How do I get a copy of a birth certificate?

For anyone who needs a copy or replacement of their own or a family member's birth certificate.

Applies to: England, Wales Last checked against official sources: 6 October 2026

If the birth was registered in England or Wales, you can order a copy of the birth certificate online from the General Register Office (GRO).

A standard certificate costs £12.50 and is sent 4 days after you apply.
The priority service costs £38.50 and is sent the next working day if you order by 4pm.
Without a GRO index reference, each search costs £3.50 more and it takes 15 working days.
You can also order from the local register office where the birth was registered.

Different in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland: order from National Records of Scotland.
Northern Ireland: order from GRONI, where a certificate costs £15.

Different in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

Rules may be different in:

Scotland: Check mygov.scot for Scotland
Northern Ireland: Check nidirect for Northern Ireland

Key facts

England and Wales: £12.50
Sent 4 days after you apply
Priority: £38.50, next working day
Northern Ireland: £15

What you need

The details of the birth you want a certificate for.
The GRO index reference number, if you have it. This is a reference from the General Register Office (GRO) birth index. With it, you avoid the search fee and get your certificate faster.
A debit or credit card.

Ordering online takes about 10 minutes.

Steps to order online (England and Wales)

Go to the "Order a copy of a birth, death or marriage certificate" page on GOV.UK.
Choose a birth certificate and enter the details of the birth.
Add the GRO index reference if you have it.
Choose the standard or priority service.
Pay by debit or credit card.

Time and cost (England and Wales)

Service	Cost	When it is sent
Standard, with GRO index reference	£12.50	4 days after you apply
Standard, without GRO index reference	£12.50 plus £3.50 per search	15 working days after you apply
Priority	£38.50	Next working day if you order by 4pm

Worked example

You order one copy without the GRO index reference, and it takes one search. You pay £12.50 plus £3.50, which is £16.00 in total.

Other ways to order

From the local register office where the birth was registered.
By phone from the GRO on 0300 123 1837.
By post, using the GRO application form.

If the birth was registered abroad

If the birth was registered with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the GRO cannot provide a copy until the November of the following year.

If you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland

Scotland: births registered in Scotland are held by National Records of Scotland (NRS). You can order most certificates online. You need the person's full name, the year of the birth and where it happened.

Northern Ireland: order from the General Register Office for Northern Ireland (GRONI) online, by phone on 0300 200 7890, by post, or in person in Belfast.

GRONI service	Cost
Standard certificate (long or short)	£15.00
Each extra copy of the same certificate ordered together	£8.00
Priority certificate (total)	£20.00

GRONI aims to issue most standard applications by the fifth full working day after it gets them. Priority orders made before 12pm on a working day are sent the same day. The fee includes a £7 search fee, which is kept even if the record is not found.

Related guides

Where this comes from

Get it done

This takes you to the official service, which is free to use.

Order a birth certificate

Common questions

How long does a copy of a birth certificate take?

A standard GRO certificate is sent 4 days after you apply, or 15 working days if you do not have the GRO index reference.

Can I order a birth certificate by phone?

Yes. You can order by phone from the General Register Office on 0300 123 1837, or by post.

Official sources

1.Order a copy of a birth, death or marriage certificatewww.gov.uk/order-copy-birth-death-marriage-certificate
2.How to order an official extract (National Records of Scotland)www.nrscotland.gov.uk/registration/how-to-order-an-official-extract-from-the-registers
3.Ordering life event certificates (nidirect)www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/ordering-life-event-certificates

Checked against GOV.UK on 6 October 2026

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