How to obtain a copy of birth certificate in UK

All births in the UK must be registered with the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages in the district where the baby is born. In England and Wales, the birth must be registered within 42 days, and in Scotland within 21 days. If you need to obtain a copy of a birth certificate, you must contact either the Register Office where the birth was registered, or the General Register Office (GRO).

England and Wales

In England and Wales, each local Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages holds copies of all the birth certificates registered in its district. You can visit the office in person to request a copy of any birth certificate and supply as many details as possible concerning the birth to enable them to locate the certificate. What do you do if you don't know the date of birth? Even if you don’t know the date of birth, the office may be able to find the certificate if they know the names of the child's parents. Most local offices are open between 9 am and 4pm and as of 01.06.11, the fee was £9. Some offices also accept postal applications, provided the correct fee is enclosed with the application. The General Register Office also holds a copy of all birth certificates registered in England and Wales. Its address is:
General Register Office,
Certificate Services Section,
PO Box 2,
Southport,
Merseyside.
PR8 2JD How to apply
You can apply by post, by telephone or online for a copy birth certificate. You must either have full details of the birth, including the date and place, or the GRO reference number. As of 01.06.11, the fee for a copy of the birth certificate was £9.25. If you supply the GRO reference number, the certificate is usually sent out within four working days. A 24-hour expedited service is also available, at a cost of £23.40.

Scotland

In Scotland, the local register office where the birth was originally registered also holds copies of birth certificates. You can also contact the office to request a copy.
Alternatively, you can contact the Scottish General Register Office, which holds copies of all birth certificates issued in Scotland. Its address is: General Register Office,
New Register House,
2 West Register Street,
Edinburgh.
EH1 3YT The cost of obtaining a copy of the birth certificate in Scotland as at 01.06.11 was £14.