Register a birth
You must register your baby before you can get a birth certificate.
Every birth must be registered within 42 days of the child being born.
Register a birth in Westminster
It's best to register the birth at the register office in the district where the baby was born.
If your baby was born in a Westminster hospital or elsewhere in the City of Westminster (e.g. at home) then you can register your baby at our register office.
Hospitals within the City of Westminster
- St Mary’s Hospital
- The Portland Hospital
Local hospitals that are not within the City of Westminster
- University College Hospital - please contact Camden Council
- Chelsea and Westminster Hospital - please contact the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
- St Thomas’ Hospital - please contact Lambeth Council
- Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital Hammersmith and Fulham
- Central Middlesex Hospital Brent Council
Cost
There is no fee to register a birth.
Short certificates
A free short certificate will be issued at the appointment. Short certificates contain only the baby's details.
Full certificates
Full certificates contain the baby's details and the parents' details. These can be purchased online during the booking process for £4 each and collected at your appointment.
We recommended buying 3-5 copies as they are required for various legal processes, such as passport applications.
Purchasing a certificate after your appointment is more expensive.
Make an appointment
Please use our online booking tool to choose your appointment date and time.
Registering a baby born abroad
What documents do I need to register a birth?
What to take to your appointment
You'll need to take the following to your appointment:
- the red book issued to you at the hospital
- your passport, driving licence or birth certificate
- your marriage certificate - if you're married
- deed poll documents - if you've changed your name by deed poll.
You'll need to provide the following details at the appointment:
Details of the baby
- the date, time and place of the birth
- the baby's sex
- the forenames and surname.
Details of the mother
- the mother's full name (and maiden name if married)
- the mother's date and place of birth
- the mother's current occupation
- the mother's address.
Details of the father
- the father's full name
- the father's date and place of birth
- the father's current occupation
- the father's address (if different from the mother's address).