Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin and state health leaders toured the newly relocated Office of Vital Records (OVR) on Monday, which has modernized its services and improved its efficiency to deliver more compassionate care for Virginians.
“Today we celebrate incredible milestones at the Office of Vital Records — not just a new facility, but a transformation in how Virginians are served,” Youngkin said. “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.”
In order to ensure efficient and effective government services are easily accessed statewide, OVR has implemented a variety of improvements, according to Youngkin’s office.
Improvements include faster amendments and a new e-amendment portal that reduces the processing times for digital requests to just one day. In 2024, OVR launched a secure printing process that reduced wait times by an entire day, saving the state $130,000 annually.
OVR has also implemented electronic birth registration, and as of August 2025, parents are able to receive their baby’s birth certificate before they are discharged from the hospital. Records dating back to 1960 were also digitized, creating a digital backup while preserving paper records to safeguard against cybersecurity risks.
Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Resources Janet Kelly, State Health Commissioner Karen Shelton, and Virginia Department of Health (VDH) State Registrar and Director of the Office of Vital Records Seth Austin joined Youngkin for the tour.
“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,” Kelly said. “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.”
The changes have drastically cut down processing times, therefore improving service delivery. Birth certificate processing has been reduced from 4 to 6 weeks to 2 to 3 days. Wait times for marriage certificates have also been reduced from 60 days to 25 days.
“OVR staff worked diligently to make this transition to a new location seamless for customers,” Shelton said. “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.”
The new location includes staff offices dedicated to providing a private space for discussions with customers who are wanting to access official records of births, deaths, marriages, and divorces filed in Virginia. Records can further be requested at any Department of Motor Vehicle office and local health departments.
“The relocation increases security, provides ample parking, enhances the customer experience, and provides greater privacy to those who need essential services,” Austin said. “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.”
