FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – March 11, 2025
Media Contact: Brian C. Little, Sr., Central Virginia PIO, brian.little@vdh.virginia.gov
Office of Vital Records Streamlines Newborn Birth Certificate Request Process
RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia Department of Health’s (VDH) Office of Vital Records (OVR) has streamlined its newborn birth certificate request process. The family can now complete the entire process online.
Effective Monday, March 3, parents of newly born babies in Virginia are now able to request copies of their baby’s birth certificates from the comfort of their hospital room, or from home. They just notify the hospital that they would like to request copies. Then they can pay the fee through a secure payment link sent by OVR.
Prior to this change, parents completed paper forms in the hospital and paid by check or money order. Hospitals then forwarded the signed forms and payment to OVR.
This streamlined process means families no longer have to remember to pack a checkbook in their hospital bag. The new system gives customers greater convenience and reduces stress for families as they welcome a new family member into the world.
“The birth certificate is the first legal document a newborn has as an individual,” said VDH State Registrar Seth Austin. “The Virginia Department of Health is happy to offer new parents a more convenient and streamlined process for requesting birth certificates for their newborns.”
Additionally, VDH is now able to email payment links to customers and collect administration fees for all types of applications. This feature is particularly useful when an amendment is required after an application is reviewed. OVR can now collect any additional fees not included in the original submission.
OVR partnered with VDH’s information technology team to make these changes.
For more information on OVR, call (804) 662-6200, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/vital-records/.
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