Each method has a different turnaround time. Walk-in is the fastest, and online is the most convenient.

The Office of Vital Records runs a fully online system where you can apply, pay, and track your order without mailing anything or making a call. The system accepts credit cards, debit cards, and mobile pay. Online orders typically process in 2 to 5 business days before shipping. You can place an order any time of day or night. For questions, the Customer Care Center is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, at (804) 662-6200.

VitalChek is an authorized third-party service for ordering Virginia birth records. It has processed millions of vital documents across the country and works directly with the Virginia Department of Health. VitalChek charges an additional service fee on top of the state's $12 base charge. Orders placed through VitalChek come with tracking so you can follow the status of your request.

The CDC's National Center for Health Statistics confirms that Virginia personal checks and money orders for mail requests should be made payable to State Health Department. The state office has records from January 1853 to December 1896 and since June 14, 1912.

The Office of Vital Records at 8701 Park Central Drive in Richmond is open Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM for walk-in and drop-off requests.

Walk-in service is available at 8701 Park Central Drive, Suite 100, Richmond, VA 23227. The office serves walk-in customers Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Same-day processing is the standard for walk-in visits. Bring a completed application form and a legible photocopy of your valid ID. Cash, checks, money orders, payment cards, and mobile pay are all accepted in person. Checks and money orders must be made out to State Health Department.

Mail requests go to: VDH, Office of Vital Records, P.O. Box 1000, Richmond, Virginia 23218-1000. Include your completed application, a photocopy of your ID, and a check or money order for $12 per copy. Expect a 2 to 4 week wait for mail requests. You can also drop off a completed application at the front desk of the Richmond office. Staff will contact you when it is ready for pickup. Drop-offs received after 2:00 PM count as received the following business day. This drop-off option is not available for amendments, name changes, or corrections.

VitalChek is the state's authorized online ordering partner for Virginia birth records and offers faster processing than standard mail with order tracking included.

Under Virginia Code Section 32.1-272, select Department of Motor Vehicles offices throughout the state can issue certified copies of birth certificates on behalf of the State Registrar. Not every DMV location offers this service. Call ahead to confirm before you make the trip.

Who Can Request Virginia Birth Records

Virginia birth records are restricted for 100 years after the date of birth. During that period, only specific people can get a certified copy. Once the 100-year mark passes, the record becomes public and anyone can request it without showing a relationship.

The following people are eligible to request a restricted birth certificate:

• The mother or father listed on the record
• The spouse of the person named on the certificate
• The child, sibling, or grandparent of the named person
• A legal guardian who can show proof of custody

Every requester must show valid identification. Acceptable primary ID includes a driver's license, passport, state-issued photo ID, or military ID. If you do not have a primary ID, submit two secondary items. Secondary ID options include a Social Security card, utility bill, bank statement, or pay stub. Aunts, uncles, cousins, and in-laws are not on the eligible list and cannot obtain a birth record during the restricted period. This rule applies regardless of how closely related they are.

The CDC's guide to Virginia vital records confirms access rules and provides instructions for people seeking birth certificates from out of state or through the mail.

Death, marriage, and divorce records in Virginia become public after 25 years. Birth records have the longer 100-year restriction because they contain information that is more sensitive from an identity standpoint. The difference in timelines is established by state law and applies to all records held by the Office of Vital Records.

Virginia Birth Records: The Historical Gap

Researchers working on Virginia family history need to know about a gap in the official record. Statewide birth registration began in 1853, when the Virginia General Assembly passed a law requiring counties to collect and submit birth data. That law was repealed in 1896. For 15 years, from 1897 through 1911, no statewide requirement existed for tracking births. Statewide recording resumed on June 14, 1912, and has continued without interruption since then. Understanding this timeline is key to any Virginia birth records search that goes back more than a few generations.

The Library of Virginia birth records research guide covers all three periods of Virginia birth registration in detail, including how to find records from the gap years between 1897 and 1911.

Some cities kept their own birth records during the gap period even when the state did not require it. Those cities are Lynchburg, Newport News, Norfolk, Petersburg, Portsmouth, Richmond, and Roanoke. Hampton, then known as Elizabeth City County, also maintained records during this time. If you are looking for a birth from 1897 to 1911, start by contacting the city's health department or the Office of Vital Records to ask what may be on file.

For births before 1853, no official statewide records exist. Church registers, family Bible records, and private documents are the main sources for that era. The Library of Virginia and the Virginia Museum of History and Culture both hold collections that can help fill the gaps. Some delayed birth certificates also exist for people born between 1896 and 1911 who later filed for one. The Library of Virginia has an index to delayed certificates issued between 1912 and 1950. The actual certificates are available from the Office of Vital Records.

Note: The 1853-1896 birth registers include the child's name, parents' names, date of birth, county, father's occupation, and informant's name. Information is sometimes incomplete, and enslaved persons are often recorded only by first name or not at all.

Research Tools for Virginia Birth Records

Several major archives and online platforms hold Virginia birth records. The right starting point depends on what time period you are researching and whether you need a certified copy or are doing genealogy work.

The Library of Virginia is the state's principal archive for genealogy research. It holds birth registers from 1853 to 1896 on microfilm for all counties. The Library's genealogy research guide walks through the available collections and how to access them. The Library is at 800 E. Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23219. The Archives reference desk is at 804-692-3888. Microfilm reels can be borrowed through Interlibrary Loan, so you may not need to travel to Richmond. Each reel covers a specific county and contains the original handwritten birth registers from that period.

The Library of Virginia's genealogy collection is the most complete archive for historical Virginia birth records research and includes microfilm reels available through Interlibrary Loan at local libraries statewide.

FamilySearch provides free access to several Virginia birth record collections online. These include Virginia Birth Records, 1912-2015, Virginia Birth Registers, 1853-1911, and delayed birth records going back to 1721. There is also a Virginia Slave Birth Index covering 1853 to 1866. The FamilySearch Virginia vital records wiki has a complete list of what is available and how to search each collection.

The Ancestry Virginia birth records database covers births from 1912 to 2015 and includes older registers from 1853 to 1911, with the 100-year privacy rule applying to recent records.

Virginia residents can access Ancestry's Virginia collections free of charge through the Finditva.com program run by the Library of Virginia. All you need is a Virginia public library card number. Available collections include birth registers from 1853-1911 and birth records from 1912-2015. This free program is widely available but underused. Check with your local public library to get access.

The Virginia Museum of History and Culture holds family history materials including published record abstracts, compiled genealogies, Bible records, and photograph collections that can supplement official birth data.

The New England Historical Genealogical Society (American Ancestors) offers Virginia genealogy research resources and access to collections through the Library of Virginia's digital platform, Virginia Memory.

Birth Certificate Fees and Processing Times

Virginia charges $12 for each certified birth certificate copy. This fee is set by state law under Virginia Code Title 32.1 and applies statewide regardless of how you make the request. Mail requests require a check or money order payable to State Health Department. In-person payments can be made by cash, check, money order, payment card, or mobile pay.

Walk-in service at the Richmond office processes same-day. Mail requests take 2-4 weeks. Online orders through the state's system or through VitalChek process in 2-5 business days before shipping. Drop-off requests move quickly but must be submitted by 2:00 PM to count for that day. Orders submitted later start processing the next business day. The $12 fee applies each time the state searches its files, even if no record is found.

VitalChek charges a service fee in addition to the $12 state fee. The total cost varies based on shipping options. All major credit cards are accepted. The state's own online system also accepts cards and mobile pay. Use the phone number (804) 662-6200 to check the current fee schedule or ask about the status of a pending order.

Amending a Virginia Birth Certificate

Birth certificates can be updated, but the rules depend on what needs to change. Virginia Code Section 32.1-269 governs how the state handles amendments to vital records, including birth certificates.

Virginia Code Section 32.1-269, available through FindLaw's Virginia statutes, sets the rules for when and how a birth certificate may be amended and what documentation the state requires.

Minor errors corrected within one year of the original filing may not require the amended notation. Most other changes carry an "amended" label showing the date and type of change. Every request is reviewed to determine whether the Department can handle it administratively or whether a court order is needed first. Name changes require a certified copy of the court order before the State Registrar will update the record. Paternity updates require a written request from both parents and a sworn acknowledgment of paternity. Some medical cases can be corrected at any time without the amended notation.

If the Office of Vital Records denies your request, you can petition the circuit court. That court can order the Department to make the change. The Department makes amendment instructions and standard forms available on its website. Any question about what documents to include with your request can be answered by calling the Customer Care Center at (804) 662-6200.

Under Virginia Code Section 32.1-272, certain DMV offices across Virginia are authorized to issue certified copies of birth certificates on behalf of the State Registrar, providing an alternative access point beyond the Richmond office.

Virginia Code Section 32.1-257 requires that a birth certificate be filed with the State Registrar within seven days of the birth. This short filing window means most births are registered quickly. If a birth was never registered, a delayed certificate can be filed later with supporting documentation. The Office of Vital Records can advise on what evidence is needed for a delayed certificate.

Browse Virginia Birth Records by County

Birth certificates in Virginia are issued by the state Office of Vital Records, but local health districts and courthouse clerks can help with forms, guidance, and historical records. Select a county below to find local resources, health district contact information, and courthouse details for birth records in that area.

View All Virginia Counties

Virginia Birth Records in Major Cities

Virginia has independent cities that operate separately from surrounding counties. Each city has local health department resources and can direct residents to the right state office for birth certificate requests. Select a city below to find local contact information and birth records resources.

View All Virginia Cities