Register a birth

You must make an appointment to register a birth. Find out how to book and what to bring to the register office.

The law says you must register a birth within 42 days.

Book an appointment

If your baby was born in Leeds, you must make an appointment to register the birth.

Leeds Register Office - Merrion House

Our main register office in Merrion House in Leeds city centre has the most appointment slots and is open for bookings from 8:45am to 3:55pm Monday to Friday, with some availability on Saturdays.

Our location:

Leeds Register Office
Merrion House
Merrion Way
Leeds
LS2 8BB
Find us on Google maps

Other register offices in Leeds

You can also book at other register offices in Armley, Moor Allerton, Morley, St George’s (Middleton) and Seacroft.

These have reduced availability. Dates and times will be provided when you book online.

Arrive on time for your appointment. If you are late we will not be able to see you and you will have to make a new appointment.

Book an appointment

To cancel and rebook your appointment call 0113 222 4408 (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, except Wednesdays when we are open from 10am) or use the link in your confirmation email.

Babies born outside of Leeds

If your baby was not born in Leeds, you can give details of the birth in Leeds although we are unable to issue birth certificates to you. The details will be sent to the Register Office in the district where the birth took place. You will need to contact them to order certificates.  

Stillbirths and infants who have died

To register a stillbirth or a baby who has died, call us to make a priority appointment.

Phone

0113 222 4408
(Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, except Wednesdays when we're open from 10am)

Do not use the online booking form.

You can also find more information on how to register a stillbirth.

Cost

Registering a birth is free. But you can choose to buy birth certificates and A4 card keepsake wallets.

Pay in advance when you book your appointment or pay when you register the birth.

Birth certificates: £12.50 each

A full birth certificate, which contains the baby's name, sex, date of birth as well as place of birth, and parents' names, jobs and addresses.

A4 card keepsake wallets: £2.50 each

Birth certificates will be given to you in a plain envelope, but you can buy an A4 card keepsake wallet for them instead. They cost £2.50 each.   


A4 front cover showing cartoon bear sitting on a yellow moon surrounded by green and yellow stars.

Caption: A4 card keepsake wallet front cover, 22cm wide by 30cm tall.
 

What you will need

You will need to bring:

  • proof of identity for each parent, such as passport or driving licence
  • credit or debit card to buy birth certificates (£12.50 each) if you want to

Appointments from 9 November 2026

If you register a birth on or after 9 November 2026, each parent must bring 1 ID document from the primary list or 2 ID documents from the secondary list.

Primary list
  • Passport (current or expired) - expired passports may be accepted up to 18 months after the date of expiry.
  • UK biometric immigration document.
  • UK valid travel document.
  • UK Refugee travel document, issued under Article 28 of the 1951 Geneva Convention.
  • UK Stateless Person travel document, issued under Article 28 of the 1954 Geneva Convention.
  • UK photocard driving licence (full or provisional) - the paper counterpart driving licence is not acceptable.
  • UK birth certificate (full or short).
  • UK adoption certificate.
  • EU photocard driving licence.
  • EU Member State identity card.
  • PASS card (Proof of Age Standards Scheme) – a digital pass option may also be available through an accredited provider.

Secondary list
  • Utility bill (not mobile phone bill) - electricity, gas, water, landline phone or broadband.
  • Council tax statement.
  • Bank or building society statement.
  • Mortgage statement.
  • Credit card statement.
  • State benefit, pension or tax credit entitlement from DWP/HMRC - 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.
  • P45 or P60.
  • Marriage or civil partnership certificate.
  • Letter from a UK government department, agency or public body - tenancy, housing benefit, vehicle tax, citizenship, electoral registration, jury service, Carer’s Allowance or higher education correspondence.
  • Letter from the NHS - appointment, referral or discharge letters, a child health record (“red book”) or fit note.
  • 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.
  • Signed firearms certificate (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.
  • Document issued by your local authority - tenancy agreement, housing benefit correspondence, Blue Badge correspondence, social care notifications or electoral registration letters.
  • Proof of receipt of 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).

At the appointment

At your appointment you will be asked for:

  • the baby’s full name, sex, place and date of birth
  • the parents full names, place and date of birth
  • the mother’s maiden surname (if she has one)
  • the parents' addresses and jobs
  • the date of the parents’ marriage or civil partnership (if applicable)

What we do with your information

The council has a statutory duty to register births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships and to administer citizenship services on behalf of the Home Office. Your information will only be used to help us with your registration appointment, your ceremony or your application for copy certificates. We will not share this information with anyone else unless we are required to by law. Read more about how we process your personal data in our privacy policy.

Who can register a birth

The rules about who should come to the appointment depend on your marital status.

Parents are married or in a civil partnership

If the baby's parents are married or in a civil partnership with each other:

  • the mother can register the birth alone
  • the father or second parent can register the birth alone
  • both parents can register the birth together

Parents are not married or in a civil partnership

If the baby's parents are not married or in a civil partnership with each other:

  • both parents must register the birth together for both be included on the birth certificate
  • the mother can register the birth alone (but the father or second parent will not be included on the birth certificate)

One parent can register the birth on their own, and you can still have both parents included on the birth certificate, if you have a statutory declaration of acknowledgement of parentage External link.

Single parents

The birth mother of the baby can register the birth by herself.

Contact us

Email

register.headoffice@leeds.gov.uk

Phone

0113 222 4408

(Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, except Wednesdays when we are open from 10am)