Website of the UK government

What is an adoption certificate?

An adoption certificate is a replacement birth certificate in the adopted person's new name. It can be used for all legal purposes in place of the original birth certificate.The adoption certificate will also contain legal information relating to the adoption.

A full adoption certificate shows date of birth, place and country of birth, adoptive forename and surname, gender, name and surname, address and occupation of adoptive parent(s), date of adoption order, date on which the adoption granted, and name of the court.

A short adoption certificate only shows date, place and country of birth, adoptive forename and surname, and gender. It carries no reference to adoption.

How to order certificates

Extra copies of the same certificate can be issued at the same time for all online, postal and phone applications for a fee of £7.00. An extra short adoption certificate will cost £5.50

Online
You can order adoption certificates online, if the event took place after 1927. You need full details of the event or supply the certificate index reference. You can pay online too.

• Using the General Register Office to research family history

How much will it cost to order online?

Standard Service

Your certificate will be sent within 5 working days.

• full certificate, with index reference supplied - £7.00
• full certificate, without index reference supplied - £10.00
• short certificate, with index reference supplied - £5.50
• short certificate, without index reference supplied - £8.50

Priority Service

If you order by 4.00 pm, your certificate will be sent the next working day.

• full certificate, with index reference supplied - £23.00
• full certificate, without index reference - £26.00
• short certificate, with index reference supplied - £21.50
• short certificate, without index reference supplied - £24.50
  

Ordering certificates by telephone or post

Telephone

Please 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.

Post

You can order an adoption certificate by post, but you need to get an application form first.

To request the form either:

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

Phone: 

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

State how many copies, and please include your name and address.

Send the completed form, with the correct payment either by cheque, postal order or credit card, to: Adoptions section, Room C202, General Register Office, Trafalgar Rd, Southport PR8 2HH.

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 4 working days. Without the reference, it is sent within 15 working days.

• short certificate, with index reference supplied – £7.00
• short certificate, without index reference supplied - £10.00
• 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, your certificate is sent the next working day.

• short certificate (birth only), with index reference supplied – £23.00
• short certificate (birth only), without index reference supplied - £26.00
• 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