Follow the guidance for:
- born in the UK
- born outside of the UK including the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands
Born in the UK
If you've been asked to provide a birth certificate and you were born in the UK, you must arrange to get an official copy from the relevant registrar’s department in the area you were born.
If you do not have a birth certificate and you were adopted, you can provide your adoption certificate. If you're unable to locate your adoption certificate, you must arrange to get an official copy from the relevant registrar’s department in the area where you were adopted.
If you were born in the UK but your birth was not registered for any reason and no adoption certificate is available or applicable, alternative documentation can be provided such as a letter from a professional person confirming your birth was not registered but to the best of that person’s knowledge, you were born in the UK.
The letter must include your place of birth and the full name you were given at birth.
As well as providing your details, the professional person must provide details of their profession. This must include their job title, who they work for, where they are based and any other details they think are relevant.
Alternatively, you can write a letter which confirms to the best of your knowledge, you were born in the UK but your birth was not registered.
You must include 3 forms of recent utility bill or benefit evidence showing your current name and address such as:
- council tax bill
- utility bill such as water, gas, or electric - mobile phone bills cannot be accepted
- Tax Credit letter
- bank or credit card statements
We're not obliged to accept any documentation that is considered to be unsatisfactory.
If it's a sensitive subject where no outside bodies have been involved, a letter from a family member can be considered.
Born outside of the UK including the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands
You must provide your passport, your UK driving licence and if applicable, any letters sent to you from the Home Office.
You must also include a covering letter confirming why you cannot supply your birth certificate.
If you're a refugee, you must submit your most recent Home Office letter and your UK Travel Document issued by the UK Border Agency in place of your passport.
You must also include a covering letter confirming why you cannot supply your birth certificate.
If you do not have one of these forms of ID, you can provide a letter from:
- Consular officer - someone who works for an Embassy or Consul, either employed by the UK government or another country's government
- Minister of religion - such as a Rabbi, Priest or Imam
- medical or legal practitioner - someone currently registered with the General Medical Council (GMC) such as a GP or consultant
- established civil servant - someone who is employed by the Crown excluding those employed by the Monarch who has passed any compulsory probation period for new Civil Service employees
- teacher - someone with a teaching qualification who is working as a teacher currently
- police officer - someone currently working within the UK police force
The person must preferably be someone based in the UK and must give details of your date, place and country of birth and your full name at birth.
The professional person must also provide details of their profession. This must include their job title, their employer, their contact details, their relationship to you and be written on headed paper, if applicable.
We're not obliged to accept any documentation that's considered to be unsatisfactory.
If it's a sensitive subject where no outside bodies have been involved, a letter from a family member can be considered.