The birth registration process

For births that occurred in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames

After your baby has been registered, we will issue a short birth certificate, which is free of charge. This shows just the baby's details on it and is not accepted by the Passport Office.

We can also issue a full birth certificate but there is a charge of £3.50 per copy. You can obtain more than one copy if you wish. This shows the baby's details along with the parents details and this is necessary for a passport.

The fee for the certificates can be paid by cash or by cheque made payable to London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.

If in the future you require further copies of the certificate, this is the office you need to apply to.

For births that occurred outside of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames

If your baby was born outside of the borough, the birth will need to be registered at the Register Office for the district in which the

birth occurred.

However, if it is difficult for you to visit the appropriate office you may attend this office and we will take the details from you and we will post them to the relevant office, the birth will not be registered with Richmond upon Thames Register Office.

This procedure is known as a birth declaration.

You will need to make an appointment to give a birth declaration. Telephone 020 8940 2651 or 020 8940 2853, or email registeroffice@richmond.gov.uk.

For example:

If your baby was born at Kingston Hospital, the birth will need to be registered at Kingston Register Office, however if you come to this office, we will take the details and post them to Kingston Register Office, they will register the birth and issue the certificate(s).

After you have given the details to us, we will post the paperwork to the relevant office. The baby will then be registered by that office. This process will take approximately 10 days.

You will not be issued with any certificates from the Richmond upon Thames Register Office. The certificate(s) will be posted to you by the office registering the birth.

You will be sent the short birth certificate, which is free of charge. This shows just the baby's details on it and is not accepted by the Passport Office.

If you require a full birth certificate there is a charge of £3.50 per copy. You can order more than one copy if you wish. This shows the baby's details along with the parents details and is necessary for a passport.

If you require the full birth certificate(s), you will need to bring a cheque or postal order for us to post it to the relevant office, along with the paperwork. They will then send you the full birth certificate(s) once they have registered the birth.

We will advise you who to make the cheque or postal order payable to when you come in.

If in the future you require further copies of the certificate, you will need to apply to the register office in the district in which the birth occurred.

Richmond upon Thames Register Office will not hold any details to produce a certificate for you.