Get your certified West Virginia Birth Certificate

How to Get a State of West Virginia Birth Certificate Without ID

If you do not possess a valid primary identification, you can use two secondary forms of ID listed in the table above, such as a State Social Services ID, utility bill, or vehicle registration. Alternatively, authorized third parties can request the birth certificate on your behalf, provided they have proof of identity and relationship with you.

How Long Does It Take to Process and Receive a Birth Certificate in West Virginia?

The current processing time is approximately 5 to 15 business days; however, the total time to receive a birth certificate replacement in West Virginia varies based on the application method and the wait times determined by the West Virginia DHHR-HSC. To avoid delays, we recommend using VRO’s easy online service, which helps prevent incomplete submissions and errors.

Do I Need to Notarize My Application?

A notarization of the application is generally not required to obtain authorized copies of West Virginia birth certificates. A photocopy of your ID is sufficient to verify your identity.

Other FAQs

• How to Obtain a West Virginia Birth Certificate if Born on an Overseas Military Base

  

  If you were born overseas on a military base, there would not be a birth certificate on record with the state of West Virginia. Likely, your birth was filed with the U.S. Department of State. In this case, you must request a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA, FS-240) from the U.S. Department of State. The CRBA is equivalent to a U.S. birth certificate as evidence of U.S. citizenship and can be used for the same legal purposes as a certified West Virginia birth certificate, such as passport applications and social services.

  If you need a copy of an original birth record, you must contact the hospital in the country where your birth occurred to obtain copies of the original.

• Why Do I Need Certified Copies of My West Virginia Birth Certificate?

  

  Certified copies of your West Virginia birth certificate are necessary for various uses in life, such as legal proceedings, family matters, school enrollment, employment, and travel. These copies are crucial for identity verification, containing your legal name at birth, place, and date of birth, your parent's names, and citizenship, and are accepted by government and commercial entities for official use.
  
  Birth certificates are often useful or required for:

  Applying for a driver's license

  Applying for a new passport

  Issuing or obtaining a Social Security Card

  Applying for Social Security benefits

  Claiming pension or insurance benefits

  Genealogy research

  Claiming family inheritance

  Applying for a new job

  Enrolling in school

  Enlisting in military

  Obtaining a marriage license

• What Does a West Virginia Birth Certificate Look Like?

  

  Official birth certificates must adhere to state guidelines stipulated by the West Virginia DHHR-HSC, displaying features such as the state seal, individual's name, registrar's signature, and secure paper to prevent counterfeiting. Although they may vary by the year of issue, they will contain the necessary information to validate authenticity.

  Note that official (long-form) birth certificates are used for legal purposes and are different from informational (short-form) copies used for personal or commemorative reasons.

  • Full Name of the Person: The full legal name of the person whose birth is being recorded.

  • Date of Birth: The exact date of birth of the individual.

  • Place of Birth: The city, county, and state where the birth took place.

  • Parents’ Names: The full names of both parents, including the mother’s maiden name.

  • State Seal: A raised, embossed, or printed multicolor or black and white seal of the issuing authority, which validates the document.

  • Signature of State Registrar: The signature of the state registrar or authorized official responsible for issuing the certificate.

  • Date of Issuance: The date when the state officially issued the birth certificate.

  • Printed on Security Paper: Printed on specialized paper to prevent counterfeiting.

  In some instances, a certified birth certificate may also include:

  • Name of the Hospital where the birth was recorded.

  • Name of the Physician who attended the labor.

• How to Replace a Lost or Stolen West Virginia Birth Certificate

  

  If you lose your birth certificate:

  1. Apply for a certified replacement copy in person, by mail, or online through VRO. You must complete the application, gather the required identification and documents, and pay the fees determined by the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources - Health Statistics Center (DHHR-HSC).
     a. For in-person applications: Present the completed application and required documents to a county health department during hours of operation.
     b. For applying by mail: Send your application, documents, and a check or money order for the replacement fee to the DHHR-HSC at:
     Vital Registration Office
     350 Capitol Street,
     Room 165 Charleston,
     WV 25301-3701
     c. For online submissions: Complete the application and upload your documents through the VRO website (payable by credit card online).
  2. The DHHR-HSC will mail the certified copy(s) after processing.

• How to Correct or Amend a West Virginia Birth Certificate

  

  The process for amending a West Virginia birth certificate may vary depending on the type of changes required. An addendum is a supplement issued to correct or modify information on a birth certificate, as the original birth record must remain unchanged.

  Typically, amendments to birth certificates will require:

  1. A completed amendment application: Affidavit to Correct West Virginia Birth Certificate form
  2. Supporting documentation: Applications for corrections must include at least two original documents that support the claims, established five years before the application or within seven years of the event.
  3. Appropriate fee(s): An amendment fee of $10.00; each certified copy of the vital record is an additional $12.00. There is no fee for amendments made within the first year following a vital event, court-ordered paternity, or for paternity affidavits submitted within the first year of birth.

• How to Obtain an Apostille for a West Virginia Birth Certificate

  

  To obtain an apostille for a West Virginia birth certificate, you can order it directly through the West Virginia Secretary of State or use VRO's Express Apostille Service. Apostilles are typically necessary when filing a birth certificate with a foreign government that is part of the 1961 Hague Convention.

  To manually obtain an apostille for a West Virginia birth certificate, complete the following steps:

  1. Obtain a Certified Copy of the Birth Certificate: Ensure you have a certified copy of your birth certificate from the West Virginia DHHR-HSC.
  2. Complete the Apostille Request Form: Download and complete the Apostille Request Form from the West Virginia Secretary of State's website.
  3. Pay the Fee: Include the appropriate fee ($10.00 for the first document and $5.00 for each additional document) with a check or money order payable to the "WV Secretary of State."
  4. Provide a Return Address For Expedited Delivery (optional): If you would like the documents returned to you in any way other than by standard USPS mail, ensure that you include a self-addressed stamped envelope for the return of your documents.
  5. Submit the Request: Mail or deliver the completed Apostille Request Form, the certified birth certificate, and the required fee to the West Virginia Secretary of State's office at the following address:

  Mailing Address: