How to Apply for Visitation at a VADOC Facility (what to gather, timelines, and scheduling)
VADOC requires visitors to get approved before entering any facility. Gather a few details first and plan for the review timeline, and the online application process will go much smoother.
Every visitor needs approval before staff will allow a visit at a VADOC facility. Adults and minors alike must apply online through the DOC public website. Bringing a child? Their minor application can't stand alone. It must be attached to an adult's application, and the minor has to be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or another approved adult.
Note: Minors who are immediate family will only be approved for contact visits. Plan with that in mind when you are deciding who to include on the application.
What to Gather
- ✓ The inmate’s first and/or last name or their 7-digit inmate ID number
- ✓ A form of picture ID for you (for example, a driver’s license or passport)
- ✓ Your Social Security Number
- ✓ About 20 to 30 minutes of uninterrupted time to finish the form (you cannot save it as a draft, so you must complete and submit it in one sitting)
Plan to complete the online application in one sitting. The form takes about 20 to 30 minutes, and you can't save a draft. After submitting, you should receive a confirmation email. The Central Visitation Unit then reviews your application, including criminal history and other records. You won't be allowed to visit until they approve you.
- Complete the application online: Fill out the required visitor application and background investigation authorization.
- Submit it in the same sitting: The system does not allow you to save a draft, so finish and submit before you exit.
- Wait for review and approval: The Central Visitation Unit receives applications, reviews records (including criminal history), and approves visitors before they may enter DOC institutions.
Initial applications take time. VADOC's online system says about 45 days for Virginia residents and about 90 days for out-of-state residents. Factor that wait into your plans, especially if you're trying to schedule a visit around a birthday, graduation, or other specific date.
Note: The source material here doesn't cover renewal or expiration rules for visitation approvals. Check current VADOC guidance before assuming you will or won't need to reapply.
Once approved, you can't just show up. VADOC requires approved visitors to schedule visits online using the Visitation Scheduler, where you pick an available date and time. Two limits to know: visits can be scheduled up to 14 days in advance, and each visitor is limited to one visit per weekend. If you're coordinating with family members, keep that one-visit-per-weekend rule in mind before someone else books the slot.
Troubleshooting Tips
- ✓ Block out 20 to 30 minutes and submit the form in one sitting (you cannot save a draft)
- ✓ Double-check that you have the correct inmate name or inmate ID number before you start
- ✓ Have your picture ID and Social Security Number ready so you are not scrambling mid-application
- ✓ If you are applying for minors, attach each minor to an adult application, and make sure the child will be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or another approved accompanying adult
After submitting, watch your email for the confirmation and any status updates. The Central Visitation Unit handles all applications and approvals. Their review determines when you can actually schedule and attend a visit.
Two rules trip people up most often. First, visitors are limited to one visit per weekend, so plan ahead before someone else claims your slot. Second, if you're bringing an immediate-family minor, VADOC only approves them for contact visits.
Find an Inmate at Keen Mountain Corrections Center, Va
Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.
