Order Certificates

Obtain certificates


How to apply and pay

The information on this page tells you how to apply for a certificate. It includes the procedures you must follow, the various certificate fees and ways to apply.

1 What is a GRO index reference?

2 What is the difference between short and full birth certificate?

3 Standard and Priority Services

4 Certificate fees

5 Ways to apply for a certificate

1 What is a GRO index reference?

The General Register Office (GRO) holds a central index of all births, marriages and deaths – known as events – registered in England and Wales from 1837 up to 18 months ago.

The index reference number is the code we allocate to every event of birth, marriage or death registered in England and Wales relating to the year, quarter, and district in which the entry was registered.

Microfiche copies of births, marriages and deaths indexes from 1837 onwards are available at many local libraries, record offices (including The National Archives at Kew) and other facilities.

For a list of places where microfiche copies are held see http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/research/groindexes/holders_of_the_gro_indexes.asp

Most of the indexes from 1837 until the early 20th century can be searched free of charge at www.freebmd.org.uk. Some local register offices have made their own indexes available online: see ukbmd.org.uk.

All but the most recent indexes can also be consulted online at ancestry.co.uk and other subscription and/or pay per view websites.

Another option is to apply by post, phone or fax to us at the GRO and we can search the indexes on your behalf to identify the entry you need. If you opt for this method, there is an administration fee of £1.50 for handling each search request on top of the cost of the certificate and search fee.

See our Research section if you want to find out more about the GRO indexes.

If you already have full details of the event you are interested in or know the GRO index reference, you can apply for a certificate online now.

2 What is the difference between the short and full certificates?

A short certificate shows

  • surname
  • forenames
  • date of birth
  • sex
  • place of birth (where known)
  • country or district of birth

A full certificate shows

  • surname
  • forenames
  • date of birth
  • sex
  • place of birth (where known)
  • parent(s) name(s)
  • parents' address
  • parents' occupation at time of registration

Full certificates are required for most legal purposes.

3 Standard and Priority Services (including delivery)

For details, see Delivery.

4 Certificate fees

For costs see Certificate fees.

5 Ways to apply for a certificate:

Online

By telephone

  • We accept phone orders using Visa, Visa Electron, Mastercard, Solo, Visa Debit or Maestro. Please call +44 (0)845 603 7788 and have your details to hand.
  • Our lines are open:
    Monday to Friday 8am – 8pm (excluding Bank Holidays)
    Saturday 9am – 4pm
  • Please also have your credit or debit card ready.

By post

Birth, marriages and death certificates

GRO has recently introduced application forms, which have been designed and developed to be electronically scanned direct into our new application database, rather than having to be individually input.

From the 1 September 2008, applications will only be accepted on the new style forms, which must be completed in full and returned by post to the General Register Office, together with the correct payment either by cheque, postal order, or credit card. Please note - These forms must not be faxed or photocopied. The original form must be returned to the General Register Office.

Post to:
GRO
PO Box 2
Southport
Merseyside
PR8 2JD

If you wish to obtain a Birth, Marriage or Death application form, please email your request to queries.clerk@ons.gsi.gov.uk , stating which type of application form you require and how many copies. Please include your name and address.

If you wish to contact us by email and your query is not related to obtaining application forms, please use the following email address: certificate.services@ons.gsi.gov.uk. Please insert the code GQ in the subject line of your email to ensure a personal response to your query.

Alternatively, you can contact us by phone on 0845 603 7788. Lines are open Monday to Friday 8 am to 8 pm and Saturday 9 am to 4 pm.

Adoption Certificates

GRO has recently introduced application forms, which have been designed and developed to be electronically scanned direct into our new application database, rather than having to be individually input.

From the 1 September 2008, applications will only be accepted on the new style forms, which must be completed in full and returned by post to the General Register Office, together with the correct payment either by cheque, postal order, or credit card. Please note - These forms must not be faxed or photocopied. The original form must be returned to the General Register Office.

Post to:
Adoptions Section
Room C202
General Register Office
Trafalgar Road
Southport
PR8 2HH

  • If you are applying by post, please do not send cash.

  • Payments by credit or debit card
    Visa, Visa Electron, Maestro, Mastercard, Solo or Visa Debit are all accepted. Please don't forget to include your credit or debit card number, the expiry date and the three-digit security code on the rear of your card.

  • Payments by cheque
    Make cheques and postal orders payable to 'IPS' (Identity and Passport Service).

  • Payments from abroad
    Payment by international bankers draft should be made payable to 'IPS' and expressed in sterling. The draft must bear the name and address of a clearing bank in the UK.

Local Register Office

  • going to the register office where the event was registered

  • use our search box to find details of the local authority where the event was registered.

  • How to search:

  • enter the town or FULL postcode into the search box on the right hand side of the page
  • a link to the website you need will be displayed