REPLACEMENT BIRTH CERTIFICATES
Providing replacement birth certificates and apostilles
We can order a new birth certificate for you. Providing a fast replacement document service we obtain a new version of your birth certificate from the government. This is referred to as a certified copy of an entry. We can then legalise the document with our fast apostille service so you can present the new birth certificate overseas. Adding the apostille to a birth certificate will ensure it is accepted outside of the UK. Not sure what the apostille is? Visit our what is an apostille page.
Birth Certificates
We can order a replacement birth certificate for you, direct from the General Register Office (GRO). When ordering a birth certificate we normally order the ‘long version’ that includes more detail. It is the long version, with parents names included, that is more widely accepted outside of the UK.
Why You May Need a Replacement Birth Certificate
A birth certificate is one of the most commonly requested identity documents in the UK. It may be needed when applying for a passport, getting married abroad, dealing with immigration matters, proving family relationships, or completing an overseas legal process.
If your original certificate has been lost, damaged or is no longer suitable for the purpose you need it for, you may need to obtain an official replacement birth certificate.
What is a replacement birth certificate?
A replacement birth certificate is a new certified copy of the entry held on the official register of births.
It is not simply a photocopy of an old certificate. An official replacement is issued from the records held by the General Register Office (GRO) and can normally be used in the same way as the certificate originally issued.
For births registered in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, replacement certificates can usually be obtained in a few days or a few weeks.
Can a replacement birth certificate be apostilled?
Yes. An official replacement UK birth certificate issued by the government can be submitted for an apostille.
The apostille confirms the authenticity of the signature, seal or stamp associated with the birth certificate so that it can be recognised in another country that accepts apostilles under the Hague Apostille Convention.
The apostille does not confirm that the information recorded on the birth certificate is correct. It authenticates the UK public document for international use.
Photocopies or scans cannot have the apostille. Photocopies of birth certificates certified by a solicitor or notary CANNOT be issued with an apostille.
Does the birth certificate need to be recently issued?
This depends on the authority requesting the document.
The UK apostille process does not generally require a birth certificate to have been issued within a particular number of months simply because it is an older certificate.
However, some overseas authorities impose their own requirements and may ask for a recently issued copy.
For example, an overseas marriage authority, consulate or immigration department might ask for a birth certificate issued within the previous three or six months.
If you have been given a specific age requirement for the certificate, obtaining a new replacement before arranging the apostille can prevent unnecessary delays.
What information is needed to obtain a replacement birth certificate?
The information required will depend on the registration authority, but it will normally include details such as:
- Year birth was registered
- Surname and Forename(s) at birth
- Date of birth (dd/mm/yyyy)
- Place of birth*
- Father’s/Parent’s surname and forename(s)
- Mother’s maiden surname
- Mother’s surname, and forename(s) at time of the birth
- Nationality at birth (if overseas event)
The more accurate information provided, the easier it is to order the correct registration record.