How to register a birth

1. The birth of a child born before 1 January 1983 whose father was at the time of the birth a Citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies otherwise than by descent.

2. The birth of a child born on or after 1 January 1983 whose mother or father is either:

a.) a British Citizen or a British Overseas Territories Citizen (formerly a British Dependent Territories Citizen) otherwise than by descent

b.) a British Citizen or a British Overseas Territories Citizen (formerly a British Dependent Territories Citizen) in Crown Service, European Community Service or certain other types of designated service, at the time of the birth (subject to specific conditions). Further information on this is available upon request.

Note on children born out of wedlock

An unmarried father can transmit his citizenship automatically to his child born abroad on or after 1 July 2006.

However, for children born before 1 July 2006 it is possible (subject to specific conditions)

- For an unmarried British Citizen father to apply to the Home Office for citizenship for his minor child.
- If the British father of a child born out of wedlock marries the mother of the child, the child can be legitimated by marriage.
- An unmarried mother can automatically transmit her citizenship to her child born abroad on or after 1 January 1983.

Contact us for further information

Registration of birth (no birth certificate provided): € 113.00
For each copy of the entry (birth certificate): €72.00
Please check that fees have not changed as this will delay your application

Payment

- Fees are payable in Euros
- All receipts are issued in Euros
- At the Consular Section you can pay in cash, with Bancontact, Visa or Mastercard
- Remember to always obtain an official receipt for any fees paid
- Postal application: by bank transfer to “British Embassy Consular Account” No. 310-1200800-26 mentioning the name of the child and service required (birth registration), name and address.

We aim to send you a copy of the birth registration within 5 working days.

Documents to be produced

Originals of all documents must accompany the application. Photocopies cannot be accepted, unless specifically so stated. The original documents will be returned to you:

- child’s full local birth certificate (“Extrait Litteral du Registre aux Actes de Naissance” – “Afschrift van een akte ingeschreven in het Register der Akten van Geboorte”) mentioning parents’ place and date of birth, address, marital status.

- father’s and mother’s full UK birth certificate (including names of parents) or, if a parent is a British citizen born outside the United Kingdom, documentary evidence of claim to British citizenship. If you only have a short version of the birth certificate, please contact the GRO to apply for a full UK birth certificate (see below).

- non-British parent's birth certificate

- parents’ marriage certificate (if the marriage was solemnised in Belgium a (“Copie integrale de l’Acte de Mariage” – “Integraal afschrift van de Huwelijksakte”) but NOT the marriage book.

- documentary evidence of the termination of the previous marriage(s) of either parent

- in the case of a parent working in Crown Service, for the European Community or other designated service, a recruitment certificate issued at the time of birth, showing date and place of recruitment and current employment

- father’s and mother’s British passport(s) (where applicable)

The British government tolerates dual nationality.