How do I Apply for a Long Form British Birth Certificate From the USA?

Your birth certificate contains vital statistics which are used for many purposes.

Your birth certificate proves your identity and nationality, so it's no surprise that many official venues require this paper. A long form birth certificate contains data on your parents, place of birth, date of birth and your vital statistics. In many cases, a short form birth certificate, the abbreviated version of this paper, is not accepted. The General Register Office website makes it possible to order your long form birth certificate online and have it shipped anywhere in the world, including the United States.

Instructions

1. Visit the General Register Office website and select the "Birth Certificate" option. This opens the login screen, where you will create a secure account.(See Resources.)

2. Click on the "Registration" link to open the registration page. Fill in the required information, including both your email and physical addresses. Click "Submit" to complete your registration.

3. Click on "Birth Certificate (England & Wales)" and enter the year of the birth and the GRO index number. The year is mandatory and the GRO index number is optional.

4. Make changes to your United States mailing address, if necessary. Your information from registration will automatically be used in the fields here by default.

5. Enter further birth details, including the place of birth and the parents' names. The year will transfer automatically from previous steps.

6. Review the information and details, then press "Checkout." The system displays an estimated time for dispatch, indicating how long it will be before the General Register Office sends out the certificate. Select "United States" as the country of residence from the drop-down menu and proceed to entering your credit card details to complete the order.

References

• GRO Certificate Ordering Service

Resources

• General Register Office - Records
• New Reference for Birth Certificates