Where Is The Serial Number On A British Birth Certificate
How to get started ordering online
If you already have a copy of your birth certificate, your birth certificate number is on the certificate itself. Typically, the birth certificate number is printed on either the top right or top left corner of the certificate. Who can replace or amend a Consular Report of Birth Abroad: The individual listed on the birth record (if age 18 or older). The serial number of the FS-240; Signature of requester; Legal Guardian(s) Only: A copy of the court order granting guardianship. Foreign birth certificate, marriage certificate, court ordered adoption or name change.
Q1. Do I have to set up an account?
Q2. How do I set a password?
Q3. What information do I need to apply online?
Q4. Why do I have to verify my email address?
Q5. Why do I have problems receiving emails from GRO?
Q6. What if I do not want to apply online, are there alternatives?
Q1. Do I have to set up an account?
Before you make your first online application you will need to register with GRO and you will be asked to provide an email address and password. You will automatically receive a verification email which will be sent to the email address you have provided once your account has been successfully activated/set up.
Once you have verified your account you can get started.
To set a password, follow the instructions below:
- Go to the Registration page.
- Choose a password that is at least eight characters long and does not contain any spaces.
It must contain at least one character from 3 or more of the following types:- Upper-case Letters (A-Z)
- Lower-case Letters (a-z)
- Numbers (0-9)
- Special Characters (!'#$%&'()*+,-./:;<=>?@[]^_`{ }~)
For security purposes, do not use any words found in a dictionary of any language.
- When passwords have a combination of numbers and letters it is useful to check that the 0s and Os, 1s and ls (Zeros and letter O or Ones and letter l) are not confused, as this will cause password recognition problems.
- Complete the registration form and submit.
When you apply online you need to provide
- Your full name and address
- A contact email address
- A valid credit/debit card information
- Details of the event you are applying for example a birth, marriage, civil partnership, death, adoption or overseas record.
This is to make sure that we have the correct email address for you.
Q5. Why do I have trouble receiving emails from GRO?There are two likely reasons for problems receiving emails from us:
1. Some email systems allow you to block incoming mail from email addresses not listed in your address book or trusted list. If you use any of these settings please add the following email addresses to your address book or trusted list:
General enquiries - certificate.services@gro.gov.uk
Online Order enquiries - col.admin@gro.gov.uk
2. Mails may be blocked by your email provider or redirected to your trash/spam folder. Check your spam folder and if there add to your trusted addresses.
If customers choose to apply for services by post or telephone where services are available online, and do not provide full information on the application, then additional administration fees will be payable to cover the extra work involved.
Searching the GRO online historical birth and death indexes?
Q1. What is the online index
Q2. How do I search the online historical birth and death indexes?
Q3. Which records are available to search in the GRO historical index?
Q4. Why have you chosen those historical records?
Q5. How have you defined 'historical' records?
Q6. Why aren’t death records shown up until 1965 rather than 1957?
Q7. Are there any plans to add further to the records shown in the index i.e. add in marriage indexes and further historical death data?
Q8. Is there a charge to use the online index?
Q9. Why is GRO publishing an online index when other organisations have already done this?
Q10. How will the customer access the index?
Q11. How will the index work?
Q12. What if I cannot find a result?
Q13. Why is the maximum number of possible matching index entries limited to 250?
Q14. Why is the maximum search period limited to 2 years either side of the year identified?
Q15. How do I report an error in the online indexes?
Q16. What if there is a dash against details in an index entry?
Q17. Why is Mother's Maiden Name shown in most, but not all birth indexes?
Q18. Why is age at death shown in most but not all death indexes?
Q19. How is the age at death for infant deaths (i.e. died within 12 months of birth) recorded in the indexes?
Q20. Why do the search results contain a name which appears to relate to the opposite sex from what was requested?
Q1. What is the online index?
This is an historical index of events (births & deaths), held online, which contains a sub-set of information from the full record such as name/surname/district of event etc. which can be used to help customers identify an entry and order a birth or death certificate.
Q2. How do I search the online historical birth and death indexes?Guidance on searching the indexes is attached below
Q3. Which records are available to search in the GRO historical index?The GRO historical birth and death indexes are freely available to search online. These are birth records from 1837 to 1918 and death records from 1837 to 1957. For records which are not available within the GRO online historical index, the birth/death and marriage indexes for England and Wales are freely available to search online via FreeBMD.
Q4. Why have you chosen those historical records?The online index has been created from the records digitised at GRO. Currently that includes births from 1837 to 1918 and deaths from 1837 to 1957, but not marriages, which have not yet been digitised.
Q5. How have you defined 'historical' records?We have used the same demarcation as used by the National Records of Scotland and GRO Northern Ireland i.e.
Births over 100 years
Deaths over 50 years
Death records have been digitised up to 1957 but not beyond at this stage.
Q7. Are there any plans to add further to the records shown in the index i.e. add in marriage indexes and further historical death data?Completing the digitisation of records would require significant investment and there are no current plans to resume this work but we continue to monitor the scope for future opportunities to complete the digitisation of all birth, death and marriage records.
Q8. Is there a charge to use the online index?No, the index is available free of charge for customers, but you must have a registered GRO online certificate ordering account. This can be set up via the GRO online ordering site.
Online indexes can be located here.
The online index contains additional data fields to those which are already available and this will assist family historians to identify the correct record. In addition, the index is created from the digitised records and is not a copy of the existing index which is already made available by third party organisations. We will also be able to update our online index if errors or omissions have been identified.
Q10. How will the customer access the index?The index will be accessed via the current online certificate ordering system. New customers will be asked to register with an email address and password, Existing customers are not required to re-register and will automatically have access to the service, once they have verified their email address.
Q11. How will the index work?The index is searchable and customers will need to key in certain information with the results returned in a table format. As a minimum, the type of event, year, surname and sex will have to be entered to conduct a search. Further fields are available to input data and help refine the search such as mother's maiden name and district of birth.
Q12. What if I cannot find a result?To help customers locate a record, further functionality is available such as phonetic/soundex searches. Customers are also able to extend the year ranges for their search. Customers will still be able to order certificates if they do not have the GRO index reference. An administration charge of £3.00 for each different application where a GRO index reference is not provided will be charged to cover additional processing costs.
Q13. Why is the maximum number of possible matching index entries limited to 250?250 returns should be sufficient to cover most searches. Where the limit is exceeded you will need to refine your search.
Q14. Why is the maximum search period limited to 2 years either side of the year identified?The indexes are a searchable set of records identified from information provided, and allow for up to a five year search period. Beyond this, you will need to refine your search.
Q15. How do I report an error in the online indexes?Please use the online form to report details of the error, which is located at the bottom of the search results page. All reports will be investigated and where an error is found, we will update the index to reflect the correct information. Updates to the indexes will be made on a weekly basis. Once we have finished investigating the record you have reported we will update the status of your query which can be viewed here.
Q16. What if there is a dash against details in an index entry?A dash is recorded where the details have not been data captured in the index. Not all information will have been provided by the informant when the birth or death was registered, or in some cases the information may not have been data captured. In these circumstances there will be a dash against the field when the search results are displayed.
Q17. Why is Mother's Maiden Name shown in most, but not all birth indexes?In some cases Mother's Maiden Name was not data captured, and will appear in the online index as a dash. However, we have where possible enhanced the indexes to include Mother's Maiden Name where it has previously not been provided on the microfiche indexes.
Q18. Why is age at death shown in most but not all death indexes?Tripura rahasya telugu pdf. Not all registration records show an age at death, or the age at death is unclear/illegible on the entry so could not be included in the index. However, we have where possible enhanced the indexes to include age at death where it has previously not been provided on the microfiche indexes.
For infants who died within 12 months of birth, the age is shown as 0 in line with the microfiche indexes.
Q19. How is the age at death for infant deaths (i.e. died within 12 months of birth) recorded in the indexes?Generally, age at death for 'infant deaths' will be shown as 0, in line with the microfiche index. However we are aware of a number of records where the age at death is showing a different value e.g. 9. If this is the case, it is likely that the information held in the online index relates to the age in minutes, hours, days, weeks, or months (recorded this way on the original death registration) rather than in years. It is not possible to identify which records maybe affected but we will continue to correct any errors that we do become aware of, or those reported to us.
Q20. Why do the search results contain a name which appears to relate to the opposite sex from what was requested?Sex was not data captured for a very small number of records due to it not being identifiable in the registration e.g. it was not collected at the registration or it is illegible. In order to ensure that all relevant records are included in the search and to present as much useful information as possible, those records where sex has not been data captured are searched every time a request is made. On occasion therefore, a search for a male may return a female sounding forename and vice versa.
What records can be ordered and how much does it cost?
Q1. What records can I order online?
Q2. Can I see a copy of the certificate before I order it online?
Q3. What information do I need to apply online?
Q4. What if I don't have the GRO index reference number?
Q5. Where can I find a copy of the GRO indexes?
Q6. How much does it cost to order a copy of a civil registration record?
Q7. How do I order certificates for very recent events?
Q1. What records can I order online?
You can order certificates online for birth, death, marriage, civil partnership and adoption events registered in England and Wales and for certain British Nationals, who were born, married, formed a civil partnership or died overseas. You can also order a Multilingual Standard Form (MSF) alongside a certificate to translate specific fields in a registration certificate into the official language of an EU member country that is desired.
You can order Commemorative marriage certificates for silver, ruby, golden and diamond wedding anniversaries.
You cannot order the following certificates online -
- Short or abridged versions of certificates (apart from short adoption certificates, which can be ordered online),
- A presumed death certificate,
- A certificate from the Abandoned Children's Register,
- A certificate from the Parental Order Register and
- A certificate from the Gender Recognition Registers.
- A MSF for the above
- A MSF for a Certificate of No Impediment.
For certificates from the Gender Recognition Register, once the registration has been made, you will have been given a direct line to telephone the team or you can use the above number and be redirected.
As these certificates are not available to order online they will not be subject to the telephone or postal certificate application fee.Q2. Can I see a copy of the certificate before I order it online?
Current legislation in England and Wales does not permit the register entries (certificate information) to be made available online and information can only be provided in the form of a certificate.
Q3. What information do I need to apply online?You should provide the GRO index reference number for the certificate that you are interested in. The GRO online indexes should be used to try and identify the index reference for historical birth and death records in England and Wales; alternative index sources include FreeBMD and the host sites. If you are unable to trace the record you can still apply for a certificate but there will be an additional charge if a GRO index reference is not provided.
You will be prompted to supply further details for more recent births and deaths (within the last 50 years) as you complete the online application form.
If you are unable to complete the mandatory fields, then you will not be able to apply online and you will need to follow our telephone ordering process. Please contact us on +44(0) 300 123 1837 for further information.
If you do not have the GRO index reference, for historical birth and death records why not try using the GRO online historical indexes?
For records not available on the GRO historical indexes; the birth, death and marriage indexes for England and Wales are also available to search online via FreeBMD. The GRO indexes for England and Wales (births and deaths, up until the last 6 months, and marriages the last 18 months), are also freely accessible to search at the 7 host sites.
If you are unable to trace or do not have the index reference you may still apply online for any event which took place on or after 1st July 1837 to 6 months from the current date (for marriages this period is extended to 18 months) provided you have sufficient information to identify the entry. A 3 year search for the index reference will be carried out. You should supply the exact date of event if you have it. If you don't have the exact date, enter 01/01/YYYY and we will search the specified year and one year either side. If you do not provide an index reference number, your application will take up to 15 working days to process. There is a separate policy for events which have taken place in the last 50 years and full identifying information must be provided (see Q7 under 'Important information on delivery times and policies.')
If you do not provide a GRO index reference with your application for the record/s required then an additional administration charge of £3.00 will be payable for each different application where an index reference is not provided GRO will then search for the GRO index reference and locate the record. For almost all records a GRO index reference should be available. There may be circumstances where the Registrar General may waive additional charges, but this would be on an extraordinary basis and subject to the specific circumstances in which the order was raised.
See How to get started with Family Research?
Q6. How much does it cost to order a copy of a civil registration record?Click here for information on the price of Commemorative CertificatesPriority Service
| Full certificate with GRO index reference supplied | £35.00 |
| Full certificate without GRO index reference supplied (if customer requires GRO to trace the entry on their behalf) | £35.00 plus £3.00 search fee |
| Additional certificate issued at same time | £35.00 |
| No trace - GRO retainer fee if GRO are unable to find record from the details provided | £3.50 will be retained |
| Offline application (Application made by post or telephone. GRO index reference provided) | £35.00 plus £4.00 offline fee |
| Offline application without a GRO index provided | £35.00, £4.00 offline fee and £3.00 search fee |
| Full certificate with GRO index reference supplied | £11.00 |
| Full certificate without GRO index reference supplied (if customer requires GRO to index on their behalf) | £11.00 plus £3.00 search fee |
| Additional certificate issued at same time | £11.00 |
| No trace – GRO retainer fee if GRO are unable to find record from the details provided | £3.50 will be retained |
| Offline application (Application made by post or telephone. GRO index reference provided) | £11.00 plus £4.00 offline fee |
| Offline application, without a GRO index provided | £11.00, £4.00 offline fee plus £3.00 search fee |
| PDF Fee | £7.00 |
Note: Additional administration fees which are payable if not applying online or including a GRO index reference with your application are non-refundable in the event that we are unable to produce the record on the customer information supplied.
There may be circumstances where the Registrar General may waive additional charges, but this would be on an extraordinary basis and subject to the specific circumstances in which the order was raised.
Click here for an explanation of processing times for the standard and priority serviceThese fees apply to all certificates and include standard postage.
- 1st class for Priority Orders
- 2nd class for Standard Orders
GRO is not able to issue certificates for events that have taken place within the last six months (for marriages this period is extended to eighteen months) and you may wish to obtain a certificate from the register office or church where the event was registered. This information excludes adoption certificates, as the local register office does not hold a copy of the Adopted Children Register. If you require further information please call +44(0) 300 123 1837.
What information will I see on a birth, marriage or death certificate?
Q1. What information will I see on a certificate?
Q1. What information will I see on a certificate?
The details contained on a full birth certificate include:
- Name, date and place of birth.
- Father's name (if given at time of registration), place of birth and occupation.
- Mother's name, place of birth, maiden surname and, after 1984, occupation.
- (Registrations made before 1969 do not include details of the parents' place of birth and mother's occupation.)
| Click the image above to see a Guide to Birth Certificates including an example of a pre 1969 birth certificate. Software capable of viewing .PDF files is required. |
The details contained on a marriage certificate include:
- Date and place of marriage.
- Name, age and marital status/condition of the parties.
- Occupation and usual address.
- Name and occupation of each party's father.
- Names of the witnesses.
- Name of the person who solemnised the marriage.
| Click the image above to see a Guide to Marriage Certificates including an example of a pre 1969 marriage certificate. Software capable of viewing .PDF files is required. |
The details contained on a death certificate include:
- Name, date and place of death.
- Date and place of birth (before 1969 a certificate only showed age of deceased).
- Occupation and usual address.
- Cause of death.
- The person who gave information for the death registration.
| Click the image above to see a Guide to Death Certificates including an example of a pre 1969 death certificate. Software capable of viewing .PDF files is required. |
How to get a certificate quickly
Q1. How can I get a certificate quickly?
Q2. How much will I have to pay for the Priority Certificate?
Q3. Can I arrange for alternative postal services, such as special delivery?
Q1. How can I get a certificate quickly?
You can order certificates using our certificate Priority Service. If you order a certificate before 4pm, it will be despatched from GRO the next working day. Working days exclude Saturday/Sunday/Bank Holidays e.g. a priority application made on a Saturday or Sunday will be despatched from GRO by first class post on Tuesday.
Q2. How much will I have to pay for the Priority Certificate?The fee for each priority certificate is £35.00 if applying online and including a GRO index reference. The priority service includes the cost of the certificate and first class post. There is no additional charge for overseas post sent by airmail unless priority postage is required by the customer. If applying by telephone or post and/or not including a GRO index reference then an additional administration fee will be charged for each record required to cover the extra work involved.
Q3. Can I arrange for alternative postal services, such as special delivery? Other postal services available are:
Royal Mail Next Day Delivery – despatched on the next working day from receipt of order, Delivered via Royal Mail Special Delivery to arrive by 1pm the day after despatch. (Only available on Priority Orders)
Royal Mail Saturday 9am – Delivered via Royal Mail Special Delivery to arrive by 9am on a Saturday. (Only available on Priority Orders)
DHL Overseas Delivery – despatched on the next working day from receipt of order, to be delivered worldwide outside of the UK within 7 working days of despatch. (Only available on Priority Orders)
How to get started with family research
GRO has produced a useful booklet called Discover Your Family History which provides practical advice about how to get the most from the records held by the General Register Office.
Q1. What is a GRO index reference, and where can I find it?Q2. From what date are the references available?
Q3. What information do I need to find the index number that I want?
Q4. How are the indexes organised?
Q5. What information will I see in the indexes?
Q6. Is there anything else I should be aware of when I'm searching?
Q7. What are unrelated marriages?
Q1. What is a GRO index reference, and where can I find it?
Where Is The Serial Number On An Iphone
The reference number identifies a birth, marriage or death in our records and indicates the year, quarter and district where the event was registered. The GRO index reference number will not be shown on copies of the certificate and should not be confused with the sequential serial number or application number shown on previous copies of the certificate.
The format of the index reference number has changed over the years and examples can be found at Q5 below. A GRO index reference number typically comprises of a year, a quarter and the reference number that is shown in the indexes - for example 'March 1954 2a 222'. The district name is also given a number and is shown as a 'volume number'. Over time, the districts have changed and in some instances have become abolished; for help in finding a district number/volume number you may find The District Book of benefit during your research. This will assist in obtaining the volume number from 1837 to 2001 or the relevant district if the previous one has been abolished.
If you are going to be doing family history research, you will find the GRO indexes an important resource.
GRO historic birth and death indexes are now available online via our certificate ordering site. Having traced a record, you are also able to directly order a certificate, for which index details will automatically be carried forward into your order.
Additionally, a complete set of GRO indexes are available to view in microfiche format at:
- The Library of Birmingham
- Bridgend Local and Family History Centre
- City of Westminster Archives Centre
- Manchester Central Library
- Newcastle City Library
- Plymouth Central Library and
- The British Library
Some public libraries and other organisations hold full or part sets of the GRO indexes on microfiche or CD ROM. Further information can be found at GOV.UK.
Also, to view more recent birth and death indexes and the marriage and civil partnership indexes online, you can visit http://www.freebmd.org.uk/. This website contains over 250 million records and there is no charge for using this service. Once you have the index number, it's quick and easy to order the certificate from GRO.
If you don't have the GRO reference number you can still order a certificate but it may take a little longer to arrive, dependant on the service required. It will also incur an administration charge to cover additional work searching for the record by GRO. Q2. From what date are the references available?
The earliest available birth, marriage and death registrations for England and Wales date from 1 July 1837 (September quarter of 1837).
Q3. What information do I need to find the index number that I want?Ideally you should have the name, approximate date and the district/area of the event.
Q4. How are the indexes organised?GRO Microfiche indexes:
Entries are listed alphabetically by surname then forename. Babies whose parents had not decided on a name at registration appear at the end of the relevant surname listing. The indexes are arranged by year and then alphabetically by surname. Before 1983 the indexes are also split into the quarter of the year in which the event was registered: e.g. events registered in January, February or March will all be indexed in the March quarter for the relevant year. Please note that the indexes relate to separate events and are not linked together in families.GRO Online Historic Birth and Death indexes:
The GRO online historic birth and death indexes, however, return results by year, surname, forename and quarter. Taking advantage of the computerised indexes, we have used feedback on searching to maximise the likelihood of finding a match against the search criteria provided.Q5. What information will I see in the indexes?Over the years the format of the indexes has changed several times with more information being added each time. Examples of the format of the birth indexes are shown below.| From September 1837 - 1851 | ||||
| Name | Sup Registrars District | Vol | Page | |
| Duckworth | John George | Rugby | XVI | 254 |
| Dudman | Male | Aylesbury | VI | 123 |
| From 1852 - June 1911 | ||||
| Name | Sup Registrars District | Vol | Page | |
| Galbridge | Joanne A | Bethnal Green | 1C | 34 |
| Gilbride | John A | Aston | 10B | 38 |
| From September 1911 - 1983 | ||||
| Name of Child | Mother's maiden name | District | Vol | Page |
| Edwards Ann | Simmons | Aston | 6D | 2 |
| Edwardson Peter | Smith | West Ham | 4A | 28 |
| From 1984 - 1992 | |||||
| Birth Name | Mother's maiden name | District Name | DOR | Vol | Page No. |
| Ross John A | Hughes | Bethnal Green | 1087 | 16 | 2765 |
| Russell Simon | Green | Middlesex | 1289 | 21 | 1254 |
| From 1993 | ||||||
| Name of Child | Mother's maiden name | District Name | District No. | Reg No. | Ent No. | DOR |
| Jackson George | Simpson | Surrey South Western | 761-2C | C1A | 157 | 1295 |
| James Allan | Ashton | Lancashire | 268-1B | H7B | 256 | 1097 |
A birth can be registered in the quarter after it took place. A death, although usually registered immediately, can sometimes be registered many months after the event. Remember to check several indexes if you don't find what you are looking for straight away, and to check for alternative spellings.
Q7. What are unrelated marriages?If you have found an entry in the marriage indexes that you think relates to the certificate you are looking for, it is recommended that you cross reference the name to ensure that the page/entry numbers are the same. For example, if you are looking for a marriage between Michael Harrison and Mary Jenkins, the same page/entry number will be listed in the indexes under both Michael Harrison and Mary Jenkins.
How to order an adoption certificate
Q1. What records are held by GRO?
Q2. What certificates can be ordered?
Q3. What information do I need to supply?
Q4. Can I get an adoption certificate at my local register office?
Q5. Can I get a certificate from the Abandoned Children Register?
Q6. Can I get a certificate from the Thomas Coram Register?
Q1. What records are held by GRO?
GRO holds the following information:
- Adopted Children Register: GRO maintains the Adopted Children Register (ACR). The Register contains the particulars of adoptions authorised by order of a court in England or Wales on or after 1 January 1927. The only information that is available from the Adopted Children Register is a certified certificated copy of an entry, which is the equivalent of a birth certificate for an adopted person.
- Adoption Contact Register: GRO administers the Adoption Contact Register on behalf of the Department of Health. The register is a linking mechanism between an adopted person and their birth relatives, where both parties so wish. For further information see GOV.UK.
- Abandoned Children Register: Since 1977 the births of abandoned babies, within England and Wales, whose parentage is unknown have been recorded in the Abandoned Children Register.
- Thomas Coram Register: A list held by GRO of children given into the care of the Foundling Hospital between the years 1853 and 1948.
A certified copy of an entry in the Adopted Children Register is the equivalent of a birth certificate for a person who has been adopted. An entry in the Adopted Children Register will only contain the adoptive details of a person and has no information that relates back to the corresponding birth entry. Both full and short adoption certificates can be ordered online. After an adoption registration has been made you can apply for a full certificate.
- Full Certificates: A full certificate is a copy of ACR entry and includes the date of the order and the name of the court, as well as the particulars of the adoptive parent(s). Their names cannot be shown on the certificates as though they were the natural parents, even if one of the parents is the birth mother or father.
- Short certificates: A short certificate contains no reference to the fact of adoption and shows only the adoptive name and surname, sex, date of birth and country or district of birth.
- Adoption Orders made between 1927 and 1949: Neither the country, district or sub districts are shown on a full certificate, as this information is not included in the format of the entry. The country of birth will be shown on a short certificate if it recorded on the Court Order.
- Adoption Orders made between 1950 and March 1959: The country of birth is recorded on both a full and short certificate.
- Adoption Orders made since April 1959: Where a person is born in England or Wales, the country, district and sub district is recorded on a full certificate; the country is not recorded on a short certificate. Where a person is born outside England and Wales, only the country is recorded on both a full and short certificate.
- GRO index reference not known: you must supply the full details of the person's adoptive name, date of birth and adoptive parent's name(s). For most records a GRO index reference is available, and an additional administration search fee is payable where a GRO index reference is not provided and is publicly available.
- GRO index reference supplied: if applying for a certificate of a person under the age of 18, you must supply the full details of the person's adoptive name, date of birth and adoptive parent's name(s). If applying for a certificate of a person over 18 the adopted name, date of birth and GRO index reference needs to be supplied.
Local Register Offices do not hold copies of the Adopted Children Register and application must be made to the General Register Office.
Q5. Can I get a certificate from the Abandoned Children Register?Since 1977 the births of abandoned babies, whose parentage is unknown have been recorded in the Abandoned Children Register. Before this, these births were registered at the register office in the district where the child was found.
Application for certificates can be made in writing to: General Register Office, Adoptions, Trafalgar Road, Southport, PR8 2HH. Tel + 44 (0) 300 123 1837.
The Thomas Coram Register is a list of children given into the care of the Foundling Hospital between the years 1853 and 1948. All enquiries about children raised in the Foundling Hospital and applications for certificates should be made via the charity: Coram Family, Coram Community Campus, 49 Mecklenburgh Square, London, WC1N 2QA. Tel: +44(0)20 7520 0300. The charity will organise a copy of the certificate from the General Register Office, this will be a 'short' certificate showing the child's details – but will not contain any details of the parents.
How to order a certificate for an event which took place overseas
Q1. What records are held for overseas births, marriages, civil partnerships and deaths?
Q2. Are all overseas births, marriages, civil partnerships and deaths, involving British nationals held in the UK?
Q3. I have a British passport, does this mean that my birth is registered or recorded in the UK, even though I was born abroad?
Q4. What certificates of overseas births, marriages, civil partnerships and deaths can I order?
Q5. What information will I see in an overseas index?
Q6. What if I am unable to provide an overseas index reference?
Q7. What will I see on an overseas certificate?
Q8. Do I need to provide the year of registration of an overseas birth, marriage, civil partnership or death?
Q9. What happens if I don't know where the overseas birth, marriage, civil partnership or death occurred?
Q10. I am doing my family tree and there are some overseas connections, where do I start?
Q1. What records are held for overseas births, marriages, civil partnerships and deaths?
Births, marriages and deaths registered by the British Forces and the British Consul or High Commission in the country where they took place, from 1849.
Deaths that occurred in the Boer War and both World Wars, and British Army Regimental records of births, baptisms and marriages, dating back to 1761.
Marine Births and Deaths, from 1837, which took place on British registered vessels.
Aircraft Births and Deaths, from 1948, which took place on British registered aircraft.
Civil Partnerships formed and registered by the British Armed Forces and the British Consul in the country where they took place, from 2005.
No. Registering the event with the British authorities is not compulsory. It is not a service which everyone takes up.
Q3. I have a British passport, does this mean that my birth is registered or recorded in the UK, even though I was born abroad?No. Having a British passport does not mean that your birth was automatically registered in the UK. Your birth may have been registered, by your parents, with the British authorities in the country of birth, but registering is not compulsory.
Q4. What certificates of overseas births, marriages, civil partnerships and deaths can I order?You may place an order online for a full certificate of an overseas birth (which will include parents' details) a death certificate, a marriage or a civil partnership certificate. A full list of overseas records held by GRO can be found at GOV.UK. Applications made by telephone or post will incur an additional administration charge to cover the extra work of processing.
Q5. What information will I see in an overseas index? There is no standard format for an overseas index. They come in a variety of different formats, which have changed over the years.
A reference can show the type of index (Regimental / Army / Marine / Consular etc.) and can give a year, volume, and page number, but it can also be as simple as a name and a year, or a name and a page number, or even just a page number.
The following are a few hints and tips to ensure you are providing the correct information –
Regimental Birth indexes – may show several index references for the same person. As a soldier moved from one regiment to another, he had to register himself and his family each time for pay purposes. If you find more than one index reference for same person, provide all references and we will produce the entry with the most information. There is no index for Regimental Marriages or Deaths. However, for Regimental Marriages, if a regiment and a year can be supplied, a search can be undertaken. If Royal Artillery, then a battalion or battery will be needed.
Chaplains Births – some references show a number of years instead of just one year. Please ensure you provide the full period to search. Example - Chaplains 1827 p.397 or Chaplains 1847-49 p.45.
Marine indexes – Reference may show just one year or a period of several years and the page number (e.g.:- 1837-62 p.43 or just 1972 p.78)
WW1 Army Death indexes – the volume will always show a letter, as well as a number, followed by the page number. The letters are A, C, E, F, G, I, M, N, and S. These relate to the book number – e.g.: A.1. p. 29 or B.3. p.32 etc. The majority start with the letter ‘I’. The only letter for Army Officer deaths is the letter 'O' followed by a number, plus a page number.
Consular / High Commission – For these records, you will need to provide the country, the date the event was registered or a period you wish us to search. Some events are registered many years after the event took place.
For most records a GRO index reference is available, and an additional administration search fee is payable where a GRO index reference is not provided in your application and is publicly available.
Q7. What will I see on an overseas certificate?Due to the variety in format of overseas records, it depends on the type of record the certificate is produced from.
Normally the format of a birth certificate will include a date and place of birth, the child's name and the parents' names and surnames.
For marriage certificates, if the marriage took place in a British Consul or was registered by the British Forces the certificate will usually take a format of date and place of marriage and the names and surnames of both parties. If, however, the marriage was one where a certificate was deposited with GRO records, then it will be a certified copy of the original documents i.e. the certificate issued by the foreign country, plus a translation, if applicable.
In respect of civil partnerships, if the civil partnership took place in a British Consul or was registered by the British Forces, the certificate will take a usual format of date and place of civil partnership and the names and surnames of the partners. If, however, the civil partnership was one where a certificate was deposited with GRO records, then it will be a certified copy of the original documents i.e. the certificate issued by the foreign country, plus a translation, if applicable.
Death certificates will normally include date and place of death (in respect of war deaths, this may just state the country), name and surname of the deceased and often the age at death or date of birth.
Please note that for overseas events, the date of registration with the British Authorities can often be many years after the event took place. Whilst we will search additional years following the stated year of birth, marriage or death, it may not be possible to locate the entry unless you can provide a year of registration.
Q9. What happens if I don't know where the overseas birth, marriage, civil partnership or death occurred?When you get to the field asking for place of birth, marriage, civil partnership or death, type 'unknown'; a search will then be made throughout the overseas indexes. Unfortunately, if you do not know the place of event, we may not be able to narrow down the search to just one entry. For events that have taken place prior to 1984, you will need to confirm if there is a military connection or if it is a Consul/High Commission entry.
Q10. I am doing my family tree and there are some overseas connections, where do I start?You can download a list of overseas events held by GRO via GOV.UK.
Copies of the index to overseas events can be found at various libraries and record offices, as well as online via specialist websites. For a list of locations holding copies of the overseas index please visit GOV.UK.
Once you have found an entry in the overseas index, it's quick and easy to order a certificate online. If you don't have an index reference number, you can still order a certificate online and GRO will conduct the GRO index search on your behalf at a charge of £3.00.
How to order a civil partnership certificate
Q1. Can I obtain a civil partnership certificate?
Q2. Can I obtain a full certificate, without providing the addresses of both civil partners?
Q1. Can I obtain a civil partnership certificate?
If you are able to provide sufficient information to identify the civil partnership entry, including the addresses of both parties, (as shown in the entry) then you can choose to have a full certificate, which contains the addresses of both parties. If you are unable to provide the addresses of both parties, you can obtain an extract of the entry, which will not show the addresses.
Q2. Can I obtain a full certificate, without providing the addresses of both civil partners?A certified copy of the entry can only be issued when you have correctly stated the full address of both civil partners (as shown in the entry). If you are unable to provide this information, you may apply to the Registrar General, stating your reasons for requesting a full certificate, why the addresses are not known and explaining why a certificate showing the addresses is needed. If he considers it appropriate to do so, the Registrar General will authorise the issue of a full certificate.
You should apply in writing to:
General Register Office
PO Box 2
Southport
Merseyside
PR8 2HH
PDF Service
Q1. What is a PDF?
Q2. What records are available as a PDF?
Q3. What will the PDF look like?
Q4. Is a PDF the same as a certificate and can I use a PDF as evidence for official purposes, such as a passport application, or if giving notice of marriage etc.?
Q5. Do PDFs cover Forces or Overseas Records?
Q6. Do PDFs cover Adoption Records?
Q7. How did you arrive at the fee of £7.00 for PDFs of digitised records?
Q8. When should I expect to receive my PDF?
Q9. Why are modern records not available as PDFs?
Q10. Why aren't modern indexes available yet?
Q11. Are the PDFs subject to any copyright?
Q12. Do you have any plans to make historical registration records instantly viewable online, as in Scotland and Northern Ireland?Q13. Why can't I get a PDF from the registration service locally?
Background
The General Register Office (GRO) is looking at different ways of providing civil registration services to our customers and as part of that it tested customer demand for records in a format other than a paper copy, via a Portable Document Format [PDF]. Following successful piloting we are pleased to offer PDFs of historical birth and death records for England and Wales as part of our established service.
The cost of this service will be £7.00 per entry.
Portable Document Format (PDF) is a file format used to present and exchange documents reliably and in a manner that is independent of user's software, hardware, or operating system. PDF was developed by Adobe in the early 1990s and is now an open standard that is maintained by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO).
Q2. What records are available as a PDF?
PDFs are available for historical digitised civil registration records held by GRO (i.e. birth entries from 1837 - 1918 and death entries from 1837 - 1957). A GRO index reference is required to be provided with the application. You can find the GRO index references by logging on to the GRO online ordering service and accessing the GRO online indexes. A PDF will cost £7.00 each.
Q3. What will the PDF look like?
The PDF image is an extract from the historical record of the event. It will contain the same information that is present in a certificate apart from the official crest and signature of issuing authority. The image may contain some imperfections as the records date from 1837. A PDF will have no 'evidential' value, and therefore a paper certified copy [certificate] is required for official purposes, e.g. if applying for a passport, driving licence, or where required to give notice of marriage.
An example of a PDF image is shown below.
Q4. Is a PDF the same as a certificate and can I use a PDF as evidence for official purposes, such as a passport application, or if giving notice of marriage etc.?
No. A PDF is not a certificate. A PDF will have no 'evidential' value, and therefore a paper certified copy [certificate] is required for official purposes, e.g. if applying for a passport, driving licence, or where required to give notice of marriage.
Q5. Do PDFs cover Forces or Overseas Records?
No. The legal powers being used to make births and deaths available in PDF format do not extend to overseas and forces registrations.
Q6. Do PDFs cover Adoption Records?
No. The legal powers being used do not extend to adoption records.
Q7. How did you arrive at the fee of £7.00 for PDFs of digitised records?
All our fees are set at levels to recover the costs of providing the service in line with Her Majesty's Treasury guidance. The cost reflects the resources required to provide this service.
Q8. When should I expect to receive my PDF?
The aim is to provide the PDF within 4 working days from the date of the order, if it has been received before 4pm.
Q9. Why are modern records not available as PDFs?
We are still working through the issues of making modern records available online.
Q10. Why aren't modern indexes available yet?
If GRO were to make modern indexes available, considerations would need to be given to public protection, customer service and technical capabilities. There are currently no plans to make modern indexes available.
Q11. Are the PDFs subject to any copyright?
They are covered by Crown Copyright and whilst it is an offence to make a copy of a certificate and pass it off as the original certificate you are welcome to copy, publish or use the information they contain including in the form of a PDF.
However, if they contain information relating to living individuals then the provisions of the General Data Protection Regulation Act 2018, Data Protection Act 2018 and the Human Rights Act 1998 will apply. You should bear that in mind if you were to (for example) publish or display a copy of the image you have received from us if it contained information about living individuals, as you would need their permission to do so.
Q12. Do you have any plans to make historical registration records instantly viewable online, as in Scotland and Northern Ireland?
Searchable historical indexes showing GRO references are online. However there are no current plans to make historical registration records instantly viewable online like The National Records of Scotland or GRO Northern Ireland.
Q13. Why can't I get a PDF from the registration service locally?
Any amendments to include local records would mean a change to primary legislation and there are no plans for this.
PDF Ordering Information
Q1. How do I order a PDF?
Q2. What information do I need to apply online?
Q3. I do not have the GRO historical index reference - can I still apply for a PDF?
Q4. How will I receive my PDF?
Q5. What should I do if I am not able to view my PDF?
Q6. What should I do if I have not received my PDF order (all or part of)?
Q7. Will I receive a refund if a PDF order is despatched late?
Q8. What should I do if I have received a PDF that does not match the record you have ordered?
Q9. Can I order a certificate and PDF for a particular record at the same time?
Q10. Can I amend or cancel my PDF application?
Q1. How do I order a PDF?
An order for a PDF copy of a registration record must be made via our online ordering site. Please note that this service is not available via telephone or postal applications. The PDF product is selectable under the 'service option' on the order page for an England & Wales birth event for the years 1837 - 1918 and death events for the years 1837 - 1957.
Q2. What information do I need to apply online?
You will need to provide the full GRO index reference number for the record that you are interested in (see Q3), you will be prompted to supply details of the event as you complete the online application form.
Q3. I do not have the GRO historical index reference - can I still apply for a PDF?
No to apply for a PDF you must provide a GRO historical index reference. You can find the GRO historical index references by logging on and accessing the GRO online indexes.
Q4. How will I receive my PDF?
You will be sent an email notification to inform you that your PDF image is ready to view and download. You will need to log on to your ordering account and you will find a link to your PDF in your order history. At this point you can view your image by clicking onto the 'View PDF' button.
PDFs will remain available to view for a period of 3 months from the point of ordering, after which it will be removed. You will not receive a reminder prior to deletion.
Q5. What should I do if I am not able to view my PDF?
PDFs can be viewed using Acrobat Reader software which is available as a free download for a number of devices such as PC, Mac, tablet or smartphone. If you do not currently have this program installed on your device you should type 'adobe acrobat reader' into your search engine and then follow the instructions provided to download it.
If you have Acrobat Reader on your device and are still not able to view your PDF you should contact us by:
- Completing our Online Customer Contact Form by clicking on the link and selecting the 'other issues and feedback' option. Please ensure that you have your COL number available.
- Telephoning on +44(0) 300 123 1837 [Monday to Friday 8:00 am - 8:00 pm, Saturday 9:00 am - 4:00 pm]
Q6. What should I do if I have not received my PDF order (all or part of)?
If you have not received any of your order, within 5 working days, you should contact us by:
- Completing our Online Customer Contact Form by clicking on the link and selecting the 'other issues and feedback' option. Please ensure that you have your COL number available.
- Telephoning on +44(0) 300 123 1837 [Monday to Friday 8:00 am - 8:00 pm, Saturday 9:00 am - 4:00 pm]
Q7. Will I receive a refund if a PDF order is despatched late?
No. Whilst we endeavour to process applications within target, this is only a service aim.
Q8. What should I do if I have received a PDF that does not match the record you have ordered?
If you receive a PDF that does not match to your order:
- Completing our Online Customer Contact Form by clicking on the link and selecting the 'other issues and feedback' option. Please ensure that you have your COL number available.
- Telephoning on +44(0) 300 123 1837 [Monday to Friday 8:00 am - 8:00 pm, Saturday 9:00 am - 4:00 pm]
Q9. Can I order a certificate and PDF for a particular record at the same time?
No. You will need to make a separate application for a certificate of the same entry.
Q10. Can I amend or cancel my PDF application?
You will not be able to amend or cancel your online PDF application once it has been submitted.
PDF: Other Services
Q1. Will people still be able to order a certificate?
Q1. Will people still be able to order a certificate?
Yes. Certificates will continue to be available as they are now.
How to apply for a Multilingual Standard Form (MSF)
Q1. Why has a Multilingual Standard Form (MSF) been introduced?
Q2. What will a Multilingual Standard Form (MSF) do?
Q3. How will the Multilingual Standard Form (MSF) benefit me?
Q4. What certificates will a Multilingual Standard Form (MSF) be available for?
Q5. How do I apply for a Multilingual Standard Form (MSF) and certificate? What supporting documentation do I need to supply?
Q6. If I don't have the index reference number what will happen?
Q7. What information do I need to apply online?
Q8. How much will a Multilingual Standard Form (MSF) and certificate cost me?
Q9. What is a Certificate of No Impediment?
Q10. What supporting documentation do I need to supply when ordering a Certificate of No Impediment (CONI) Multilingual Standard Form (MSF)?
Q11. How much will a Certificate of No Impediment (CONI) MSF cost me?
Q12. What information will I see on an MSF?
Q13. Is there an alternative route if I cannot apply online?
Q14. How long will it take to process my Multilingual Standard Form (MSF) order?
Q15. How do I order a certificate and Multilingual Standard Form (MSF) for recent events e.g. Marriage or Birth?
Q16. What will the Multilingual Standard Form (MSF) look like?
Q1. Why has a Multilingual Standard Form (MSF) been introduced?
On 6 July 2016, the European Parliament adopted Regulation (EU) 2016/1191 on promoting the free movement of citizens by simplifying the requirements for presenting certain public documents in the European Union. To comply with European Union legal requirements, the UK as an EU Member State is required to produce and offer customers a new product: a Multilingual Standard Form (MSF).
The Registrar General for England and Wales has the authority to provide an MSF that corresponds to a civil registration record held or issued by him and also for Certificates of No Impediments (CONI’s) (issued by a Superintendent Registrar employed by local authorities) for a fee.
The MSF will translate specified fields from a civil registration certificate into the official language of the desired EU Member country e.g. birth certificate translated in to German if required by a customer.
Q2. What will a Multilingual Standard Form (MSF) do?
This form will translate specified fields from your certificate of a civil registration record held or issued by the Registrar General for England & Wales and for Certificates of No Impediments (CONI’s) (issued by a Superintendent Registrar employed by local authorities) into the official EU language that you require.
Q3. How will the Multilingual Standard Form (MSF) benefit me?
The MSF replaces the requirement for a certified translation if it meets the requirements of the EU Member State.
Q4. What certificates will a Multilingual Standard Form (MSF) be available for?
The General Register Office will provide MSFs for the following certificates of records held or issued on behalf of the Registrar General for England & Wales as detailed below:
- birth certificates
- marriage certificates
- civil partnership certificates
- certificates of entries in the Adopted Children's Register
- certificates of entries in the Parental Order Register
- certificates of entries in the Gender Recognition Register
- death certificate (including presumption of death)
- certificate of no impediment (CONI)
- marine birth and death certificates
- aircraft birth and deaths certificates
- British Forces birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates
- British Consul or High Commission birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates
Q5. How do I apply for a Multilingual Standard Form (MSF) and certificate? What supporting documentation do I need to supply?
For MSF and certificate applications, you can apply online via our ordering service, as outlined on 'How to get started ordering online'.
You cannot order the following MSF’s online:
- A certificate from the Parental Order Register
- A certificate from the Gender Recognition Register
- A presumed death certificate
- A certificate of no impediment
Q6. If I don't have the GRO index reference number what will happen?
If you do not provide the GRO index reference with your certificate and MSF application an additional search fee of £3.00 will be payable for each record that requires GRO to index on your behalf.
Q7. What information do I need to apply online?
To apply online you will need details from within the civil registration record or a GRO index reference number. You will be prompted to supply further details for more recent births and deaths (within the last 50 years) as you complete the online application form.
If you are unable to complete the mandatory fields, then you will not be able to apply online. Please contact us on +44(0) 300 123 1837 for further information.
Q8. How much will a Multilingual Standard Form (MSF) and certificate cost me?
In line with certificate fees an MSF and a certificate will cost you £22.00. This cost is made up of £11 for the certificate and £11 for the MSF. There are also additional administration fees that could apply depending on how an application for a MSF is made and what information is provided.
Q9. What is a Certificate of No Impediment (CONI)?
If you are a UK national getting married or entering in to a civil partnership outside the UK, you may be asked to provide a CONI. A CONI states that there are no known impediments for a person to get married or enter into a civil partnership. If you require a CONI MSF, please contact us on +44(0) 300 123 1837 for further information.
Q10. What supporting documentation do I need to supply when ordering a Certificate of No Impediment (CONI) Multilingual Standard Form (MSF)?
If you require a CONI MSF, you will need to follow our telephone ordering process. Please contact us on +44(0) 300 123 1837 for further information.
Q11. How much will a Certificate of No Impediment (CONI) MSF cost me?
In line with new fees an MSF for a CONI will cost you £11.00.
Q12. What information will I see on an MSF?
In line with the regulation, the MSF will display translations of the specified fields within the relevant civil registration certificate or CONI.
Q13. Is there an alternative route if I cannot apply online?
Customer orders and associated payments can be placed over the phone in certain circumstances. For further information please contact us on +44(0) 300 123 1837.
Q14. How long will it take to process my Multilingual Standard Form (MSF) order?
All orders will take 15 working days to process. The first working day is when all appropriate documents have been received by the General Register Office.
Q15. How do I order a certificate and Multilingual Standard Form (MSF) for recent events e.g. Marriage or Birth?
Applications for certificates and MSFs of events registered within the last 6 months (for marriages this period is extended to 18 months) cannot be made via this site. Please contact us on +44(0) 300 123 1837 for further information.
Q16. What will the Multilingual Standard Form (MSF) look like?
The MSF will be printed on standard sheets of A4 white paper, with no watermark or Authority seal or stamp attached and will include a subset of data relating to the certificate it is provided for. The form will have no standalone evidential value.
How to order a commemorative marriage certificate
Q1. What is a commemorative marriage certificate?
Q2. How much does a commemorative certificate cost?
Q3. What does a commemorative certificate look like?
Q4. Can I place my order in advance?
Q5. How long will delivery take?
Q6. Can I order a belated Commemorative Certificate?
Q7. Can the Commemorative Certificate be delivered in advance to me (the applicant) as I will be taking it to a party?
Q8. Can the Commemorative Certificate be delivered direct to the celebrants?
Q1. What is a commemorative marriage certificate?
Commemorative marriage certificates feature the original marriage details and are mounted within a presentation box. You can order special commemorative certificates for Silver (25th), Ruby (40th), Golden (50th) and Diamond (60th) wedding anniversaries as gifts or keepsakes.
Q2. How much does a commemorative certificate cost?The commemorative marriage certificate fee is £35.00 (which includes postage and packaging). You will receive an individually finished commemorative certificate delivered in a presentation package to the address of your choice.
If you do not provide a GRO index reference with your application for the record/s required then an additional administration charge of £3.00 will be payable.
Q3. What does a commemorative certificate look like?Printed on specially designed certificates, commemorative marriage certificates feature the original marriage details and are mounted within a presentation box.
Download an example of a commemorative marriage certificate
Your order may be placed no more than 8 weeks in advance.
Q5. How long will delivery take?Your order will be despatched within the delivery time scale specified when you place your order. We ask that you place your order at least 10 working days before the required date.
Q6. Can I order a belated Commemorative Certificate?Yes, see Q5 for delivery time.
Q7. Can the Commemorative Certificate be delivered in advance to me (the applicant) as I will be taking it to a party?Yes, please see Q4 and Q5.
Q8. Can the Commemorative Certificate be delivered direct to the celebrants?Yes, delivery details of your order will need to be amended on the 'Delivery Address Page' when placing your order. Also see Q5.
Important information on delivery times and policies
Q1. When will my certificate or MSF be despatched?
Q2. How will my certificate or MSF be delivered?
Q3. Can I have a copy of the certificate emailed to me?
Q4. How long will my certificate take to reach me?
Q5. Will I receive a refund if my application is unsuccessful?
Q6. Can I cancel or amend my order once I've made it?
Q7. Can I order a certificate for events which have taken place during the last 50 years?
Q1. When will my certificate or MSF be despatched?When you place your order online, the estimated date of despatch will be displayed in the basket summary. Please note - this is not the date that you will receive the certificate or MSF. The despatch date is the date that it is aimed to be posted out from GRO.
The target dates for despatch are shown below
| Standard Service | Despatch target once order received | Priority Service | Despatch target once order received | |
| Full or short certificate with GRO index supplied | £11.00 | Four working days | £35.00 | Next working day if ordered before 4pm |
| Full or short certificate without GRO index (where GRO index on customers behalf) | £14.00 | Fifteen working days | £38.00 | Next working day if ordered before 4pm |
| Additional certificate issued at same time | £11.00 | £35.00 |
| Registration certificate (and MSF) | £11.00 & £11.00 (MSF) | Fifteen working days |
| MSF of a Certificate of No Impediment (CONI) (once all documents received by GRO) | £11.00 | Fifteen working days |
Service levels
Priority – despatched on the next working day from receipt of order, if received before 4pm. In Royal Mail First Class post. The priority service is not available where a MSF is ordered.
Standard – despatched on the fourth working day from receipt of order, or the fifteenth working day when no reference number is quoted.
Applications may be made on a Saturday or Sunday, but will not be processed until the following Monday.
Royal Mail Next Day Delivery – despatched on the next working day from receipt of order, Delivered via Royal Mail Special Delivery to arrive by 1pm the day after despatch. (Only available on Priority Orders)
Royal Mail Saturday 9am – Delivered via Royal Mail Special Delivery to arrive by 9am on a Saturday. (Only available on Priority Orders)
DHL Overseas Delivery – despatched on the next working day from receipt of order, to be delivered worldwide outside of the UK within 7 working days of despatch. (Only available on Priority Orders) Q2. How will my certificate or MSF be delivered?
Your certificate will be despatched by post using standard postal services. For customers overseas, airmail postage is included in the fees quoted. Unless you select any of the additional delivery methods shown in Q1 Service Levels.
Q3. Can I have a copy of the certificate emailed to me?Information supplied by the General Register Office can only be given in the form of a certified copy (certificate), or a MSF. We are unable to email or fax the details to you.
Q4. How long will my certificate take to reach me?Target dates for despatch are as above (See Q1).
Q5. Will I receive a refund if my application is unsuccessful? GRO will provide a partial refund if the application is unsuccessful. A fee of £3.50 will be retained from the certificate fee by GRO on refunding the certificate fee for each record we are unable to produce. A refund will be made directly to your credit/debit card account via the Worldpay payment service provider. A letter or email of explanation will also be sent to you. Please do not contact the General Register Office to enquire about any refund made until you have received and read this letter/email.
Additional administration costs if not applying online, or not providing a GRO index reference if available, are non-refundable as these cover the extra costs incurred to process the application.
You cannot cancel or amend an order once it has been submitted. Orders feed directly into our production process, leaving us unable to stop the system. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and ask you to check your application carefully, before submitting your order.
Q7. Can I order a certificate for events which have taken place during the last 50 years?GRO has a policy in place where full identifying information is requested for applications where the event occurred in the last 50 years. You will be prompted to supply this information when you order online and in the case of births, will be asked for the forename and surname recorded in the entry, the date and place of birth, father's full name (if shown in the entry) and mother's forename and maiden name (if applicable).
Problems with passwords, emails, GRO historic online indexes and the order form
Q1. I have forgotten my password.
Q2. My current password or email address is not recognised
Q3. I've changed my email address. How can I alter my details?
Q4. Why do I have trouble receiving emails from the General Register Office?
Q5. How do I change my password?
Q6. Why do I keep returning to the order summary page when trying to checkout?
Q7. I am unable to return to your site after making payment. Is my order completed?
Q8. When trying to pay I receive a message saying my card details are invalid.
Q9. What should I do if an Exception Report error message is displayed?
Q10. What should I do if there is an error in the online GRO historical indexes
Q1. I have forgotten my password.
Please see Forgotten your password. If you know your password but wish to change it, see Q5.
You will be sent a link via email to allow you to choose a new password. Please allow up to an hour for this email to arrive and check your SPAM/Junk Mail folders if it does not appear in your inbox.
The email from the General Register Office (GRO) is sent by col.admin@gro.gov.uk so you may wish to add this to your trusted contacts list.
Please also note that occasionally, an error message appears when users attempt to input their email address using the forgotten password method. Please allow a few minutes after receiving this message, as a password reset email should still have been forwarded to your mailbox.
If you have changed your email address you will need to re-register your account on the online ordering page using the new email address.
Alternatively if you wish to place an order please telephone our Contact Centre on +44 (0)300 123 1837. Our agents are available Monday to Friday 08:00 hrs - 20:00 hrs (GMT) - Saturday 09:00 hrs – 16:00 hrs (GMT).
Having cookies disabled on your internet browser may cause problems when attempting to log in. Please check that cookies are enabled for this site.
Check that any 0s and Os, 1s and Is (Zeros and letter O or Ones and letter I) in your password are not confused. Please note that passwords are case sensitive.
You will need to set up a new account with your new email address.
Q4. Why do I have trouble receiving emails from GRO?See Q5. Why do I have problems receiving emails from GRO?
Q5. How do I change my password?To change a password, follow the instructions below:
- Go to the login page
- Type in your user name and current password.
If you have forgotten your password please see Q1. - Once logged on go to 'My Details' section. This can be accessed via the link in the right hand navigation.
- From here you can change your password.
- Remember, your password must be a minimum of 8 characters and contain at least 1 character from 3 or more of the following types, Upper-case Letters, Lower-case Letters, Numbers and Special Characters.
Some customers using Firewall software on their PC's are unable to proceed through the checkout whilst their firewall is activated. In case of difficulties, please contact your firewall provider for advice.
Q7. I am unable to return to your site after making payment. Is my order completed?As long as you have received the confirmation of payment email message, then your order was completed and will be processed.
Q8. When trying to pay I receive a message saying my card details are invalid.If your order is still shown in the basket summary, please try to make payment again via the payment provider website. Please check that you have provided the correct details on your credit or debit card.
Q9. What should I do if an Exception Report error message is displayed?Exception reports indicate that an error has occurred - To prevent this please ensure you do not use the BACK button on your browser.
Errors are normally caused by minor problems (or using the back button) that can be resolved quickly so you can try placing an order online again. But please be aware that your basket may be locked out for a period of time (see Q7). If you are still receiving an error message after half an hour please send us the details so we can investigate the problem.
If you need to place an order urgently you can contact us by telephone on +44 (0)300 123 1837 (8am to 8pm Monday to Friday. Saturday 9am to 4pm).
We are aware that some users have reported intermittent problems using the site between 5:00am and 5:30am (GMT/BST) when routine maintenance is being carried out. We apologise for any inconvenience caused and are investigating ways to improve the situation.
Please use the online index error form to report details of the error, which is located at the bottom of the search results page. All reports will be investigated and where an error is found, we will update the index to reflect the correct information. Updates to the indexes will be made on a weekly basis. Once we have finished investigating the record you have reported we will update the status of your query which can be viewed here.
Problems with your order
Q1. What should I do if I have not received my certificate?
Q2. I am not happy with the certificate you have sent me or the service I have received.
Q1. What should I do if I have not received my certificate?
Please allow at least 5 working days from the estimated date of despatch for delivery before you contact us or 10 working days if you live overseas. If you still haven't received your certificate after this time, please use our online form to send us a message. When you submit this form it will generate an email to us with the details you have supplied. We will respond to your email within 5 working days.
Please note that you should report the non receipt of a certificate within three months.
Use our online form to send us a message. When you submit this form it will generate an email to us with the details you have supplied. We will respond to your email within 5 working days.
Please note that any problems with your order must be reported to GRO within three months.