Adoptions
Adoption certificates
Certificate fees
This section gives you information on how much it costs to order adoption certificates. To find out about the different ways to apply and pay, see How to apply and pay.
Online fees
Standard service
| Full certificate with GRO index reference supplied | £7.00 |
| Full certificate | £10.00 |
| Extra full certificate issued at same time | £7.00 |
| Short certificate with GRO index reference supplied | £5.50 |
| Short certificate | £8.50 |
| Extra short certificate issued at same time | £5.50 |
Priority service
24 hour service excluding weekends and Bank Holidays
| Full certificate with GRO index reference supplied | £23.00 |
| Full certificate | £26.00 |
| Extra full certificate issued at same time | £7.00 |
| Short certificate with GRO index reference supplied | £21.50 |
| Short certificate | £24.50 |
| Extra short certificate issued at same time | £5.50 |
Order and pay for your certificates online now.
Postal / Phone / Fax fees
Standard service
| Full certificate with GRO index reference supplied | £8.50 |
| Full certificate with | £11.50 |
| Extra full certificate issued at same time | £7.00 |
| Short certificate with GRO index reference supplied | £7.00 |
| Short certificate | £10.00 |
| Extra short certificate issued at same time | £5.50 |
Priority service
24 hour service excluding weekends and Bank Holidays
| Full certificate with GRO index reference supplied | £24.50 |
| Full certificate | £27.50 |
| Extra full certificate issued at same time | £7.00 |
| Short certificate with GRO index reference supplied | £23.00 |
| Short certificate | £26.00 |
| Extra short certificate issued at same time | £5.50 |
See How to apply and pay to find out the best way for you to apply for a certificate.
What is a GRO index reference?
The index reference number is the code we allocate to every adoption registered in England and Wales. It relates to the register volume and entry number.
The lower fees only apply where the exact GRO index reference is supplied. This reference can be obtained from the Adopted Children Register Index. It is also recorded at the bottom of a short adoption certificate.
Adoption Indexes will be made available at Greater Manchester County Record Office, Birmingham Central Library, Bridgend Reference and Information Library, Plymouth Central Library and City of Westminster Archives Centre during April 2008.
These indexes can also be viewed at the National Archives at Kew from March 2008.
Apostille price list
Apostille - If your certificate requires legalising by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, we can arrange for this to be done on your behalf providing you enclose the Foreign and Commonwealth Office current fee, along with the name of the country requiring legalisation. (These costs are in addition to the price of purchasing a certificate)
This service is not available online but can be ordered by post, phone or fax.
- For this service, this office will charge an administration fee of £3.00
- Foreign & Commonwealth Office Apostille fee £27.00
Fee may be subject to change, please see Obtaining an Apostille under Legalisation in the Services section on www.fco.gov.uk
