How to Schedule Your First VADOC Visit (apply, schedule, arrive)

Visiting someone in a Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) facility for the first time involves three steps: apply online, wait for approval, then schedule your visit online and show up prepared. This guide covers each step so you can plan your timing, follow the scheduling rules, and get through check-in without any surprises.

Apply Prepare

• ✓ Bring at least one valid picture ID on visit day, and make sure it matches the information you put on your visitation application
• ✓ Driver’s license
• ✓ Passport (only for those who do not reside in the United States)
• ✓ Military ID
• ✓ Other official picture ID issued by a federal or state agency

After you submit your visitation application, processing takes about 45 days for Virginia residents. That wait can feel long. Build it into your plans, and hold off on making travel arrangements until you get your approval.

Out-of-state applicants should expect about 90 days for processing. If you're trying to visit by a specific date (like a holiday weekend), apply as early as possible so the timeline doesn't catch you off guard.

Once you're approved, you schedule your visit online through the Visitation Scheduler. You can book up to 14 days in advance, so check available dates early and pick a time that gives you room to arrive and clear screening.

• ✓ You can schedule a maximum of one visit per weekend
• ✓ VADOC institutions typically allow in-person visiting on Saturdays, Sundays, and state holidays

Keep your visit day simple. No food or drinks are allowed inside the facility, and you won't have access to vending machines during the visit. Eat and drink before you enter so you're not stuck uncomfortable once you've checked in.

Bring at least one valid picture ID on visit day, and make sure it matches the information on your visitation application. If the details don't line up, staff can turn you away at the door, even if you're approved.

• ✓ Driver’s license
• ✓ Passport (only for those who do not reside in the United States)
• ✓ Military ID
• ✓ Other official picture ID issued by a federal or state agency

You don't need to be on an inmate's pre-approved visiting list to be approved for in-person visitation. This changed on June 1, 2023. You still need to meet all other requirements, including applying and scheduling your visit online.