Register a birth

When you have a baby, you must register their birth within 42 days (6 weeks) of the date of birth.

If your baby was born in the London Borough of Newham, you can register their birth at Newham Register Office.

Birth registrations are by appointment only.

Who can register a birth?

If the parents are married or in a civil partnership with each other

Either parent can attend and register the birth on their own, provided they were married or in a civil partnership with each other at the time of the birth or conception.

Please bring your marriage or civil partnership certificate, if available.

If the parents are not married or in a civil partnership with each other

Both parents must attend the appointment if they want both parents' details recorded on the birth certificate.
The mother can register the birth on her own, but the father's details will not be included.
The father's details may be added later through a re-registration.
If one parent cannot attend, special arrangements may be possible, such as completing a statutory declaration.

In some circumstances, someone other than the parents may be able to register the birth.

If neither parent can attend, or you need advice about registering without the other parent, please contact us before booking.

For more information, visit Who can register a birth – GOV.UK.

What to bring to your appointment

Important: New identity evidence requirements from 9 November 2026

Under the new General Register Office requirements, everyone registering or re-registering a birth must provide evidence of their identity.

If both parents attend to register the birth jointly, each parent must provide their own identity evidence

You must bring either:

ONE document from List A (primary evidence), or
TWO documents from List B (secondary evidence).

List A – Primary evidence (bring ONE document)

You can bring any one of the following:

Passport (UK or overseas, including passports expired within the last 18 months)
UK biometric immigration document, including digital immigration status (eVisa)
UK driving licence (full or provisional, photocard or accepted digital evidence)
EU driving licence
EU national identity card
UK birth certificate (full or short)
UK adoption certificate
UK-issued travel document
UK refugee travel document
UK stateless person travel document
PASS proof-of-age card (physical or accepted digital version)

List B – Secondary evidence (bring TWO documents)

If you do not have a document from List A, you must bring two documents from the following:

Utility bill (gas, electricity, water, landline or broadband – not a mobile phone bill)
Council Tax bill or statement
Bank or building society statement
Mortgage statement
Credit card statement
Marriage or civil partnership certificate
P45 or P60
HMRC letter or tax notification
DWP benefits, pension or tax credit entitlement letter
Letter or document from a government agency
NHS letter or document, including an appointment or discharge letter
Child health record (red book)
Police or Armed Forces identity card
Signed firearms certificate
Proof of Royal Mail Redirection
Local authority document, such as a tenancy or housing benefit letter
Proof of State Pension
School or college letter (for those aged 16 to 19)

Many secondary documents can be presented in paper or digital form.

If you cannot provide the required identity documents, please contact Newham Register Office before your appointment for advice.

Other documents to bring

In addition to identity evidence, please bring the following, if available:

Your baby's NHS number, for example, on the hospital birth notification, discharge paperwork or red book.
Marriage or civil partnership certificate, if the parents are married or in a civil partnership.
Evidence of a change of name, such as a deed poll, if applicable.
Any relevant court order or statutory declaration relating to parentage.

These documents help the registrar check the details and complete the registration correctly.

Information you will need to provide

During the appointment, the registrar will ask you for information about your baby and the parents.

Your baby's details:

Full name (forenames and surname)
Date of birth
Place of birth
Sex
Time of birth, if the birth was part of a multiple birth (twins, triplets, etc.)

Parents' details:

Full names
Dates and places of birth
Home address
Occupations
Mother's maiden name (birth surname)
Any previous names, where relevant

Please check that all information is correct before confirming the registration.

Important: Errors discovered after the registration has been completed may require a formal correction application and a fee of up to £99 (Further information can be found on the GOV.UK website under 'Correct a birth registration: What corrections can be made'.)

Birth certificates and fees

Birth registration is free.

You can purchase full birth certificates for £12.50 per copy.

You can order certificates when booking your appointment.

A full birth certificate includes the child's details and the parents' details recorded in the birth entry. It may be required for passport applications and other official purposes.

If your baby was born outside Newham

If your baby was born outside the London Borough of Newham, the birth must be registered by the register office responsible for the area where the baby was born.

You can make a birth declaration at the Newham Register Office. At your appointment, we will take the details of the birth and send them to the relevant register office.

That office will complete the registration. You will then need to order any birth certificates directly from them.

Please note:

Newham cannot issue birth certificates for babies born outside the borough.
The registration and issue of certificates may take longer when you use the declaration service.
We recommend registering directly with the register office where your baby was born, where possible, to avoid delays.

You can find the appropriate register office using Find a register office – GOV.UK.

If your baby was born in Scotland, Northern Ireland or outside the United Kingdom, different registration arrangements apply.

If your baby is more than 42 days old

By law, a birth should be registered within 42 days.

If your baby is older than 42 days and you have not yet registered the birth, please book the earliest available appointment.

If the birth has not been registered within 12 months, additional procedures and authorisation from the General Register Office may be required.

Please contact us for advice if your baby's birth is more than 12 months old and has not been registered.

If you need an interpreter

If you do not speak or understand English well enough to complete the registration, please bring someone who can interpret for you.

If both unmarried parents are registering the birth together, they should arrange an independent interpreter rather than interpreting for each other.

Please contact us before your appointment if you need further advice.

Contact Newham Register Office

If you have questions about registering a birth, the documents you need or who can attend the appointment, please contact us:

Email: register.office@newham.gov.uk

Address: East Ham Town Hall, 324 Barking Road, East Ham, London E6 2RP

For further information about birth registration, visit Register a birth – GOV.UK.

Customer Survey

After attending your appointment, please fill in our customer survey below. We are always interested in your feedback and ideas and appreciate your comments.