DEADLINE
42 days, or 21 in Scotland
Births in England, Wales and Northern Ireland must be registered within 42 days. In Scotland you should register within 21 days.
Check the deadline
WHAT THE GUIDANCE SAYS
Before the first birthday,
the first record.
A birthday is only official once it's registered.
Every birth in the UK has to be recorded by a registrar within a few weeks. It's a short appointment, but knowing the deadline, who can go and what to bring makes it much easier with a newborn at home.
42 DAYS to register in England
Check the deadline- Know the deadline
- Bring ID
- Then claim Child Benefit
- A short visit, a lifelong record
THE SHORT ANSWER
Register within
six weeks.
42 days in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
21 days in Scotland, at any registration office there.
WHO
Who can register
Married or civil-partner parents can register alone. Unmarried parents usually register together if both are to be named, or use a statutory declaration.
What to bring
AFTERWARDS
Certificate and Child Benefit
A short or full certificate costs £12.50. You can claim Child Benefit 48 hours after registering, backdated up to 3 months.
See the numbersGeneral information only, not legal advice. For advice on your own situation, speak to a qualified lawyer or a free advice service.
FOUR THINGS TO HAVE READY
A calm visit
to the registrar.
GOV.UK lists what you should know and bring when you register a birth in England and Wales.
The baby's details
Place and date of birth, and the baby's name, surname and sex.
The parents' details
Names, surnames and address, places and dates of birth, and the date of any marriage or civil partnership.
Some identification
At least one form, such as proof of address or a marriage or civil partnership certificate.
The red book
Take your child's personal child health record, as some registrars may ask to see it.
TWO NUMBERS WORTH KNOWING
Fewer births,
every one recorded.
How many babies were registered in 2025,
and what a birth certificate costs.
585,396
Live births in England and Wales
1.6% fewer than the 594,677 recorded in 2024, and the lowest number since 1977. The total fertility rate fell to 1.39 children per woman.
LIVE BIRTHS · ONS 2025
£12.50
Cost of a short or full certificate
The short version holds only the baby's details; the full version also includes the parents'. Register in the area of the birth and you get it straight away.
CERTIFICATES · GOV.UK
ONS figures also show 91.0% of live births in England and Wales in 2025 happened between 37 and 41 weeks of pregnancy.
A QUICK DEADLINE CHECK
Where was
the baby born?
Pick where the birth took place to see the registration deadline. The bar shows how soon you need to act.
Based on GOV.UK and mygov.scot guidance. Rules for births abroad differ by country. General information, not legal advice.
WHEN PARENTS AREN'T MARRIED
Two names,
one signature each.
If the parents are not married or in a civil partnership, both are named when they sign the register together, or when one brings a statutory declaration of parentage, or a court document giving parental responsibility.
A mother can register without the father's details, and it may be possible to add them later by re-registering the birth. Female couples can include both names; male couples need a parental order from a court first.
Questions
Questions people ask
How long do I have to register a birth?
Within 42 days in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In Scotland you should register within 21 days of the date of birth.
Where do I register a birth in England?
At the local register office for the area where the baby was born, or at the hospital before the mother leaves if it offers this. Another register office can also take your details and pass them on.
How much is a birth certificate?
Both the short and the full version cost £12.50. You can buy extra copies from the register office at any time.
When can I claim Child Benefit?
You can claim 48 hours after registering the birth, and Child Benefit can be backdated for up to 3 months from the date you claim.
Can someone other than the parents register a birth?
Yes, if the parents cannot, for example for medical reasons. Someone present at the birth, someone responsible for the child or a member of the hospital's administrative staff can do it.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Register a birth (full guide)
- mygov.scot: Register a birth
- Office for National Statistics: Births in England and Wales, 2025 (final rates)
- GOV.UK: Child Benefit, make a claim
Updated