How to Obtain a Copy of Your Birth Certificate in Virginia

This article was co-authored by Clinton M. Sandvick, JD, PhD. Clinton M. Sandvick worked as a civil litigator in California for over 7 years. He received his JD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1998 and his PhD in American History from the University of Oregon in 2013.

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Whether you lost your birth certificate or would simply prefer to have two copies, it is possible to retrieve an additional copy. With any bureaucratic system, there are certain rules, regulations, and fees that go into the process. The following articles outlines the various ways to get a copy of your birth certificate in Virginia.

Understanding the Basics

• The office provides Virginia birth and death certificates from 1912 to the present.
• The office is very busy, so be prepared for waiting times when making phone calls or visiting during office hours. They receive an average of 30,000 calls a month and 9,000 visitors.
• The office is located 2001 Maywill Street, Richmond, Virginia 23230. The phone number is 804-662-6200. [1] X Research source

• When requesting a copy of your own birth certificate you must be over 18, an emancipated minor, a parent under 18 if requesting your child's birth certificate at the same time, or a married juvenile.
• When requesting for an immediate family member, you must be a current spouse, adult child, mother, father, adult brother, adult sister, maternal grandparents (if mother is listed on the birth certificate), or paternal grandparents (if father is listed on the birth certificate). [2] X Research source
• When requesting as a legal representative, you must have original Notarized Power of Attorney over the person named on the certificate or be the attorney or agent of the person named on the certificate. [3] X Research source

Know about the DMV option. If you don't live near the Office of Vital Records, there's an alternative route to get a copy of your birth certificate. Certified copies of birth certificates from 1912 to present are available through the Department of Motor Vehicles. Full service DMV locations, which include DMV customer service stations and DMV 2 go mobile offices, issue copies of birth certificates. [4] X Research source

Obtaining a Copy by Walk-Ins or Mail

• The application will ask for your name, address, phone number, city, state, and zip code.
• It will ask for you relation to the person named on the certificate and your reason for requesting the certificate.
• It will ask for the full name of the person on the certificate, their date of birth, their place of birth, their hospital of birth, and the names of their mother and father.
• It will ask what type of certificate you want, and the number of copies.
• You will be asked for a signature.

• Photo driver's license, learner's permit, or photo identification card issued by the DMV
• School or employer issued photo identification card
• Military card, active or retired
• US passport or foreign passport with visa
• US certificate of naturalization or citizenship
• US citizen identification card
• Temporary resident card
• Employment Authorization Card
• Refugee Travel Document
• Foreign Alien Card
• Permanent Resident Card
• Northern Marianas Card
• A copy of the first and last page of an application for Asylum
• Birth Abroad (Consular Report) of a citizen from the USA
• Birth Abroad (Certification Report) of a citizen of the USA
• Virginia Criminal Justice Agency Offender Information
• United State Probation Offender Information

• You will be asked to fill out an application, if you haven't already.
• You will be asked to show the processing clerk your form of ID.
• There is a $12 fee, which can be paid by cash, check, or money order. No debit or credit cards are accepted.
• This is a same day service, meaning you will receive your birth certificate before you leave. [5] X Research source

• Mail your application to P.O. Box 1000, Richmond, Virginia 23218-1000.
• You must include a signed application, a photocopy of a valid form of ID, and a signed letter giving your return address.
• Include a check or money order, made out to the State Health Department, for $12.
• If you're requesting a birth certificate with no changes made, expect delivery in 2 to 4 weeks.
• If you've requested any amendments or changes, the wait can be up to 12 weeks. [6] X Research source

Ordering Through VitalChek

• The main advantage of VitalChek is its speed and convenience. It takes 10 minutes to complete an application, which you complete from home, and you should receive your birth certificate within 2 to 5 days.
• Due to the added shipping cost that result from fast delivery times, fees a great deal higher using VitalChek. Payment options are also stricter, as payments must be made by credit cards. [7] X Research source

• Type of certificate requested
• Relationship to the person on the certificate
• Full name of the person on the certificate
• Date and place of birth of the person on the certificate
• Mother's full and maiden name
• Father's name
• Area code and daytime phone number
• The street address, city, state, and zip code where the certificate will be sent (PO boxes are not accepted) [8] X Research source

• You can order by phone by calling 1-877-572-6333 and following the instructions from there.
• You can order online by going to vitalchek.com and providing the needed information. [9] X Research source

• There is a $20.80 fee for each certified record, and an additional $11.95 VitalChek service fee.
• If you need foreign authentication on a document, there is an additional $10 fee.
• For mailing, there is an $18.50 fee for UPS Air, a $17 fee for UPS 2 Day Air, and no fee for US Post Office Regular Mail. [10] X Research source

Going to the DMV

• Full service DMV offices
• DMV customer service centers
• DMV 2 Go mobile offices [11] X Research source

• You name, address, city, state, zip code, phone number, and e-mail
• Your gender
• Your relationship to the person named on the certificate
• It will ask for the name of the person on the certificate, their date of birth, gender, place of birth, hospital of birth, and parents full names.
• Lastly, it will ask for a signature. [12] X Research source

• Appropriate photo identification. The acceptable photo ID's are the same as those listed for walk-in and mail applications.
• The $14 fee, which can be paid by cash, check, or money order. [13] X Research source

Expert Q&A

If you're confused about any of the information, do not hesitate to call and ask before sending out an application. The last thing you want is to have an application rejected and increase the waiting time.

Birth certificates over 100 years old are considered public record, and there is less red tape in requesting them.

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1. ↑https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/vital-records/
2. ↑https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/records/vital/record-certificates
3. ↑https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/records/vital/record-certificates
4. ↑https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/records/vital/record-certificates
5. ↑https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/vital-records/
6. ↑https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/vital-records/mail-it-in/
7. ↑https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/vital-records/express-delivery-through-the-vitalchek-network/
8. ↑https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/vital-records/express-delivery-through-the-vitalchek-network/
9. ↑https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/vital-records/express-delivery-through-the-vitalchek-network/

1. ↑https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/vital-records/express-delivery-through-the-vitalchek-network/
2. ↑https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/records/vital/record-certificates
3. ↑http://www.dmv.state.va.us/webdoc/pdf/dl81.pdf
4. ↑https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/records/vital/record-certificates

About This Article

This article was co-authored by Clinton M. Sandvick, JD, PhD. Clinton M. Sandvick worked as a civil litigator in California for over 7 years. He received his JD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1998 and his PhD in American History from the University of Oregon in 2013. This article has been viewed 127,483 times.

To obtain a copy of your birth certificate in Virginia, you’ll need to fill out an application form and send it to the Office of Vital Records. First, download the application from their website and fill in your personal details. Once you’ve filled in the form, mail it to the address provided, including a copy of your ID and a check for the processing fee. Alternatively, take your form into the Office of Vital Records in Richmond. If you’re going in person, make sure you remember to bring a valid form of ID. You can also order a copy of your birth certificate through the VitalChek website or by calling them. However, because VitalChek is a third-party company, they charge an extra fee. For more tips from our Legal co-author, including how to get a copy of your birth certificate from a DMV, read on!

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"I had to get a copy for my sister, who now lives in NC. Everything worked out just fine, mainly because this gave me a heads-up as to what steps I needed to take to make this as easy as possible!" . " more