The Virginia Office of Vital Records, once subject to federal performance review, has improved its operations and is now ranked among the top five such offices in the United States. Governor Glenn Youngkin visited the newly relocated office in Richmond along with state officials to mark these service upgrades.
“Today we celebrate incredible milestones at the Office of Vital Records—not just a new facility, but a transformation in how Virginians are served,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “In just a few years, OVR went from being under federal performance review to now ranking among the top five in the nation. Whether it’s birth certificates ready before families leave the hospital, marriage records processed in days instead of months, or every record backed up digitally, these improvements are changing lives. The success of the OVR team shows that when we set bold goals, work together, and keep Virginians at the center, we deliver lasting results.”
The improvements include launching an e-amendment portal that allows digital requests to be processed within one day on average. Other amendments now take about five days. A secure printing process introduced in 2024 has reduced processing time by one day per request and saved approximately $130,000 annually.
Parents can now receive their child’s birth certificate before leaving the hospital due to electronic birth registration introduced in August 2025 and a new payment system launched earlier that year. All vital records dating back to 1960 have been digitized for security while original paper copies remain as backups against cyber threats.
These efforts have cut birth certificate processing times from several weeks down to two or three days. Wait times for marriage certificates have also decreased from two months to about 25 days.
“The Office of Vital Records is a shining example of what happens when government recognizes that its citizens deserve fast, efficient public sector customer service,” said Secretary of Health and Human Resources Janet V. Kelly. “Virginians can now access these important documents quickly and easily, and the Office of Vital Records story is a bright chapter in Governor Youngkin’s commitment to making Virginia the best place to live, work and raise a family.”
State Health Commissioner Karen Shelton noted: “OVR staff worked diligently to make this transition to a new location seamless for customers. Customers are now able to make most requests for vital records online. OVR staff continue to emphasize excellent customer service as they process thousands of requests annually. Most requests are routine, but OVR has a team of special services experts to assist with cases such as a birth certificate never being filed or a certificate needing to be changed or amended.”
VDH State Registrar Seth Austin highlighted: “The relocation increases security, provides ample parking, enhances the customer experience, and provides greater privacy to those who need essential services. We greatly appreciate the work of the Office of Vital Records staff in making this important move possible and we are all excited to welcome our customers to our new office where we hope to make every visit a positive experience.”
The Virginia Department of Health’s Office of Vital Records keeps official records related to births, deaths, marriages, and divorces occurring in Virginia. The updated location features redesigned areas for customer service and private consultations for both walk-in visitors and those with appointments. While most vital records can be requested at local DMV or health department offices across Virginia (https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/vital-records/), any changes or amendments must be handled directly by OVR.
For more information about obtaining vital records or recent changes at OVR visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/vital-records/.
