US state guide
Virginia birth certificates and apostilles for European citizenship
Almost every citizenship-by-descent application starts with certified Virginia records. Here is how to order the right version, get the apostille and avoid the mistakes that cause rejections.
Order a certified long-form certificate
- OfficeVirginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
- How to orderonline, mail, in person
- Fee per birth certificate$15
Order birth, marriage and death records for every generation in your chain, not just your own.
Get the apostille
- Issued bySecretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Authentications Division
- Fee per document$10
- How to applymail, in person
- Watch outOnly birth certificates issued by Virginia Vital Records within the past 12 months are accepted; online-generated cover letter required; $5 for each additional document signed by the same official on the same date for the same country; in person by appointment or drop box.
Prepare it for your country
Greece
Certified long-form records, each with an apostille, then an official Greek translation.
Translate only after the apostille is attached, by a certified translator or the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs translation service.
Greek citizenship guide →Ireland
Original civil (state-issued) certificates for you, your parent and your Irish-born grandparent.
US documents are in English, so no translation is needed. Check the current Foreign Births Register document guide before ordering apostilles.
Irish citizenship guide →Poland
Certified long-form records with apostilles, translated into Polish by a sworn translator.
Polish authorities require translations by a Polish sworn translator (tłumacz przysięgły), done after the apostille.
Polish citizenship guide →Fees and procedures come from official Virginia websites and change often. Last reviewed: October 2026.
Consulates that serve Virginia
FAQ
How do I get a long-form birth certificate in Virginia?
Order a certified copy from Virginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Records (online, mail, in person). Ask for the full version that lists both parents, because short-form or abstract copies are usually rejected for citizenship applications.
How do I get an apostille in Virginia?
Apostilles for Virginia documents are issued by Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Authentications Division, currently $10 per document. Only birth certificates issued by Virginia Vital Records within the past 12 months are accepted; online-generated cover letter required; $5 for each additional document signed by the same official on the same date for the same country; in person by appointment or drop box. Check the official page for current fees and processing times.
Do I translate before or after the apostille?
After. The apostille certifies the signature on the original document, so the translation must cover the document and the apostille together.
Which countries' citizenship can these Virginia documents be used for?
The same apostilled Virginia records are the starting point for Greek, Irish and Polish citizenship by descent, among others. Each country adds its own translation and registration rules.
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