Register a birth

Every baby born in the UK must be registered. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland you have 42 days; in Scotland, 21 days.

Mandatory Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland

Official links

Show links for:

Official source	Applies to
GOV.UK: register a birth www.gov.uk/register-birth	England, Wales
mygov.scot: register a birth www.mygov.scot/register-birth	Scotland
nidirect: births and registration www.nidirect.gov.uk/information-and-services/births-deaths-baby-loss-marriages-and-civil-partnerships/births-and	Northern Ireland

Handled by your local council This procedure is done with the council where you live. Find your council »

Keeps the birth, adoption, marriage, civil partnership and death records for England and Wales and issues certificates from them.

☎ 0300 123 1837 gov.uk View details »

Registers births, deaths, marriages, civil partnerships and adoptions in Northern Ireland and issues certificates.

☎ 0300 200 7890 nidirect.gov.uk View details »

Keeps Scotland's birth, death, marriage and civil partnership records, runs the census and sells certificates through ScotlandsPeople.

☎ 0131 314 4411 nrscotland.gov.uk View details »

Book an appointment at the register office for the area where the baby was born. Some hospitals let you register before you go home.
If you cannot get to that area, another register office can take your details and pass them on.
If the parents are not married or in a civil partnership and both want to be named, go together or bring the right declaration form or court order.
Give the registrar the details of the birth and the parents.
Buy a short or full birth certificate. You can then claim Child Benefit.

At least one form of ID, such as a passport, birth certificate, driving licence or a recent utility or Council Tax bill.
Date and place of birth, and the baby's full name and sex.
Parents' names, dates and places of birth, address, jobs and the mother's maiden surname.
The baby's personal child health record (red book), as some registrars ask for it.
If only one unmarried parent attends: a statutory declaration of parentage or a court order, to include the other parent.

Missing the deadline: 42 days in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, 21 days in Scotland.
An unmarried father going alone without the paperwork: he cannot be added to the register that way.
Registering in a different area and expecting the certificate the same day: it is sent on after a few days.