Registering a birth

Congratulations on the birth of your baby. We know this is a busy time for you. Please remember the law requires you to register your baby within 42 days.

Births are registered by appointment only. You should arrive at the allocated time. If you arrive late, we may not be able to see you and your appointment may have to be rearranged.

Use the link below to request an appointment and we will contact you to arrange a suitable date and time.


Gwent partnership working

New arrangements have been made for all births within the Gwent or  Aneurin Bevan University Health Board area. 

The five local authorities of Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Monmouthshire, Newport and Torfaen are working together so that you can attend your local office to complete the registration and purchase your baby’s birth certificate at that appointment. 

If you would like to come to Newport Register Office, please complete the online enquiry form below and we will contact you to make an appointment. 

To use this form, you can either login or create an account, or simply use the 'Guest' option, on the bottom left of the form.

Request an appointment to register a birth

If you would prefer to attend another Register Office within the Gwent area, please visit that local authority’s website or email: 

Who can register the birth?

If the parents of the child are married to each other at the time of the birth, either parent may register the birth. 

If the parents are not married, the father's details can be entered into the register only if both parents attend together to register the birth.

If this is not possible, please contact the register office for advice.

Parents named in the register will automatically acquire parental responsibility for the child.

Visit the General Register Office Parental Responsibility page for more information.

If the father's details are not entered at the time of registration, it may be possible for this to be done at a later date by re-registration.

To ensure accurate information is entered into the register, the baby’s parents should bring at least one of the following identification documents:

  • passport
  • council tax bill
  • driving licence
  • all marriage or civil partnership certificates
  • birth certificate
  • change of name deed
  • hospital discharge papers

NB - the Registrar can register the birth without these documents

Information needed to register a birth 

Baby

  • the baby’s date and place of birth
  • if the birth is one of twins, triplets, etc then the time of each baby's birth will be needed
  • whether the baby is a boy or a girl
  • the forename(s) and surname with which the baby will brought up

Mother

  • forename and surname, and any surnames which may have been used before a marriage
  • date and place of birth
  • home address at the time of the baby’s birth
  • occupation at the time of the baby's birth or, if not employed, the occupation last followed
  • date of marriage if applicable
  • the number of previous children by the present and any former husband
  • the number of the mother's previous children by her present husband or any former husband (i) born alive (including any who have since died) and (ii) still-born

Father

(where these details are to be entered into the register)

  • forename and surname and any other names that may be used
  • date and place of birth
  • home address at the time of the baby’s birth
  • occupation at the time of the baby's birth or, if not employed, the occupation last followed

It is important that the information recorded in the register is correct and that the register entry is checked very carefully before you sign as mistakes cannot be corrected easily.  

Certificates

After registration you will have the option of purchasing copies of short and full certificates, either on the day or at a later date.

Download and print an application for a Birth Certificate (pdf) if you need further certificates in the future.

Request copies of certificates

Further information

Visit Direct.gov for more information about registering a birth. 

See also our naming ceremonies page.