How to Apply for Visitation at a VADOC Facility: Timeline, Documents, and Renewal
VADOC visitation approval takes some planning, especially if you're trying to line up a first visit by a certain date. Here's how the online application works, what to gather beforehand, and how to avoid losing your approval down the road.
Before you can visit someone in a Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) facility, you have to be approved. Every visitor, adults and minors alike, must submit an application online through the DOC public website. The Central Visitation Unit reviews each application and has to approve you before staff will let you through the door.
Note: The VADOC online visitation application only accepts applications for people housed in a VADOC facility, not a local jail or detention center.
Documents Needed
- ✓ The inmate’s first and/or last name, or the inmate ID number
- ✓ A form of picture ID (for example, a driver’s license or passport)
- ✓ Your Social Security number
- ✓ If you are adding a minor visitor: the minor’s application must be attached to an adult application
Minors can visit, but there are extra rules to plan around. Every minor must be accompanied by their parent, legal guardian, or another adult who is already an approved visitor. Minors who are not immediate family won't be approved for contact visits. One more thing: a minor's application has to be attached to an adult's application, so plan to handle both at the same time.
Set aside a focused 20 to 30 minutes for the online application. VADOC doesn't let you save a draft, so you'll need to complete and submit the form in one sitting.
The real wait starts after you hit submit. VADOC says processing takes about 45 days for Virginia residents. If you live out of state, expect closer to 90 days.
Watch your inbox: After you submit the online application, VADOC will email you to confirm they received it. Check spam and junk folders too.
Approval comes first, scheduling comes after. Don't make visit plans until VADOC's Central Visitation Unit has actually approved you. Right after submitting your application, look for a confirmation email from VADOC. That's your first sign the process is moving.
Visitation approval isn't permanent. VADOC applications expire three years after the approval date, so you'll need to submit a new, updated application when it's time to renew.
- ✓ If you live in Virginia: submit your renewed online application at least 45 days before your approval expires
- ✓ If you live out of state: submit your renewed online application at least 90 days before your approval expires
- Find the receipt email: After you submit, VADOC emails you to confirm they received your application. Check spam and junk folders.
- Double-check the email address you provided: If the receipt email is not showing up, make sure you entered an email address you can access and that your inbox is not blocking VADOC messages.
- Use VADOC’s visitation help resources: If you still cannot confirm your submission was received, use the contact and help options provided on VADOC’s visitation pages to ask about next steps.
Reminder: If the person you want to visit is in a local jail or detention center, the VADOC application won't work. You'll need to follow that local facility's visitation process instead.
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