Register a birth

You will have lots to think about after your baby is born. But make sure you put aside some time to visit us and tell us all about your new arrival.

You need to register the birth with us before your baby is 6 weeks old. We will then produce a birth certificate. This is a legal requirement for all births in England and Wales.

There are plenty of places in Kent for you to register the birth of your child. Find the details of these locations and how to book an appointment on this page.

Book an appointment

If the birth took place in Kent or Bexley, use our online appointment booking form.

Book an appointment

Or book an appointment by phone:

• If the birth was in Kent, call 03000 41 51 51.
• If the birth was in Bexley, call 03000 41 52 52.
• To cancel or reschedule your appointment, call 03000 41 51 51.

Find out where to go to register a birth in the section below.

Births outside Kent or Bexley

If you live in Kent or Bexley but the birth happened elsewhere, book an appointment with us using the details above. The birth details will be taken by a registrar in Kent or Bexley and sent to the registration district where the birth took place. This is called registration by declaration.

Living outside Kent or Bexley

If the birth took place in Kent or Bexley but you cannot attend an appointment there, make an appointment with your nearest registration service in England and Wales. They will send the details to us to register the birth. This is called registration by declaration.

Visit the GOV.UK website page to find a register office using your postcode.

Births in other countries

If your baby was born abroad, you must register the child's details as advised by the government guidelines.

Visit the GOV.UK website to register a birth abroad.

Registration venues

Kent

You can register births in Kent at any of the following libraries or Gateways:

• Ashford Gateway Plus
• Canterbury Library (The Beaney)
• Cliftonville Library
• Dartford Library
• Deal Library
• Dover Library
• Faversham Library
• Gravesend Library
• Herne Bay Library
• Hythe Library
• Larkfield Library
• Maidstone Library
• Ramsgate Library
• Sevenoaks Library
• Sheerness Library
• Sittingbourne Library
• Tenterden Library
• Tonbridge Library
• Tunbridge Wells - The Amelia
• Whitstable Library.

Bexley

Births in Bexley can be registered at the Bexley Register Office:

What happens when you register a birth

Please bring all the following to your appointment:

• Proof of identification for yourself, such as a passport or driving licence.
• Cash or a credit or debit card to pay for birth certificates.
• The red book or hospital discharge papers (if available).

Information you'll need to provide

The registrar will ask for information about you and the baby. This includes:

• place and date of the birth
• name, surname and sex of the baby
• parents’ names, surnames and address
• places and dates of parents’ birth
• date of parents’ marriage or civil partnership if relevant
• parents’ jobs
• mother’s maiden surname, if relevant.

You will be asked to check the entry carefully before signing, to confirm the details are correct. Correcting any mistakes later can cause a delay and will be subject to a charge.

Naming your baby

You will officially name your baby at registration. The surname that you give at registration can only be changed by re-registration.

You can then purchase birth certificates for your baby.

You will also receive a Bookstart Baby book pack, to help you begin to read to your baby.

Re-register your child

You can re-register your child with us if either:

• the natural parents are unmarried and wish to add the natural father's details to the birth record
• the natural parents have married each other since the birth.

To re-register a birth, book an appointment to visit one of our register offices.