Register a birth

You must make an appointment to register your baby's birth within 42 days of the child being born.

The birth must be registered at the Register Office in the district in which the birth occurred. However, provision is available for you to attend any office in England and Wales to make a declaration of particulars required for the registration. In this case the birth certificate will be sent to you by post.

We register births of babies born in Manchester and Bolton for Bury residents, due to no maternity hospital being available in Bury. Any applications for a copy birth certificate after the Registration will have to be made to Manchester (Manchester City Council - Buy a copy certficate) or Bolton Register Office (Bolton Council - Certificates).

Who can register the birth

One of the parents if the parents are married to each other
The mother, or the mother and father together if they are not married to each other
Lesbian couples who are civil partners at the time of the conception
Lesbian couples who are not civil partners at the time
You cannot ask a friend or relative to register the birth in your behalf.

If the parents are not married to each other at the time of the birth, the father's details may be entered when the mother and father attend together to register the birth.

When the father is not able to attend, he may make what is called a Statutory Declaration confirming that he is the father. The mother will give this declaration to the Registrar (the form for this declaration is available from any Register Office).

When the mother is not able to attend with the father, she may make a Statutory Declaration confirming the name of the father. The father should give the declaration to the Registrar.

When either parent has a Court Order or Parental Responsibility Agreement in respect of the child the Court Order or Agreement must be handed to the Registrar who will advise on each case as it arises.

Information needed to register your baby

The date and place of baby's birth. If the birth is one of twins, triplets etc. then the time of each baby's birth will also be required
whether the baby is a boy or a girl
the forenames and surname in which it is intended that the baby will be brought up.
Father (where these details are to be entered in the register):
- his forenames and surname
- his date and place of birth
- his occupation at the time of baby's birth or, if he was not employed at that time, the occupation he last had.
Mother:
- her forenames and surname. Her maiden surname will also be required if she is, or has been, married
- her date and place of birth
- her usual address at the date of the birth
- her occupation (optional). If she has been employed at any time before the birth this occupation can be entered in the register if she so wishes.

You must register the birth personally, you cannot ask a relative or friend to attend instead of you.

Proof of identity

If you are making an appointment to register a birth or complete a re-registration that will take place from 9 November 2026, the law is changing regarding providing proof of identify.

The requirement to provide evidence of identity when registering or re-registering a birth applies to all informants. Where the birth is registered jointly, both parents must provide evidence of their identity. The requirement also applies to informants who qualify as being present at the birth, in charge of the child or occupier.

All informants will have to provide one document from List 1 or two documents from list 2. This is a legal requirement, and we cannot register without the correct identity documentation, and we cannot register without it.

Primary list (one document from this list)

Document type	Format	Description (examples include but are not limited to)
Passport (current or expired) Expired passports may be accepted up to 18 months after the date of expiry. Applies to UK and overseas	Physical document or booklet	Booklet-style identity and travel document. Cover colours and internal layouts vary by country and issuing authority.
UK biometric immigration document	Physical or digital document	May be a durable plastic document similar in size to a credit card, or an online immigration status record viewed through the eVisa service.
UK valid travel document	Physical document or booklet	Black cover booklet-style travel document, similar in format to a UK passport.
UK Refugee Travel Document Issued under Article 28 of the 1951 Geneva Convention	Physical document or booklet	Blue cover booklet-style travel document, similar in format to a UK passport.
UK Stateless Person Travel Document Issued under Article 28 of the 1954 Geneva Convention	Physical document or booklet	Red cover booklet-style travel document, similar in format to a UK passport.
UK driving licence (full or provisional) The paper counterpart driving licence is not acceptable.	Physical or digital document	Photocard driving licence in a durable plastic format, similar in size to a credit card. Driving licence information may also be viewed or shared through the DVLA online service.
UK birth certificate	Physical document	Full or short birth certificate issued by the relevant authority.
UK adoption certificate	Physical document	Adoption certificate issued by the relevant authority.
EU driving licence	Physical document	Photocard driving licence in a durable plastic format, similar in size to a credit card.
EU Member State identity card	Physical document	Photo identity document in a durable plastic format, similar in size to a credit card.
PASS card Proof of Age Standards Scheme	Physical or digital document	Photo proof-of-age identity document in a durable plastic format, similar in size to a credit card. A digital PASS option may also be available through an accredited provider.

Secondary list (two documents from this list)

Document type	Format	Description (*examples include but are not limited to)
Utility bill (not mobile phone bill)	Physical or digital document	Electricity, gas, water, landline telephone or broadband bill.
Council Tax statement	Physical or digital document	Council Tax bill, statement or related Council Tax correspondence issued by a local authority.
Bank or building society statement	Physical or digital document	Statement issued by a bank or building society.
Mortgage statement	Physical or digital document	Statement issued by a mortgage provider.
Credit card statement	Physical or digital document	Statement issued by a credit card provider.
State benefit, pension or tax credit entitlement from DWP/HMRC	Physical or digital document	*Evidence confirming entitlement to a state or child benefit, pension or tax credit, Carer’s Allowance, Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Employment and Support Allowance, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Pension Credit or Attendance Allowance. HMRC tax code notices, Self-Assessment notices, statements and National Insurance correspondence.
P45 or P60	Physical or digital document	Employment tax document. These are often issued electronically, but a paper copy may also be provided.
Marriage or civil partnership certificate	Physical document only for UK certificates	Paper certificate for UK marriage or civil partnership entries. Overseas marriage or civil partnership evidence may be presented in paper form or, where applicable, through a digital route.
Letter from a government agency	Physical or digital document	*UK government department, agency or public body. Tenancy, housing benefit, vehicle tax, citizenship, electoral registration, jury service or court correspondence.
Letter from the National Health Service	Physical or digital document	*Appointment, referral or discharge letters, a child health record ("red book") or fit note.
HMRC notification (or successor body)	Physical or digital document	*HMRC correspondence issued in relation to tax or related matters, such as National Insurance contributions, Tax Credits or tax overpayments.
Police or Armed Forces ID	Physical document	For UK police and Armed Forces IDs, this is usually a photo identity document in a durable plastic format, similar in size to a credit card. Overseas police or forces ID documents may differ.
Signed firearms certificate	Physical document	A4 paper certificate with security features and a photograph. Firearm and Registered Firearms Dealer certificates should be printed on blue paper. Shotgun certificates should be printed on buff/beige paper.
Proof of Royal Mail Redirection	Physical document	Proof or confirmation of a Royal Mail Redirection, normally issued on Royal Mail letterhead.
Document issued by the person's local authority	Physical or digital document	*Tenancy agreement, housing benefit correspondence, Blue Badge correspondence, social care notifications or electoral registration letters.
Proof of receipt of State Pension	Physical or digital document	*Proof of benefits and State Pension letter from DWP, or correspondence confirming a State Pension claim or change to entitlement.
School or college letter (16- to 19-year-olds)	Physical or digital document	Letter or document issued by a school or college for a young person aged 16 to 19.

Birth certificates

After the birth is registered, you will need to purchase any certificates that you require. From 1 November 2017 parents were no longer issued with a free short birth certificate. There are two types of certificates:

A short birth certificate - this shows the baby's name and surname, the date of birth and baby's sex. This certificate has limited use and is not accepted by most government agencies and other organisations.
A full certificate - this is a standard or full birth certificate, and this shows all the details that are contained in the birth register, and this will be required to obtain a passport.

The current fee for this is £12.50 for each certificate at the time of registration.

Making an appointment to register a birth

Bury Register office operates a strict appointment system, and you can only make an appointment if you live in Bury. Please ensure that you have read all the information on who can register a birth before booking your appointment online.

You must not attend the register office without booking an appointment online as you may not seen
You can pay for certificates in advance, certificates cost £12.50 each. You can pay by a credit or debit card

Book an appointment to register a birth

What happens next?

You will receive a confirmation email once you have booked your appointment and paid for your certificates. If you need to cancel or reschedule, follow the link on your email.

When you attend your appointment, it will last approximately 20 minutes and you must arrive on time for your appointment. Only the person(s) essential for the registration will be permitted to attend the appointment. You cannot ask a relative or friend to attend instead of you.