- A standard copy costs £12.50 and is sent four days after you apply, if you have the GRO index reference.
- Without the reference, each search costs £3.50 and the order takes about 15 working days.
- Priority copies cost £38.50.
- Orders can also go by phone, post or the local register office, not only online.
What the official service costs
| Option | Fee | How long |
|---|---|---|
| Standard copy | £12.50 | Dispatched on the fourth day, provided you quote a GRO index reference |
| Priority copy | £38.50 | Orders placed before 4pm leave the next working day |
| Name-and-date search (no reference) | £3.50 each | Roughly 15 working days from your application |
A second or third copy is charged at the same rate as the first. These figures come from GOV.UK, read on 5 October 2026.
Four ways to order
| Method | What it involves |
|---|---|
| Online | Register on the General Register Office site, which GOV.UK says takes around 10 minutes, then pay by debit or credit card. |
| By phone | Call 0300 123 1837 (textphone 18001 0300 123 1837) between 8am and 6pm on weekdays. |
| By post | Complete the GRO certificate application form and post it to PO Box 2, Southport, PR8 2JD. |
| In person | Contact the local register office where the event was registered. |
What you need
You will need as much detail as you have: the person’s full name, date and place of the event, and parents’ names for a birth. If you know the GRO index reference, the order is faster and cheaper, because the £3.50 search is not needed. The GRO index reference explains where it comes from. If the certificate is for a passport application already under way, the GOV.UK service asks for the application reference, which begins PEX.
Situations that change the route
- Birth or marriage abroad: an overseas registration cannot be ordered from the General Register Office until November of the following year. For a faster copy GOV.UK points to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Overseas Registration Unit, which usually charges £50 plus courier fees.
- Registered in Scotland or Northern Ireland: this service covers England and Wales only. See Scottish certificates and Northern Ireland certificates.
- No reference, no exact date: expect the search charge and the longer 15-working-day timing.
Two-minute checks before you order
- The address ends in gov.uk, and the order page is the General Register Office service.
- The standard fee reads £12.50, with £3.50 only if you lack a reference.
- No separate “research”, “handling” or “verification” line items.
- If you are unsure, ring 0300 123 1837 and ask what the order will cost.
Why people end up on the wrong site
Needing a certificate usually means a deadline looming: a passport application, a benefit claim, a school place. Adverts promising the quickest option often lead to private sites dressed up as the register office, which bill several times the government price for an identical record and may keep what you typed in. Birth certificate websites that overcharge shows how to tell the difference.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a replacement birth certificate?
£12.50 for a standard copy in England and Wales, or £38.50 for the priority service, according to GOV.UK.
How long does a replacement birth certificate take?
A standard order is sent four days after you apply when you quote a GRO index reference. Without it, about 15 working days. Priority orders placed by 4pm go out the next working day.
Can I get a certificate without the GRO reference?
Yes, but a £3.50 search fee applies per search and it takes longer.
Can I order by phone or post instead of online?
Yes. The General Register Office takes orders on 0300 123 1837, Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm, and by post using the application form sent to PO Box 2, Southport, PR8 2JD.
What if the birth was registered abroad?
GOV.UK says an overseas registration cannot be ordered from the General Register Office until November of the following year. The FCDO Overseas Registration Unit can provide faster copies, usually for £50 plus courier fees.
Do extra copies cost more?
Extra copies cost the same as the first, according to GOV.UK, so ordering several at once costs £12.50 each on the standard service.