Register a birth

How to book

Birth registration is now open by pre-booked appointment only.

Your appointment will take place at:

Islington Town Hall,
Upper Street,
London
N1 2UD.

Please do not attend Islington Town Hall without an appointment as we will be unable to see you.

Please read the information on this page carefully before booking your appointment. It tells you who can register a birth, what to bring to the appointment and the fee for each birth certificate.

Book appointment

We can register home or hospital births in the borough of Islington as well as the City of London, this refers to the area in London known as the Square Mile and not London as an entire city. Please view a map to check.

Who can register

If parents are married or in a civil partnership at the time of birth or conception, either parent can register the birth on their own.

If parents are not married at the time of birth or conception:

• both parents must attend and sign the birth register together if both parents want to be listed on the birth certificate.
• the mother can register without the father but the father's details will not be included on the birth certificate - you can the father's details at a later date by re-registering the birth
• if one parent cannot attend the birth registration but wants to be included on the birth certificate, that parent will need to complete a statutory declaration form - the form must be attested to by a legal professional (such as a solicitor). Where there is a parental responsibility agreement in force or either parent has an appropriate court order, tis can be presented when registering.

If neither parent can attend, or you have a parenthood agreement document please email registrars@islington.gov.uk to discuss this before you book an appointment.

If the parent registering the birth does not speak or understand English, they need to bring someone with them to the appointment who can translate for them. Unmarried parents cannot translate for each other - in this case, a third person must be the translator.

Details you will need at your appointment

During the appointment, the registrar will ask you about these details.

Baby

• forename(s) and surname

• sex

• date of birth

• place of birth

• time of birth for each baby if it was a multiple birth

Parents

• forenames and surnames

• places of birth

• the mother's address

• the parents' occupations

• the mother's birth surname.

Confirming the details are correct

• It is very important that the information is recorded correctly on the birth certificate.
• We will ask you to check the birth entry before signing the certificate to say the certificate details are correct.
• Any errors in the information you give will cost up to £99 to change after you have signed the certificate. You can find out more information by going to our birth registration correction page.

Documents you will need to bring

• Official paperwork with the baby’s NHS number on, such as the notification of birth or red book.

It is also useful to bring:

• the parents' passports

• the parents' marriage or civil partnership certificate (if you have one).

Fee

Per copy of the birth certificate: £12.50

You can apply for copies online when booking the appointment.

You can also buy copies at the office when you attend the appointment but please note:

• we only accept a physical credit or debit card
• you cannot pay by contactless or Apple Pay, American Express, bank transfer, cash or cheques.