- A certificate costs £12; extra copies of the same certificate cost £10 each.
- Standard dispatch is about 15 working days; same-day or next-working-day services cost extra.
- You order through ScotlandsPeople or your local council, where costs vary.
- ScotlandsPeople's news page showed a fees consultation launched on 13 July 2026.
What you can order and how
The Scottish Government service covers births, deaths, marriages, divorces, civil partnerships and dissolutions of civil partnerships, and ScotlandsPeople also holds census and old parish records. You can order online through ScotlandsPeople or through the registration service of your local council, which links across all 32 Scottish councils. National Records of Scotland is the third contact. Council prices can differ, so check with the register office if you order from one.
- Gather the full name of the person named on the certificate, their date of birth and where the event happened.
- Choose ScotlandsPeople for the online service, or your local council's registration office.
- Pay the fee: £12 for the first certificate and £10 for each extra copy of the same one.
- Expect dispatch in about 15 working days, or pay extra for same-day or next-working-day dispatch, which also applies to adoption birth certificates and no-trace divorce letters.
Scotland against England and Wales
| Scotland (mygov.scot) | England and Wales (GOV.UK) | |
|---|---|---|
| Standard certificate | £12 | £12.50 |
| Extra copy of the same certificate | £10 each | Same pricing as the original, per GOV.UK |
| Standard timing | About 15 working days | Sent 4 days after you apply (with a GRO index reference) |
| Urgent option | Same-day or next-working-day for an extra fee | Priority at £38.50, next working day if ordered by 4pm |
| Where | ScotlandsPeople or local council | General Register Office or local register office |
Each part of the UK has its own register and its own prices, so an English certificate cannot be bought in Scotland or the other way round. The English route is on replacing a birth certificate, and the search-fee detail in what a GRO index reference is. Northern Ireland uses its own register, covered in Northern Ireland birth certificates.
A fee review under way
The ScotlandsPeople site displayed a news item saying a consultation on fees was launched on 13 July 2026. We do not know what it proposes, so the £12 and £10 prices are those mygov.scot shows today. Check the amount on the official page before you pay, and be sceptical of any site that says a new price has already started.
Spotting a premium reseller
- The address is mygov.scot, scotlandspeople.gov.uk or a council domain, not an advert for “Scottish certificates”.
- The fee is about £12 for a certificate, with no separate “research” line.
- It asks only for the details above, not a passport scan.
- It does not promise delivery faster than the official urgent options.
Resellers copy the pattern used for English certificates: an official-looking name, a higher fee and the same record. The signs are set out in birth certificate websites that overcharge.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a Scottish birth certificate?
mygov.scot gives £12 for a certificate, with additional copies of the same certificate at £10 each. Local council prices can vary, so check with the register office if you order from one.
How long does a Scottish certificate take?
Dispatch usually takes about 15 working days. You can pay extra for same-day or next-working-day dispatch, which also applies to adoption birth certificates and no-trace divorce letters.
What information do I need to order?
The full name of the person named on the certificate, their date of birth and the place where the event happened, according to mygov.scot. Order through ScotlandsPeople or your local council.
Will Scottish fees change?
ScotlandsPeople's news page showed a fees consultation launched on 13 July 2026. We could not see its outcome, so check the current price on the official site before you order.
Can I use the English General Register Office for a Scottish record?
No. Scotland has its own registers. The England and Wales route on GOV.UK charges £12.50 for a certificate there, and Scottish records come from ScotlandsPeople or a Scottish council.