All births in England, Wales and Northern Ireland must be registered within 42 days of the child being born. You should do this at the local register office for the area where the baby was born or at the hospital before the mother leaves. The hospital will tell you if you can register the birth there. If you cannot register the birth in the area where the baby was born, you can go to another register office and they will send your details to the correct office. There are different rules for registering a birth in Scotland , registering a birth in Northern Ireland and registering a birth abroad . Information you need when registering a birth When registering the birth, you should know: place and date of the birth name, surname and sex of the baby parents’ names, surnames and address places and dates of parents’ birth date of parents’ marriage or civil partnership parents’ jobs mother’s maiden surname You might not need to give all of this information, depending on who is registering the birth. What you should take You should take your child’s personal child health record or ‘red book’ as some registrars may ask to see it. You’ll also need to prove your identity . If you’re going to the register office on your own, you may need proof of paternity from the other parent before you give their details. If you need help You can either contact your local register office or contact the General Register Office .

Who can register a birth

Opposite-sex couples Married or civil-partner parents Either parent can register the birth on their own. They can include both parents’ details if they were married or in a civil partnership when the baby was born or conceived. Unmarried parents The details of both parents can be included on the birth certificate if one of the following happens: they sign the birth register together one parent completes a statutory declaration of parentage form and the other takes the signed form to register the birth one parent goes to register the birth with a document from the court (for example, a court order) giving the father parental responsibility The mother can choose to register the birth without the child’s father if they’re not married or in a civil partnership. The father’s details will not be included on the birth certificate. It might be possible to add the father’s details at a later date by completing an application for the re-registration of a child’s birth . Same-sex female couples Female couples can include both their names on their child’s birth certificate when registering the birth. Married or civil-partner parents Either parent can register the birth on their own if all of the following are true: the mother has a child by donor insemination or fertility treatment she was married or in a civil partnership at the time of the treatment Unmarried, non-civil-partner parents When a mother is not married or in a civil partnership, her partner can be seen as the child’s second parent if both women: are treated together in the UK by a licensed clinic have made a ‘parenthood agreement’ However, for both parents’ details to be recorded on the birth certificate, they must do one of the following: register the birth jointly complete a statutory declaration of acknowledgement of parentage’ form and one parent takes the signed form when she registers the birth get a document from the court (for example, a court order) giving the second female parent parental responsibility and one parent shows the document when she registers the birth Same-sex male couples Male couples must get a parental order from the court before they can be registered as parents. Other people who can register a birth If the parents cannot register the birth (for example, for medical reasons), certain other people can do it: someone who was present at the birth someone who is responsible for the child a member of the administrative staff at the hospital where the child was born

Proving your identity

Your forms of identification must include your first name and surname. If you’re registering a birth on or before 8 November 2026 You can use one of the following documents: passport birth certificate deed poll driving licence proof of address (for example, a utility bill) Council Tax bill marriage or civil partnership certificate If you’re registering a birth on or after 9 November 2026 You can use one of the following documents: passport (valid or expired) current UK driving licence (full or provisional) current EU driving licence (full) birth or adoption certificate UK biometric immigration document UK valid travel document showing limited or indefinite leave to enter or remain UK valid travel document issued to a stateless person UK Refugee travel document issued under Article 28 of the 1951 Geneva Convention UK Stateless Person travel document issued under Article 28 of the 1954 New York Convention EU Member State identity card National Proof of Age Standards Scheme card If you do not have one of those documents, you can use two of the following instead: utility bill (not mobile phone bill) Council Tax statement or document from your local authority bank, building society, mortgage or credit card statement state benefit, pension or tax credit entitlement P45 or P60 marriage or civil partnership certificate letter from the NHS, GP or a government agency such as HMRC armed forces or police identity card signed firearms certificate proof of mail redirection (Royal Mail letterhead) school or college letter (for 16 to 19 year old parents) If you are unable to provide the required identity documents, you should contact the relevant register office before the date of your appointment to discuss your options.

There are 2 types of birth certificate: the short version, which contains only the baby’s details the full version, which also contains the parents’ details Once you have registered the birth, you’ll be able to buy a short or full certificate for your baby. Both kinds cost £12.50. If you register the birth in the area where it took place, you’ll get a certificate straight away. If you register the birth in another area, you’ll get it in a few days. You can buy extra copies of the birth certificate from the register office at any time.

Register a birth

Overview

All births in England, Wales and Northern Ireland must be registered within 42 days of the child being born.

You should do this at the local register office for the area where the baby was born or at the hospital before the mother leaves. The hospital will tell you if you can register the birth there.

If you cannot register the birth in the area where the baby was born, you can go to another register office and they will send your details to the correct office.

There are different rules for registering a birth in Scotland, registering a birth in Northern Ireland and registering a birth abroad.

Information you need when registering a birth

When registering the birth, you should know:

place and date of the birth
name, surname and sex of the baby
parents’ names, surnames and address
places and dates of parents’ birth
date of parents’ marriage or civil partnership
parents’ jobs
mother’s maiden surname

You might not need to give all of this information, depending on who is registering the birth.

What you should take

You should take your child’s personal child health record or ‘red book’ as some registrars may ask to see it.

You’ll also need to prove your identity.

If you’re going to the register office on your own, you may need proof of paternity from the other parent before you give their details.

If you need help

You can either contact your local register office or contact the General Register Office.

View a printable version of the whole guide

Register a birth

Overview

Information you need when registering a birth

What you should take

If you need help

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Register a birth

Overview

Information you need when registering a birth

What you should take

If you need help

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