Website of the UK government

What certificates are available?

All certificates are exact copies of the full record made at the time of the birth, marriage or death. The exception to this is the 'short birth certificate', which is an extract of the full record, and contains the name, date of birth and gender.

You can use the help sheets below as a guide to the information you may find in a certificate.

• Download 'Birth certificate' help sheet (PDF, 151K)

• Download 'Marriage certificate' help sheet (PDF, 185K)

• Download 'Death certificate' help sheet (PDF, 156K)

• Help with PDF files

How to order certificates

You can order a certificate online from the General Register Office or by telephone or post from the local register office where the event took place.

Extra copies of the same certificate can be issued at the same time for all applications for a fee of £7.00

• Search for your local register office Opens new window

Ordering certificates online

You can order births (full certificate only), marriage or death certificates online from 1837 onwards providing you have the General Register Office index reference. If you do not have the reference, you can order certificates for events from 1900 if you know the exact date of the event.

You can find out more about using General Register Office index reference in the article below.

Extra copies of the same certificate can be issued at the same time for all applications for a fee of £7.00

• Using the General Register Office to research family history

• Order certificates online Opens new window

Standard Service

If you supply the certificate index reference, the certificate is sent within four working days. Without the reference, it is sent within 15 working days.

• full certificate, with index reference supplied - £7.00
• full certificate, without index reference supplied - £10.00
  

Priority Service

If you order by 4.00 pm on a working day, your certificate is sent the next working day by First Class post. If you want to use Special Delivery options, orders must be placed by telephone on 0845 603 7788. 

• full certificate, with index reference supplied - £23.00
• full certificate, without index reference - £26.00
  

Ordering certificates by telephone or post

Telephone

You can order birth, marriage and death certificates by telephone from the General Register Office or you can contact the local register office where the event took place.

Call +44 (0) 845 603 7788, Monday to Friday 8.00 am - 8.00 pm, or Saturday 9.00 am - 4.00 pm. The General Register Office accepts Visa, Visa Electron, Mastercard, Solo, Visa Debit or Maestro.

• Search for your local register office Opens new window

Post

You can order birth, marriage and death certificates by post, but you need to get an application form first.

To request the form you can email:

certificate.services@ips.gsi.gov.uk

You need to insert GQ in the subject line of your email to ensure a personal response to your query.

Alternatively, you can phone:

+44 (0)845 603 7788, Monday to Friday 8.00 am - 8.00 pm, or Saturday 9.00 am - 4.00 pm 

State which form you need – birth, death, or marriage - and how many copies, and include your name and address.

Send the completed form, with the correct payment by cheque, postal order or credit card, to General Register Office, PO Box 2, Southport, Merseyside, PR8 2JD.

Make cheques or postal orders payable to 'IPS' (Identity and Passport Service).

Do not fax or photocopy your application.

How much will it cost to order by post or phone?

Standard Service

If you supply the certificate index reference, the certificate is sent within four working days. Without the reference, it will be sent within 15 working days.

• short certificate (birth only), with index reference supplied – £8.50
• short certificate (birth only), without index reference supplied - £11.50
• full certificate, with index reference supplied - £8.50
• full certificate, without index reference supplied - £11.50

Priority Service

If you order by 4.00 pm on a working day, your certificate is sent the next working day by First Class post. Special Delivery options are only available on telephone orders.

• short certificate (birth only), with index reference supplied – £24.50
• short certificate (birth only), without index reference supplied - £27.50
• full certificate, with index reference supplied - £24.50
• full certificate, without index reference - £27.50
  

For events in Scotland or Northern Ireland

You can contact the relevant General Register Office using the links below.

• General Register Office for Scotland Opens new window

• General Register Office for Northern Ireland Opens new window