When and where you can register a birth
You should register your birth within 42 days (6 weeks) of the birth date.
If your baby was born in Hertfordshire, you can register at any register office in the county.
You can register the birth, by declaration, at any register office in England and Wales whether or not they were born in Hertfordshire. The birth certificates will then be sent to you by post.
Find your nearest register office
Who can register a birth
- If you are married or in a civil partnership, either parent can register the birth.
- If you are not married or in a civil partnership but you want the father/parent's details to be included on the birth certificate, then both parents must attend together.
Visit GOV.UK for more information on who can register a birth.
Documents you need to bring
- NHS red book or discharge summary sheet
- Proof of ID
From 9 November you will need to bring documents to prove your identity when you register a birth. You must provide either one document from the primary list or two documents from the secondary list. These must show your forename and surname in full. The birth registration cannot go ahead without acceptable ID.
Primary ID documents (provide 1)
- Passport (current or expired) - Expired passports may be accepted up to 18 months after the date of expiry. Applies to UK and overseas passports.
- UK biometric immigration document
- UK valid travel document
- 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 Geneva Convention.
- UK driving licence (full or provisional) - A paper counterpart driving licence is not acceptable.
- UK birth certificate
- UK adoption certificate
- EU driving licence
- EU Member State identity card
- PASS card - Proof of Age Standards Scheme.
Secondary ID documents (provide 2)
- Utility bill - Electricity, gas, water, landline (not mobile phone bill), telephone or broadband bill.
- Council Tax statement - Council Tax bill, statement or related Council Tax correspondence issued by a local authority.
- Bank or building society statement - Statement issued by a bank or building society.
- Mortgage statement - Statement issued by a mortgage provider.
- Credit card statement - Statement issued by a credit card provider.
- State benefit, pension or tax credit - Evidence confirming entitlement to a state benefit, child benefit, pension entitlement from DWP/HMRC, tax credit, Carer's Allowance, Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Employment and Support Allowance, Jobseeker's Allowance, Pension Credit or Attendance Allowance. HMRC tax code notices, Self Assessment notices, statements and National Insurance correspondence.
- P45 or P60 employment tax document - These are often issued electronically, but a paper copy may also be provided. Your P45, P60 and P11D form.
- Marriage or civil partnership certificate - Paper certificate for UK marriage or civil partnership entries. Overseas marriage or civil partnership evidence may be presented in paper form or, where applicable, through a digital route.
- Letter from a government agency - UK government department, agency or public body. Tenancy, housing benefit, vehicle tax, citizenship, electoral registration, jury service, Carer's Allowance or higher education correspondence.
- Letter from the National Health Service - Appointment, referral or discharge letters, a child health record (red book) or fit note.
- HMRC notification - HMRC correspondence issued in relation to tax or related matters, such as National Insurance contributions, Tax Credits or tax overpayments.
- Police or Armed Forces ID - For UK police and Armed Forces IDs, this is usually a photo identity document in a durable plastic format, similar in size to a credit card. Overseas police or Armed Forces ID documents may differ.
- Signed firearms certificate - A4 paper certificate with security features and a photograph. Firearm and Registered Firearms Dealer certificates should be printed on blue paper. Shotgun certificates should be printed on buff/beige paper.
- Proof of Royal Mail Redirection - Proof or confirmation of a Royal Mail Redirection, normally issued on Royal Mail letterhead.
- Document issued by the person's local authority - Tenancy agreement, housing benefit correspondence, Blue Badge correspondence, social care notifications or electoral registration letters.
- Proof of receipt of State Pension - Proof of benefits and State Pension letter from DWP, or correspondence confirming a State Pension claim or change to entitlement.
- School or college letter - Letter or document issued by a school (16 to 19 year olds) or college for a young person aged 16 to 19.
Information to give the Registrar
The baby's:
- date and place of birth
- sex
- forenames and surname.
They also need to know:
- the parents' forenames, surname, date and place of birth, occupation and any other names
- the mother's address and maiden name
- the month and year the parents got married
- whether the mother has been married more than once
- the number of children the mother has.
Costs of registering a birth
Registering a birth is free.
A full birth certificate costs £12.50 at the registration. It's a complete copy of the entry in the register. You'll need it to apply for a passport, driving licence or school place.
You can also purchase a short birth certificate, but this doesn't show the parents' details.
If you require additional certificates after the time of registration, check our prices for copy certificates.
Corrections to a birth certificate cost a non-refundable fee of £83 or £99 (depending on whether they need to be referred to the General Register Office).
Information:
When you register, check the register page carefully before signing to avoid paying for corrections.