You can arrange an appointment with us to register the birth of a child.

You will need to:

  • take certain documents and information with you to the appointment
  • pay a fee if you require a birth certificate
  • read the section on Births outside South Gloucestershire before booking an appointment
Book an appointment to register a birth

When and where

Births must be registered within 42 days of the baby being born.

Birth registrations have started again at Kingswood Civic Centre only at the moment, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Parents can book online using the button above.

Kingswood Civic Centre
High Street
Kingswood
BS15 9TR

Births outside South Gloucestershire

You can make an appointment with us to register a birth that happened outside South Gloucestershire, e.g. at Southmead Hospital, and we can pass the details of the birth on to the registrars for that area.

This appointment is called a Birth Declaration, however we cannot issue the birth certificate. You will need to apply to the registrars where your baby was born after the appointment. Some registration districts have online applications available and others will take payment by card over the phone.

Check the website for the council area where your child was born for up to date information.

Allow up to 2 weeks for the certificate to reach you after you have applied as the registrars will be dealing with a considerable number of applications and birth registrations during this current pandemic.

A confirmation that the birth has been registered is obtainable from the receiving registrar, but it cannot be used for any official purpose.

Who can register

If you are married at the time of the birth, either parent can register the birth.

If you are not married and you want the details of the father to appear on the birth certificate, both of you need to attend to register the birth and sign the register or declaration.

If the father’s name is not included on the birth certificate at the time of the registration, it can be entered later. Contact a registrar if you would like to do this. It is important that the information in the register is correct.

Information and documents required

When you go to your appointment you will need:

The baby’s

  • first names and surname
  • date and place of birth
  • sex (male or female)

The mother’s

  • full names and surname including any previous surnames
  • date and place of birth
  • address
  • current (or last) job
  • date of marriage (if applicable)
  • number of previous children

The father’s (optional)

  • full name and surname
  • date and place of birth
  • current (or last) job
  • address

You will also need to take documents for:

  • proof of your identity – passport, birth certificate or photo driving licence
  • proof of your address – photo driving licence (if address details are correct), council tax bill, latest utility bill, recent bank statement (these may be printed from your own computer)
  • child’s health record book (usually known as the “red book”)

Issue of certificates

If the baby was born in South Gloucestershire you can purchase a full birth certificate at the time of registration. Each certificate costs £11. Free birth certificates are no longer available.

We can accept debit and credit card (Visa and Mastercard) payments for the certificates we issue at the time of registration.

Written applications or completed application forms are necessary for certificates issued after the registration appointment.

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