US state guide
West Virginia birth certificates and apostilles for European citizenship
Almost every citizenship-by-descent application starts with certified West 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
- OfficeWest Virginia Department of Health, Vital Registration Office
- How to orderonline, mail, in person
- Fee per birth certificate$12
Order birth, marriage and death records for every generation in your chain, not just your own.
Get the apostille
- Issued byWest Virginia Secretary of State
- Fee per document$10
- How to applymail, in person
- Watch outBirth certificates must be certified copies signed by the State Registrar or the Clerk of the County Commission, with the office stamp; Form AC-1 required; $5 for each additional document certified by the same official in one order.
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 West Virginia websites and change often. Last reviewed: October 2026.
Consulates that serve West Virginia
FAQ
How do I get a long-form birth certificate in West Virginia?
Order a certified copy from West Virginia Department of Health, Vital Registration Office (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 West Virginia?
Apostilles for West Virginia documents are issued by West Virginia Secretary of State, currently $10 per document. Birth certificates must be certified copies signed by the State Registrar or the Clerk of the County Commission, with the office stamp; Form AC-1 required; $5 for each additional document certified by the same official in one order. 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 West Virginia documents be used for?
The same apostilled West 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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