Enroll the arrival of a newborn

Registering a Birth - Timeframes

It is necessary to complete the registration of your baby within a period of 42 days from the day of birth.

The registration process must take place at the Register Office located in the district where the birth occurred. If the birth happened in Liverpool, you have the option to visit Liverpool Register Office situated at St George's Hall.

Scheduling an Appointment

Prior to your visit to Liverpool Register Office, it is essential to make an appointment.

Arrange an appointment for birth registration

Take a look at our privacy notice regarding data usage.

Alternatively, you can get in touch with us to schedule an appointment. It is recommended that the baby's mother (or the father if married to the mother) undertakes this task, as they will be completing the registration.

Where to Go?

You have the option of booking an appointment to visit either our offices at St George's Hall or Cunard Building.

Liverpool Register Office - St George's Hall Visitor Entrance, St George's Place, Liverpool, L1 1JJ

Cunard Building - Brunswick Street entrance, Liverpool, L3 1AH

If you plan on traveling by car, make sure to allocate sufficient time to find parking. Limited parking is available near Cunard Building. In case you arrive late for your appointment, it is possible that we may not be able to accommodate you.

Registering at another Register Office

It is mandatory to register the birth at the Register Office associated with the district where the birth took place.

If it is difficult for you to travel to Liverpool Register Office, you may contact your local Register Office to inquire about making a declaration of registration.

They will collect the necessary information for the birth registration (as mentioned below) and require you to sign a declaration form. The completed form will be sent to us for the registration process.

You can then request birth certificates online from Liverpool Register Office.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible to register a birth?

• If the parents are married, either parent can register the birth.
• If the parents are not married, the mother or both the mother and father can register the birth.
• It is not permitted to have a friend or relative register the birth on your behalf.

When the parents are not married during the birth, it is possible for the father's details to be included if both parents attend the registration together.

In situations where the father is unable to attend, he can provide a Statutory Declaration confirming his paternity. The mother must present this declaration to the Registrar (the necessary form can be obtained from any Register Office).

If either parent possesses a Court Order or Parental Responsibility Agreement pertaining to the child, it must be presented to the Registrar for consideration and guidance on the specific case.

For births where two female parents are involved, please contact 0151 233 3004 to receive further advice.

Do I need to bring any documents?

While it is not mandatory to bring any documents, it may be useful to have the following available during your appointment to ensure accurate recording of names and addresses:

• Passports
• Birth certificates of the parents
• Marriage/civil partnership certificate
• Deed poll (in cases of name changes)
• Driving licences
• Recent utility or Council Tax bill
• Birth certificates of previous children
• Discharge papers from the hospital or 'red book'

If English is not your first language, you may request assistance from a friend or relative who can act as an interpreter.

What is the cost of a birth certificate?

When you schedule your appointment to register the birth, you have the option to purchase certificates using a debit or credit card. The price of each certificate is £11.

You also have the opportunity to buy certificates directly from the registrar during your appointment using a debit or credit card.

Which details does the Registrar need to know?

The Registrar will inquire about the names, occupations, residences, and places of birth of the parents, which will be included on the certificate. The following information will remain confidential. They will not be entered in the Register and will not be visible on any birth certificate.

• If the parents were legally married at the time of the birth, the Registrar will request the date of the marriage.
• The Registrar will also ask for the number of children the mother has had previously with her current or former husband.
• The date of birth of the parents.

Once the registration process is complete, the Registrar will ask you to sign the register. Please ensure you carefully review the recorded details before signing. Any request to modify or update information will incur a charge of up to £90.00, depending on the nature of the error. In certain cases, it may not be possible to make changes to the recorded information. If you wish to amend any information in the register, please discuss this directly with the Register Office.

What surname will the baby have?

Typically, the child will be given the surname of either the mother or the father. Even if the parents are not married, and the father does not attend the appointment, the child can still be given his surname. However, it is important to note that this will not serve as proof of parentage.

Once the surname has been decided, it can only be changed in the following scenarios:

• The parents apply for a re-registration of the birth to include the father's details if they were not initially included in the first register entry.
• If the parents get married at any time after the baby is born and registered, the birth will need to be re-registered, even if the child was given the father's surname during the initial registration.

Is my child a British citizen?

Yes

If either parent is a British citizen or settled for immigration purposes on the date of your child's birth.

No

If neither parent was a British citizen nor settled for immigration purposes on the date of your child's birth.

If my child is not a British citizen at birth, how can they become one?

According to section 1(3) of the British Nationality Act 1981, a child is eligible to be registered as a British citizen once either of their parents becomes settled for immigration purposes in the country or becomes a British citizen.

For further information, you can contact the UKBA Nationality Group at 0845 010 5200 or visit the UK Border Agency website. If your child was born in the UK before the 1st of July, 2006, please contact the Nationality Group at 0845 010 5200.

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