Important Information Regarding Declaration Appointments
Significant changes to the registration of births and deaths across England and Wales will come into effect on Monday 9 November 2026.
To help ensure a smooth transition and minimise any disruption during the implementation period, we will not be offering declaration appointments for births, deaths or stillbirths during the weeks commencing 2 November 2026 and 9 November 2026.
If you need to register a birth, death or stillbirth that occurred outside the area, we recommend contacting the local register office where the event took place to discuss the registration process and available appointment options.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and thank you for your understanding while these changes are introduced.
Congratulations on the birth of your baby!
Now that your baby has been born, the birth must be registered within 42 days of the date of birth.
See detailed information about the legal requirements for registering a birth on GOV.UK, including who can register a birth, which depends on whether the baby's parents were married or in a civil partnership at the time of the birth.
See more information about registering a birth, amending details on your birth certificate, and naming your child:
- Attending your appointment at York Register Office
- Registering a birth
- Interpreters and translation support
- Proving your identity
- Birth declarations and re-registrations
- Birth certificates
- Correct a birth registration
- Remove wrong father's details
- Change the name of your child
- Naming ceremonies
Attending your appointment at York Register Office
We ask that you keep the following arrangements in mind:
- where baby’s natural parents were married/in a civil partnership at the date of baby’s birth, either or both parents may attend
- where baby’s natural parents were not married/in a civil partnership at the date of baby’s birth, the mother must attend and a second parent can only be included on the registration if they also attend
- admittance is strictly by appointment at the allocated time, we will not be able to accommodate people who are late
- birth registration appointments are held at York Register Office, 56 Bootham, York, YO30 7DA
- if you have a pushchair with you, you might like to use the rear entrance to the building, to avoid the steps at the front
Please bring photo ID with you if possible, for all parents to be named on the registration.
If you’re delayed more than 5 minutes you'll not be seen as your appointment slot will have passed and the registrar will move on to the next appointment. You'll have to reschedule your appointment.
See for details of fees relating to birth certificates.
Registering a birth
During your appointment to register a birth you must provide details of:
- place and date of the birth
- sex of the baby
- baby's name and surname, normally the mother or father's surname; but once decided this can only be changed by re-registering a birth
- parents' names, surnames and address
- places and dates of parents' birth
- date of parents' marriage or civil partnership
- parents' jobs
- mother's maiden surname
Interpreters and translation support
If you have difficulty speaking or understanding English, you may bring a friend or family member to interpret for you during your appointment.
Please note: If the baby's parents were not married to each other at the time of the birth, they cannot act as interpreters for one another. In this situation, you will need to bring another person to interpret.
If you're unable to bring a friend or family member, we can arrange interpretation through LanguageLine during your appointment.
When booking your birth registration appointment, please select "Yes" when asked if you require an interpreter. This applies whether you are bringing your own interpreter or using LanguageLine. Selecting "Yes" allows us to schedule a longer appointment to accommodate interpretation.
If you arrive with an interpreter, or need to use LanguageLine, but did not indicate this when booking, there will not be enough time to complete your registration. In this case, you would be asked to reschedule your appointment so that additional time can be allocated.
Proving your identity
Before 8 November 2026
If you’re registering a birth on or before 8 November 2026, we recommend bringing one of the following documents:
- passport
- birth certificate
- deed poll
- driving licence
- proof of address (for example, a utility bill)
- Council Tax bill
- marriage or civil partnership certificate
After 8 November 2026
If you’re registering a birth on or after 9 November 2026 it will be mandatory for you to bring documentation to verify your identity.
If you are attending with your partner and are not married or in a civil partnership, then both attendees will need to bring documentation to verify their identity.
To prove identification all parents who will register will need to bring:
- 1 document from the Primary evidence list, or
- 2 documents from the Secondary evidence list
Primary evidence list:
Descriptions given are examples and are not exhaustive.
| Document type | Format | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Passport | Physical document Booklet |
Booklet-style identity and travel document. Cover colours and internal layouts vary by country and issuing authority. Expired passports may be accepted up to 18 months after the date of expiry. Applies to UK and overseas passports. |
| UK biometric immigration document | Physical or digital document | May be a durable plastic document similar in size to a credit card, or an online immigration status record viewed through the eVisa service. |
| UK valid travel document | Physical document Booklet |
Black cover booklet-style travel document, similar in format to a UK passport. |
| UK Refugee Travel Document Issued under Article 28 of the 1951 Geneva Convention |
Physical document Booklet |
Blue cover booklet-style travel document, similar in format to a UK passport. |
| UK Stateless Person Travel Document. Issued under Article 28 of the 1954 Geneva Convention | Physical document Booklet |
Red cover booklet-style travel document, similar in format to a UK passport. |
| UK driving licence (full or provisional) | Physical or digital document | Photocard driving licence in a durable plastic format, similar in size to a credit card. Driving licence information may also be viewed or shared through the DVLA online service. The paper counterpart driving licence is not acceptable. |
| UK birth certificate | Physical document | Full or short birth certificate issued by the relevant authority. |
| UK adoption certificate | Physical document | Adoption certificate issued by the relevant authority. |
| EU driving licence | Physical document | Photocard driving licence in a durable plastic format, similar in size to a credit card. |
| EU Member State identity card | Physical document | Photo identity document in a durable plastic format, similar in size to a credit card. |
| Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS) card | Physical or digital document | Photo proof-of-age identity document in a durable plastic format, similar in size to a credit card. A digital PASS option may also be available through an accredited provider. |
Secondary evidence list:
Descriptions given are examples and are not exhaustive.
| Document type | Format | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Utility bill - not mobile phone bill | Physical or digital document | Electricity, gas, water, landline telephone or broadband bill. |
| Council tax statement | Physical or digital document | Council tax bill, statement or related council tax correspondence issued by a local authority. |
| Bank or building society statement | Physical or digital document | Statement issued by a bank or building society. |
| Mortgage statement | Physical or digital document | Statement issued by a mortgage provider. |
| Credit card statement | Physical or digital document | Statement issued by a credit card provider. |
| State benefit, pension or tax credit entitlement from DWP/HMRC | Physical or digital document | Evidence confirming entitlement to a state or child benefit, pension or tax credit, Carer’s Allowance, Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Employment and Support Allowance, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Pension Credit or Attendance Allowance. HMRC tax code notices, Self Assessment notices, statements and National Insurance correspondence |
| P45 or P60 | Physical or digital document | Employment tax document. These are often issued electronically, but a paper copy may also be provided. |
| Marriage or civil partnership certificate | Physical document only for UK certificates | Paper certificate for UK marriage or civil partnership entries. Overseas marriage or civil partnership evidence may be presented in paper form or, where applicable, through a digital route. |
| Letter from a government agency | Physical or digital document | UK government department, agency or public body. Tenancy, housing benefit, vehicle tax, citizenship, electoral registration, jury service, Carer’s Allowance or higher education correspondence. |
| Letter from the National Health Service (NHS) | Physical or digital document | Appointment, referral or discharge letters, a child health record (“red book”) or fit note. |
| HMRC notification (or successor body) |
Physical or digital document | HMRC correspondence issued in relation to tax or related matters, such as National Insurance contributions, Tax Credits or tax overpayments. |
| Police or Armed Forces ID | Physical document | For UK police and Armed Forces IDs, this is usually a photo identity document in a durable plastic format, similar in size to a credit card. Overseas police or forces ID documents may differ. |
| Signed firearms certificate | Physical document | A4 paper certificate with security features and a photograph. Firearm and Registered Firearms Dealer certificates should be printed on blue paper. Shotgun certificates should be printed on buff/beige paper. |
| Proof of Royal Mail Redirection | Physical document | Proof or confirmation of a Royal Mail Redirection, normally issued on Royal Mail letterhead. |
| Document issued by the person’s local authority | Physical or digital document | Tenancy agreement, housing benefit correspondence, Blue Badge correspondence, social care notifications or electoral registration letters. |
| Proof of receipt of State Pension | Physical or digital document | Proof benefits and State Pension letter from DWP, or correspondence confirming a State Pension claim or change to entitlement. |
| School or college letter (16 to 19 year olds) |
Physical or digital document | Letter or document issued by a school or college for a young person aged 16 to 19. |
View the full list on GOV.UK: Register a birth - Proving your identity.
Birth declarations and re-registrations
If your child's natural father is not included on the original birth record and you would like the details adding to the record, you must apply to re-register your child's birth.
The process for re-registering your child's birth depends on whether you:
- are not married
- are natural parents and got married or formed a civil partnership
All requests for birth declarations and/or re-registrations must be made by email to: registrar@york.gov.uk. Or you can contact York Register Office and provide the necessary information over the phone.
A registrar will then call you back to arrange your appointment.
Birth certificates
You can order a birth certificate at the time you book your appointment to register a birth, this states the baby's full name and date of birth alongside the parents’ details; you'll need a birth certificate for a passport application, or to open a savings account for your child.
Correct a birth registration
The birth will be recorded in the register, and you'll be asked to carefully check and sign it.
If the incorrect information is recorded, a fee is charged to correct the entry and produce a new certificate. In some cases it won't be possible to change information recorded.
If you notice a mistake in the registration after the appointment, you can apply for a correction. In some cases, the correction will need approval from the General Register Office before the Registrar can change it.
You need to contact York Register Office if you need to amend any information recorded in the register, to discuss the type of correction needed and how to make the application.
Contact us on email: registrar@york.gov.uk stating what the error is and how it was made. Documentary evidence showing the correct information will need to be produced for the correction to be authorised and you will need to return any certificates you previously purchased for destruction.
See details of fees for a correction to a register.
Remove wrong father's details
If you need to apply to remove the wrong father's details recorded on a birth registration, you will need to produce sufficient information to show that the man named on the certificate is not the natural father of the child, such as a DNA test report from an approved tester or a court order.
Contact us on email: registrar@york.gov.uk so we can advise you on how to submit your application and make payment.
The original information will always be shown as it was first given at the time of the registration, but a note will be written in the margin of the register explaining the details of the named man should not have been recorded and the date on which the correction was made.
The correction will not put the true father's details into the birth entry, for this to take place the birth will need to be re-registered.
All certificates issued after the correction will include this note. This is because birth certificates must show the same information as the birth entry.
However, if the birth is re-registered with the true father's details, then this new record will supersede the old record.
See details of fees for a correction to a register.
Change the name of your child
See information on how to change your child's name by deed poll (GOV.UK).
Naming ceremonies
See information on arranging a naming ceremony.
Also see