How to Register a Birth in the UK
You must register every birth in England, Wales and Northern Ireland within 42 days. In Scotland, you must register within 21 days. You register at a register office. Registration is free. You only pay for certified copies of the birth certificate. Your child will need these copies for life, for passports, benefits, and school enrolment.
At a glance
- Cost:
- Free to register; £12.50 per certificate copy
- Total time:
- 30-minute appointment (within 42 days of the birth)
- Steps:
- 6 steps
- Where to apply:
- gov.uk
Last reviewed October 2026 against official sources. Re-checked annually · next review due October 2027.
The Steps
Follow these in order
Each card shows the phase, expected time, and any cost. Data checked against official UK sources(October 2026).
0 of 6 steps
- Before You Go 10 min
Book an appointment at the register office
Register at the register office for the district where the baby was born. Any register office in England and Wales can take the details. But it must then forward them, and this delays the certificates. Appointments take about 30 minutes. Both parents can attend.
Click to mark as done
- Go
Attend with the right documents
Bring the hospital discharge papers and your ID. Also bring your marriage certificate if you are married. If the parents are not married, both parents must attend and sign for the father to appear on the certificate. Or one parent can register alone, and the father will not be on the certificate. You can re-register the certificate later to add him.
Click to mark as done
- Fill / Prepare
Give the details and sign the register
You give the baby's name, date of birth, and place of birth. You also give the parents' names, dates of birth, places of birth, jobs, and address. Choose the name carefully. If you change it after registration, you need a new certificate process and you must pay a fee.
Click to mark as done
- Submit & Pay 5 min
Buy certified copies of the certificate
Registration is free. But buy several certified copies at the appointment. They cost £12.50 each in England and Wales. You will need them again and again. You need them for passport applications, Child Benefit, and school enrolment. Later, you will need them for the child's own driving licence.
Click to mark as done
- Follow Up
Check your child's citizenship status
A UK birth certificate does not automatically make a child British. Children born in the UK are British if at least one parent was British or settled (ILR) at the time of the birth. If not, the child may be able to register as British later. This can be after you get settled status. Or it can be after the first 10 years of life, with no more than 90 days' absence in each year.
Click to mark as done
- Receive
Use the certificate for everything that follows
The birth certificate helps you do the next steps. Add the child to your Child Benefit claim. Apply for their first passport, if they can get one. And register them with a GPGeneral Practitioner — Your local NHS family doctor — the first point of contact for healthcare in the UK. Register with a GP surgery to access care.Click for official info ↗. Keep the certificates somewhere safe. They are the child's main identity document for decades.
Click to mark as done
Be Careful
Don't make these mistakes
Missing the deadline. You must register within 42 days in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and within 21 days in Scotland. You can still register late, but you may be asked to explain the delay, and in rare cases the registration service can involve the courts. Hospitals do not register births for you.
Registering at the wrong register office. Register at the register office for the district where the baby was born. Any register office in England and Wales can take the details, but it must then forward them, and this delays the certificates.
Only one unmarried parent attending. If the parents are not married, both parents must attend and sign for the father to appear on the certificate. If one parent registers alone, the father will not be on the certificate, and you will need to re-register later to add him.
Buying only one certificate copy. Registration is free, but certified copies cost £12.50 each in England and Wales, and you will need them again and again for passport applications, Child Benefit, and school enrolment. Buy several at the appointment instead of ordering more later.
Assuming a UK birth certificate means British citizenship. A UK birth certificate does not automatically make a child British. Children born in the UK are British only if at least one parent was British or settled at the time of the birth. If not, the child may be able to register as British later, after you get settled status or after the first 10 years of life.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I miss the 42-day deadline?
You can still register late. But you may be asked to explain the delay. In rare cases, the registration service can involve the courts. Register as soon as you can. Hospitals do not register births for you.
Can I register my baby if I do not speak English?
Yes. You can bring a friend or family member to interpret for you. It cannot be your partner if they are also a parent being registered. Some register offices offer interpreting services. Ask about this when you book.
My baby was born in the UK but I am on a work visa. Is my child British?
Not automatically. For a child to be British at birth, a parent must be British or settled (have ILR) at the time of the birth. Your child is a visa holder like you. They can usually be added as a dependant. Once you get settled status, the child may be able to register as a British citizen.
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