How to register a birth in Northern Ireland

• Who can register a birth in Northern Ireland
• Where can the birth be registered?
• What information is recorded?
• What will the registrar give you?
• Where to next?

Who can register a birth in Northern Ireland

• The mother or father of the baby - if you are a married couple. However, in the case of a child born outside marriage, the name of the father may only be recorded in the entry of birth if both parents attend and sign the registration together. N.B. if either parent not available seek advice from Registrar.
• Grandmother of the baby
• Uncle of the baby
• Grandfather of the baby
• Aunt of the baby
• Occupier of the premises where baby was born
• Any person present at the birth
• Any person having charge of the child

Where can the birth be registered?

• In Maternity Hospitals - the registrar attends at the hospitals on certain days of the week
• In the Registrar's Office either in the district where the birth took place or in the district where the mother normally lives.

What information is recorded?

A "Notice to Mothers" form is filled in by the person registering the birth (usually the mother). The information on this form (full name of the baby, full name, date of birth of the parents, full addresses, occupations) is then used by the Registrar to complete the birth registration. Some of the information collected is for statistical purposes only, is strictly confidential and does not appear on the birth certificate.

Please note that a registration cannot easily be changed once completed.

What will the registrar give you?

Once the registration is completed, the Registrar will issue the following forms:

• HS123 Infant Registration Card to register with family doctor and obtain medical card
• 1 free short birth certificate will be issued automatically at the time of registration

Further certified copies - either Short or Full copies may be purchased from the Registrar at the time of registration or up to three years later.

Information from General Register Office of Northern Ireland

Where to next?

• Visit our baby names finder to help with choosing a name for your baby
• Find out how to register baby in:
• England or Wales
• Scotland
• The Republic of Ireland
• Find out what to do if you haven't decided on a name yet
• Considering a Christening or baby naming ceremony? Learn more here