It is a legal requirement to register a birth within 42 days of your baby being born.
You will need a birth certificate when applying for any benefits related to the birth of a new born.
You must have an appointment to register a birth at the Knowsley Register Office.
Where to register a birth
The birth must be registered at the Register Office for the district where the birth occurred.
If you are not able to travel to Knowsley Register Office you can contact your local register office to enquire about making a birth declaration.
They will gather the information needed to register a birth (as detailed above) and ask you to sign a declaration form. They will send this to us, where the birth will be registered.
Proof of identity
From 9 November 2026, proof of identity must be provided when registering or re-registering a birth. Your appointment will not proceed without the required documents. Please read the information below carefully.
From 9 November, you must provide proof of identity when registering or re-registering a birth. We will be unable to proceed with your appointment if you do not bring the required documents.
If both parents are attending to register or re-register the birth, each parent must provide their own proof of identity.
You must provide one document from the primary list. If you cannot provide a document from the primary list, you must provide two documents from the secondary list.
Please bring your baby’s red book to the appointment if you have it, although this is not essential.
Birth Registration proof of identity
Primary
Each person registering the birth must provide one document from the primary list.
Please note that all documents must be provided as original hard copies, unless otherwise stated. We cannot accept photocopies, scanned copies, or documents displayed on a mobile phone, tablet, or other electronic device.
Passport (current or expired) - Expired passports may be accepted up to 18 months after the date of expiry. Applies to UK and overseas passports
UK biometric immigration document or digital 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 driving licence (full or provisional) - A paper counterpart driving licence is not acceptable
UK birth certificate
UK adoption certificate
EU driving licence
EU Member State identity card
PASS (Proof of Age Standards Scheme) card or digital document.
Secondary
If you cannot provide a document from the primary list, you must provide two documents from the list below. Each person registering the birth must provide their own documents.
You can provide digital copies of documents unless otherwise stated below.
Utility bill (not mobile phone bill)
Council Tax statement
Bank or building society statement
Mortgage statement
Credit card statement
State benefit, pension or tax credit entitlement from DWP/HMRC
P45 or P60
Marriage or civil partnership certificate - Paper certificate only for UK certificates
Letter from a government agency
Letter from the National Health Service
HMRC notification (or successor body)
Police or Armed Forces ID (physical document only)
Signed firearms certificate (physical document only)
Proof of Royal Mail Redirection (physical document only)
