Identification documents for registering a birth

Identification requirements

Important - This requirement starts on 9 November 2026. If your appointment is before this date, you do not need to provide these identification documents.

From 9 November 2026, anyone registering a birth must provide evidence of their identity.

The requirement applies to the person or people registering the birth. We cannot complete the registration if satisfactory identification is not provided at the appointment.

You must provide either:

one document from the primary identification list; or
two documents from the secondary identification list

If you are unsure whether your documents will be accepted, contact the Register Office before attending your appointment

Who must provide identification

If the parents are married or in a civil partnership - Only one parent is required to register the birth. The parent attending the appointment and registering the birth must provide the required identification documents.
If the parents are not married or in a civil partnership - If you want both parents' details included on the birth registration, both parents must attend the appointment and provide the required identification documents.

Make sure you bring the appropriate identification documents with you. If you do not provide acceptable identification, there may be delays and you may need to book another appointment.

Primary identification documents

You must bring one document from this list.

Important - Documents listed as physical documents must be original documents. We cannot accept photographs, screenshots or scanned copies.


Document	Format
Passport, current or expired within the last 18 months	Physical document
UK biometric immigration document	Physical or digital document
UK valid travel document	Physical document
UK Refugee Travel Document, issued under Article 28 of the 1951 Geneva Convention	Physical document
UK Stateless Person Travel Document, issued under Article 28 of the 1954 Geneva Convention	Physical document
UK driving licence, full or provisional	Physical document, not the paper counterpart
UK birth certificate	Physical document
UK adoption certificate	Physical document
EU driving licence	Physical document
EU Member State identity card	Physical document
PASS-accredited Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS) card	Physical or digital document

Secondary identification documents

If you cannot provide a document from the primary identification list, you must bring two documents from this list.

Important - If you are providing a bill, statement or similar document, bring the most recent version available. Most documents can be provided as either physical or digital documents.


Document	Format
Utility bill, excluding mobile phone bills	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 or HMRC	Physical and 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, or notification from its successor body	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 for a young person aged 16 to 19	Physical or digital document

If you are unsure about your documents

Contact the Register Office before your appointment if you are unsure whether your documents will be accepted.

Contact the Register Office

Register a birth

You must book an appointment to register a birth.

Return to register a birth