Birth certificates
At a birth registration appointment, you can pay to get a copy of a full birth certificate. You need a full birth certificate when you:
- apply for child benefit
- apply for a nursery and school place
- apply for a passport
- claim child benefit
- open a bank account.
Apply for a copy of a birth certificate
We hold records of all births in the Kent and Bexley registration districts since 1 July 1837. Any birth certificates before this date may be found at our Kent History and Library Centre.
If the birth took place outside of Kent and Bexley, including any births at Medway Maritime Hospital, contact the local authority of the birth location to request a copy.
What we need from you
To order short or full birth certificates you must give us enough information to find the original birth record including:
- full name at birth
- date of birth
- place of birth, for example, the hospital or other address
- mother's full name, including any family names
- father's full name.
How to apply
You can apply online, by phone or by post. We'll post your certificates within 5 working days. Certificates cannot be emailed.
Rather talk to someone? Call 03000 41 93 00, open 9am to 4:45pm Monday to Friday (open from 10am on Thursdays).
Or, to apply by post, download a printable application form (PDF, 19.6 KB) (This document is not accessible to those using assistive technology) and return it to: The Certificate Centre, Kent County Council, Births, Deaths, Marriages and Partnerships, 39 Grove Hill Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN11EP.
Fees
| Time of purchase | Fee | Delivery |
|---|---|---|
| At the registration | £12.50 per copy | On the day. |
| After the registration - Standard service | £12.50 per copy | Processed in 5 working days and sent by 2nd class post. |
| After the registration - Priority service | £38.50 per copy | Requests received before 3pm are sent on the day of the application. If requested after 3pm, the certificate will be posted the next day. Certificates are posted 1st class and delivered by Royal Mail. Certificates are not sent Next Day Delivery or Tracked. |
Certificates can be paid for by debit or credit card, or a cheque or postal order made payable to Kent County Council.
Re-register a birth
There are two types of re-registration if the:
- natural parents are unmarried and would like the natural father's details added to the birth record
- natural parents have married each other since the birth
Book an appointment to re-register the birth
Correct a birth certificate
If the birth certificate is incorrect (name, spelling, time or date) call our Contact Centre on 03000 41 51 51.
For changes including removing the father's details or changing the gender, visit GOV.UK for more information.
Copy of a birth certificate where the baby was born abroad
If you registered your baby's birth with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Overseas Registration Unit, you cannot get a copy from the General Register Office until the November of the following year.
Need a copy sooner? Email Overseas.RegistrationUnit@fcdo.gov.uk with the:
- name of the child
- registration date
- reference number to Overseas Registration Unit.
They will let you know how to get a copy and the cost.
Request a baby loss certificate
If your pregnancy ends before 24 weeks, you can get a free certificate in memory of your baby. This certificate is completely optional.
Find out how to request a baby loss certificate.