Registering a birth
How to register a birth
You can only register a birth in the district where the baby was born.
If your baby was born in the borough of Lewisham, you can book an appointment using our online form.
You must decide on your baby's full name before the appointment.
Who can register a birth?
If the parents are married or in a civil partnership with each other
- either of you can register the birth
If the parents are unmarried or not in a civil partnership
- the mother can register the baby’s birth on her own
- the father’s details will not be included on the birth certificate
Both parents can be registered on the birth certificate if
- you both attend the appointment and sign the birth register together
- one of you completes a statutory declaration of parentage form - either of you can give us the signed form at the registration appointment
If you're not in the Lewisham registration district
If you're not in our registration district, you can go to any register office in England or Wales to make a 'declaration' and they'll send us the details.
A declaration is when another register office takes details of the birth, and sends it to the correct registration district on your behalf.
If the baby was born in another district
If you are in our district but want to register a baby that was born elsewhere, book an appointment to make a declaration using our online form.
If you don't speak English
We can arrange for an interpreter to be present at the appointment if needed, but please note this may delay the registration.
It may be quicker if you bring a friend or relative along to translate for you.
What happens next
You'll be invited to our register office for your appointment which will last approximately 20 minutes. When registering the birth, you will be expected to know:
- date and place of birth
- forename(s), surname and sex of the child
- parents’ forename(s), surname(s), address and occupation
- date of parents’ marriage or civil partnership
- mother’s maiden surname
What documents do I need?
From 9 November 2026 all informants will be required to provide evidence of their identity when registering or re-registering a birth. Where the birth is registered jointly, both parents must provide evidence of their identity.
Accepted identity documents (ID)
One document from this list:
| Document type | Format |
| Passport (current or expired) Expired passports may be accepted up to 18 months after the date of expiry. Applies to UK and overseas passports. | Physical document (booklet) |
| UK biometric immigration document | Physical or digital document |
| UK valid travel document | Physical document (booklet) |
| UK Refugee Travel Document issued under Article 28 of the 1951 Geneva Convention | Physical document (booklet) |
| UK Stateless Person Travel Document, issued under Article 28 of the 1954 Geneva Convention | Physical document (booklet) |
| UK driving licence (full or provisional) The paper counterpart driving licence is not acceptable. | Physical or digital document |
| UK birth certificate | Physical document |
| UK adoption certificate | Physical document |
| EU driving licence | Physical document |
| EU Member State identity card | Physical document |
| PASS card (Proof of Age Standards Scheme) | Physical or digital document |
Or two documents from this list:
| Document type | Format |
| Utility bill (not mobile phone bill) | Physical or digital document |
| Council Tax statement | Physical or digital document |
| Bank or building society statement | Physical or digital document |
| Mortgage statement | Physical or digital document |
| Credit card statement | Physical or digital document |
| State benefit, pension or tax credit entitlement from DWP/HMRC | Physical or digital document |
| P45 or P60 | Physical or digital document |
| Marriage or civil partnership certificate | Physical document only for UK certificates |
| Letter from a government agency | Physical or digital document |
| Letter from the National Health Service (NHS) | Physical or digital document |
| HMRC notification | Physical or digital document |
| Police or Armed Forces ID | Physical document |
| Signed firearms certificate | Physical document |
| Proof of Royal Mail Redirection | Physical document |
| Document issued by the person’s local authority | Physical or digital document |
| Proof of receipt of State Pension | Physical or digital document |
| School or college letter (16 to 19 year olds) | Physical or digital document |
If an informant does not have access to their documents, then the registration will be delayed until it can be produced. If none of the listed evidence is available, please contact the register office before booking an appointment.
Supporting documents for the baby (required)
- notification of birth (this is usually given to a mother by the hospital soon after giving birth) or
- personal child health record or ‘red book’
What if I'm late for the appointment?
If you arrive late for your appointment, you will need to book again.
Getting a birth certificate
We no longer issue a free short certificate. You can purchase full birth certificates before or after you register a birth. You will be given the opportunity to purchase certificates while booking your appointment online.
Cost of full birth certificates
- at time of registration: £12.50 (collection)
- standard service: £12.50 (collection and posted)
- priority service: £38.50 - issued next working day if ordered by 2pm (collection or posted 1st Class)
Payment can be made by debit or credit card.
Correcting a birth registration
If there's an error on the birth entry, for example, if there's a spelling error in the baby's name, you can apply to have the birth certificate corrected.
Fees
- correction application processed by the Register Office: £75
- correction application referred to the General Register Office: £99
Re-registering a birth
Registering a stillbirth
We'll provide you with:
- certificate for burial or cremation - the registrar will email this to the funeral director
- certificate of registration - this is proof of registration and shows the date of the stillbirth and any names given to the child
- stillbirth certificate (optional - fee payable)
Support for people who have suffered a stillbirth
The death of a baby can be overwhelming. It can be hard to take in information, to make decisions or to imagine how you are going to cope.
- Sands provides support and information for bereaved parents and their families when you need it, and many of their staff have been through this experience themselves - call their helpline on 0808 164 3332
- Child Bereavement UK gives online information for people and families who have lost a child