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Order a Birth Certificate

Order a Birth Certificate (England & Wales)

Last updated: November 2025 • RegistryOffice.uk is independent and not affiliated with the UK Government or GRO.

Quick answer

The official way to order a birth certificate for England & Wales is via the General Register Office (GRO) online service. Standard certificates start from £12.50 and priority service from £38.50 when you supply a GRO index reference. PDFs and digital images are available for some records. Always check fees on the official page before ordering.

Start here: Order a birth certificate (GOV.UK → GRO)

What you can order

  • Full certificate (most commonly required)
  • PDF (where available)
  • Online view digital image (where available)

Fees & services (summary)

Priority service (online): £38.50 with a GRO index reference; £42.00 without.

Standard service (online): £12.50 with a GRO index reference; £16.00 without.

PDF: £8.00 (where available). Online view digital image: £3.00 (where available).

Source: Official GOV.UK guidance booklet on ordering and paying for civil registration records (fees table).

Delivery times (guide)

  • Standard: typically dispatched in around 4 working days if you supply a GRO index reference; up to ~15 working days without a reference.
  • Priority: dispatched next working day (cut-offs apply).

What you need to order

  • Full name on the certificate
  • Date and place of birth
  • Parents’ names (if known)
  • GRO index reference (optional but reduces cost and speeds processing)

How to find a GRO index reference

When using the GRO service, you can search the historical indexes for eligible periods. If you can’t find the reference, you can still order—GRO will index on your behalf for a small extra fee included in the “without reference” prices above.

Order steps

  1. Go to the official GOV.UK ordering page and select the GRO service.
  2. Create/sign in to your GRO account and search for the record or enter details.
  3. Choose standard or priority service; select certificate format.
  4. Pay securely online and track via your account/email updates.

Tips

  • Order multiple copies in the same session if you’ll need them for passports, school, name change, etc.
  • PDF/digital image options can be faster/cheaper where available—but check they’re accepted for your purpose.
  • If the birth took place in Scotland or Northern Ireland, use the nation-specific services instead.