Living Abroad

How to Register a Birth in England and Wales

2 min read

In this guide
  1. Quick answer
  2. What information will you be asked for?
  3. What should you take?
  4. Who can register?
  5. After registering
  6. Common mistakes
  7. FAQ
    1. Can I use another register office?
  8. Key takeaways
  9. Related guides
  10. Sources

If your baby is born in the UK, you must register the birth. The process is simple, but there is a deadline and the rules differ depending on whether the parents are married. This guide covers England and Wales, based on GOV.UK.

Quick answer

  • Births in England, Wales and Northern Ireland must be registered within 42 days.
  • Register at the local register office where the baby was born, or at the hospital before the mother leaves if the hospital offers it.
  • Take at least one form of identification.
  • Scotland has different rules, and registering a birth abroad is handled separately.

What information will you be asked for?

Be ready with the place and date of birth, the baby’s name, surname and sex, the parents’ names, surnames and address, places and dates of the parents’ birth, the date of the parents’ marriage or civil partnership, parents’ jobs and the mother’s maiden surname. You might not need all of it, depending on who registers.

What should you take?

  • A passport, birth certificate, deed poll, driving licence, proof of address, Council Tax bill or marriage or civil partnership certificate.
  • Your child’s personal child health record, known as the red book, as some registrars ask to see it.

Who can register?

Parents What happens
Married or in a civil partnership Either parent can register alone and include both parents’ details
Unmarried Both parents’ details are included if they sign together, one completes a statutory declaration of parentage, or a court document gives the father parental responsibility
Mother alone She can register without the father; his details will not appear

After registering

You may be able to claim Child Benefit. Read UK Child Benefit for newcomers.

Common mistakes

  • Missing the 42-day deadline.
  • Going alone without proof of paternity when you need it.
  • Assuming Scotland uses the same rules.

FAQ

Can I use another register office?

Yes. They will send your details to the correct office.

Key takeaways

  • Register within 42 days.
  • Bring ID and the red book.
  • Check the unmarried parents’ options in advance.

Last updated: October 2026. General information, not legal advice. Confirm on GOV.UK.

Sources

  • GOV.UK: Register a birth

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