There is a legal requirement to register the birth of your child within 42 days of the birth. You are required to register the birth in the borough in which the baby was born.
Babies born in Northwick Park Hospital must be registered in Brent. You will need a birth certificate when you come to apply for a British passport for your child.
Registering a birth
To register a birth you will need to:
- register the birth within 42 days of the birth.
- check if the birth took place in the borough of Harrow
- book an appointment with the Register office.
Babies born in Northwick Park hospital
Northwick Park Hospital is in the borough of Brent. Babies born in Northwick Park Hospital must be registered at Brent's Register office.
Babies born outside the borough of Harrow
If your baby was born outside the borough, you may still register the birth with us. You will not get your baby's certificate at your appointment.
Instead, the details of the birth will be sent to the borough of birth. This council will issue your birth certificate and post it to you. There is no fee for making the declaration at Harrow. The issuing borough will charge a fee for the certificate.
Who can register a birth?
- the baby's mother
- either of the parents if they are married at the time of the birth
- the mother and father together if they are not married to each other at the time of the birth.
What do I need to bring or provide at the appointment?
- The date and place of birth. For more than one birth such as twins, we need also to know the times of each birth.
- The first name and surname of the baby.
- The mother's full name at the time of the child's birth and maiden name (if applicable).
- The mother's date and place of birth.
- The mother's occupation if she was employed at any time before the birth.
- The father's full name (where these details are to be entered in the register).
- The father's date and place of birth.
- The father's occupation at the time of birth. If he wasn't working at the time his previous occupation.
- The date of marriage. This is if the parents were married to each other at the time of the birth. We will ask for the date of the marriage.
- The number of children the mother has. This is if the mother has had any children before the new birth.
What certificates will I receive?
If your baby was born in the borough of Harrow we will issue a birth certificate at a cost of £12.50.
If your baby was born outside the borough, you will not get any documents at your appointment. The birth certificate will be sent to you by post by the relevant borough.
Can I use an interpreter?
If you need help with registration, you can ask a friend to go with you.
How much does it cost to register a birth?
Each birth certificate costs £12.50. Please note that we only accept card payments. We do not accept cash, cheques or postal orders.
How can I correct a birth certificate?
If you need to fix a birth certificate after registration, you will be charged. To find out how much it will cost see the list of Register office charges.