Register a birth

How to register a birth

A baby born in Scotland can be registered in any Registrars office in Scotland. Births cannot be registered in Scotland unless the baby was born in Scotland.

A birth must be registered within 21 days of the baby being born.

You must bring with you the birth card provided by the hospital where baby was born.  If you do not have the birth card, we may be unable to register the birth of your baby.

How do I register a birth?

From September 2022 the Law in Scotland has changed. Births are now registered remotely.

Remote registration, involves the registration taking place with the parent(s) and the registrar via the telephone. Your registration documents will be posted to you. Before the remote registration can take place a photo of the birth card will have to be emailed to the registrar.

Who can register a birth?

• If the birth took place in Scotland and the baby's parents are married to each other or in a registered civil partnership, either parent can register the birth.

• If the parents are neither married to each other nor in a registered civil partnership they must attend the registrar's office together to have the father/parent name appear on the birth entry.

• If the birth is registered by just the mother the other parent's details will not be shown unless a statutory declaration has been signed in the presence of a Justice of the peace, a notary public or some other person authorised by law to administer oaths. Please contact the Registrar's office for further advice.

Same sex parent's details can only be inserted in the register if the provisions of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 apply. 

For more information see the Human Fertilisation Embryology Authority website.

Booking an appointment

Most registration services are by appointment only, for further information please contact us.