Registering a birth in the UK
Deadlines, documents, who can sign the register, and what you leave with, in each of the four nations.
Updated October 13, 2026 · sources checked October 13, 2026
In short
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland you must register a birth within 42 days; in Scotland within 21 days. In England and Wales, register at the office for the area where the baby was born, or at the hospital if it offers this. Bring identification and the red book. Short and full certificates cost £12.50 each as of October 2026.
Deadlines and where to go
| Nation | Deadline | Where |
|---|---|---|
| England and Wales | 42 days | The register office for the area where the baby was born, or at the hospital before you leave if it offers this. Any other office will forward your details if you cannot get there |
| Scotland | 21 days | Any registration office in Scotland. Councils may offer an office appointment or registration by phone or video call |
| Northern Ireland | 42 days | Any district registration office in Northern Ireland, by appointment only |
What you need to know (England and Wales)
- Place and date of the birth.
- The baby's name, surname and sex.
- The parents' names, surnames and address, places and dates of birth, date of marriage or civil partnership, jobs, and the mother's maiden surname.
Depending on who registers, you may not need all of it.
What to bring: at least one form of identification (passport, birth certificate, deed poll, driving licence, proof of address such as a utility or Council Tax bill, or a marriage or civil partnership certificate), and your baby's red book, which some registrars ask to see. If you go alone, you may need proof of paternity from the other parent before their details can be given.
In Scotland, bring the card issued by the hospital if you have one, and your marriage or civil partnership certificate if you are married or in a civil partnership.
Who can register
| Your situation | What happens |
|---|---|
| Married or civil partners (mother and father) | Either parent can register alone, with both parents' details |
| Unmarried mother and father | Both names go on the certificate if you sign together, or with a signed statutory declaration of parentage, or a court document giving the father parental responsibility. The mother can register without the father; his details can sometimes be added later by re-registration |
| Two mothers, married or civil partners at the time of donor insemination or fertility treatment | Either can register alone, with both names |
| Two mothers, not married or civil partners | The second mother can be a parent if both were treated together at a UK licensed clinic with a parenthood agreement; register jointly, or with a statutory declaration of acknowledgement of parentage, or a court document |
| Two fathers | A parental order from the court is needed first |
| Parents unable to register | Someone present at the birth, someone responsible for the child, or hospital administrative staff |
In Northern Ireland, nidirect sets out similar rules, including for couples where the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 applies.
What you leave with
- England and Wales: you can buy a short certificate (baby's details only) or a full one (with the parents' details), both £12.50 as of October 2026. Registering in the area of the birth means you get it straight away; otherwise within a few days.
- Scotland: a free partial copy (abbreviated extract) and a form to register your baby with an NHS doctor. A full extract can be bought.
- Northern Ireland: an Infant Registration Card (HS123) to register your baby with your GP. Certificates can be in English or bilingual English and Irish, a choice that cannot be changed later.
Next steps, in order
Good to know. If the baby was born abroad, you register in that country first. In Scotland, mygov.scot notes the local certificate should be accepted in the UK, for example for a passport, and you can also register the birth with the UK authorities.
Questions parents ask
How long do you have to register a birth in the UK?
42 days in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and 21 days in Scotland.
Can an unmarried father go on the birth certificate?
Yes, if both parents sign the register together, or one brings a signed statutory declaration of parentage from the other, or a court document giving the father parental responsibility.
How much is a birth certificate?
In England and Wales, both the short and the full certificate cost £12.50 each as of October 2026. In Scotland the registrar gives a free abbreviated extract, and a full extract can be bought.
Can two mums both be on the birth certificate?
Yes. If they were married or in a civil partnership at the time of treatment, either can register. If not, conditions apply, including treatment together at a UK licensed clinic and a parenthood agreement.
Sources
- GOV.UK — Register a birth checked October 13, 2026
- GOV.UK — Register a birth: who can register checked October 13, 2026
- GOV.UK — Register a birth: birth certificates checked October 13, 2026
- mygov.scot — Register a birth checked October 13, 2026
- nidirect — Registering and naming your baby checked October 13, 2026
Mamavela explains; it does not replace your midwife, doctor or pediatrician, who know your situation. If something worries you, call them. In an emergency, call 911 (US), 999 (UK) or 112.