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Original poster

No uk birth certificate

53 replies

itsgettingweird · 23/10/2023 12:10

Does this matter?

So far it's never been an issue but my ds was born abroad and although British with a British passport doesn't have a British birth certificate.

He's 19.

Is there a way of getting one if needed ever?

OP posts:
ActDottie · 23/10/2023 15:26

Pradder · 23/10/2023 13:15

He has a British passport, that should get him most resources he could get with a birth certificate.

What are you worried about?

This.

His passport will get him what he needs.

He can’t have a birth certificate for the UK if he wasn’t born here!

MaggieFS · 23/10/2023 15:35

Damnloginpopup · 23/10/2023 14:45

I was born in Zambia (1973) and have a birth certificate from the British high commission. At 16 my father applied for one in the UK as I needed it for my British passport. So I have both.

This is why I'm annoyed I can't find mine. It may well be an 'overseas registration' or similar, but it's the only one I've ever used when a birth certificate has been needed.

adriftabroad · 23/10/2023 15:43

He has a Spanish BC.

In Spain he would most definitely need this. An up to date one to boot.They are free and easy and quick to get. I have had to get 2 in the last year. 2 week wait.

He will not have a UK one as he was born in Spain! (Like my DD)

He will need it for divorce, marriage, if he ever moves to Spain, buys a house, gets a DNI, opens a bank c/c for just about any damn thing!!!

For the UK he has his passport.
Simple.

Caswallonthefox · 23/10/2023 15:48

I was born in Cyprus in 1972. I was born on what they called a sovereign base. I had a british birth certificate, but it was a stamped and signed photocopy. It has been sufficient for any birth certificate needs that have come up.
How ever I was looking for it recently and couldn't find it. So I applied online for a new one. It cost me £14 and I now have a "proper" certificate, although it's still a photocopy, but it's on actual certificate paper.

reluctantbrit · 23/10/2023 17:33

You don't need a British one but I would contact the Spanish registry and see if they can issue an international one.
We did this when married abroad and it made life a lot easier than arranging certificed translations.

Toooldtoworry · 23/10/2023 17:37

My DD13 was born in Germany and she does have a British birth certificate as I registered her via the consulate. I was born in Germany 40+ years ago and I have a British consulate birth certificate. Neither of us have had issues getting passports, etc. Although I can't remember the last time either of us had to show birth certificate for ID.

adriftabroad · 23/10/2023 17:39

The Spanish one is a printed and stapled piece of paper with name,age and place of birth.

It is nothing like what we have. Always needs to be issued within the last 6 months. You do it on line. It is normal and easy and free.

It is in no way a "one off document"

adriftabroad · 23/10/2023 17:44

Honestly please believe me: I am about to be divorced from a Spanish man, have a Spanish DD, just got her her first DNI and just re registered us both in a new house.

All needed a new, issued within 6 months, birth cert for DD! I am a pro at this!

PP is correct about marriage cert. (I just got mine translated and noterised -70 euros)

MaggieFS · 23/10/2023 18:11

Toooldtoworry · 23/10/2023 17:37

My DD13 was born in Germany and she does have a British birth certificate as I registered her via the consulate. I was born in Germany 40+ years ago and I have a British consulate birth certificate. Neither of us have had issues getting passports, etc. Although I can't remember the last time either of us had to show birth certificate for ID.

This is what I think I have but can't bloody find it to read it! PP are saying it can't be used as a birth certificate 🤷‍♀️

Original poster
itsgettingweird · 23/10/2023 19:44

Why do you think he can have one issued in the UK when he wasn't born in the UK??

I don't really. I've just seen posts lately here and around the internet if people saying they've had issues with their British BC not being validated.

Hence my post here wondering if the fact DS doesn't have one (but has British passport and Uk drivers licence) is an issue. If he needs a particular document and what that is.

I'm just asking.

He's British. Just doesn't have a british BC 🤷‍♀️

His passport was issued by british embassy in Spain!

OP posts:
Original poster
itsgettingweird · 23/10/2023 19:45

MaggieFS · 23/10/2023 15:25

Well if nothing else this thread has helped me realise I don't have a bloody clue where mine is. I've checked the two places I'd expect it to be and it isn't.

Let's hope I never need it!

🤣🤣🤣🤣

That's the kind of thing the internet makes me do. Hence this thread!

OP posts:
Original poster
itsgettingweird · 23/10/2023 19:48

adriftabroad · 23/10/2023 15:43

He has a Spanish BC.

In Spain he would most definitely need this. An up to date one to boot.They are free and easy and quick to get. I have had to get 2 in the last year. 2 week wait.

He will not have a UK one as he was born in Spain! (Like my DD)

He will need it for divorce, marriage, if he ever moves to Spain, buys a house, gets a DNI, opens a bank c/c for just about any damn thing!!!

For the UK he has his passport.
Simple.

Thanks.

Although not sure he can get DNI? He's British.

Both me and his father had NIE. His dad had lived there since he was 4 and his step dad is Spanish.

Ds and I have been back in the UK for 16 years!!!

OP posts:
Original poster
itsgettingweird · 23/10/2023 19:50

adriftabroad · 23/10/2023 17:39

The Spanish one is a printed and stapled piece of paper with name,age and place of birth.

It is nothing like what we have. Always needs to be issued within the last 6 months. You do it on line. It is normal and easy and free.

It is in no way a "one off document"

Thanks.

You've been really helpful. This is why I love the internet and MN. There's always someone who actually knows the answer and has been there!

OP posts:
Original poster
itsgettingweird · 23/10/2023 19:50

Should say first passport. The latest ones haven't been!

OP posts:
mindutopia · 23/10/2023 20:28

He will have a Spanish birth certificate presumably. You just use that. I have a British passport but was born in the US. When I need to present a birth certificate, I use my US one and it’s fine, because it’s my official one.

Tiredmummy201 · 24/10/2023 06:55

My daughter was born abroad but she also has a british passport, I paid for her birth certificate to be translated. Haven't had an issue yet but she's only 8, what is it you need it for ?

Haribosweets · 24/10/2023 07:26

He has a Spanish birth cert - so has one! You can't get a birth cert if he wasn't born here. He has a British passport so nothing to worry about. For a poster who said you need a birth cert to register a death is not true! I work for a register office and know these things 🙂

TheIsleOfTheLost · 24/10/2023 08:40

I don't believe I have ever needed my birth certificate as an adult. I have no idea if I have it, or if is at my parents house. I wasn't born in UK, but have a passport and driving licence. Passport I have had since childhood, so always just renewed it. Presumably I needed it as id when I first passed driving the test.

HuntingoftheSnark · 24/10/2023 11:42

My daughter was born in Bermuda and is 26 - until this post, it had never occurred to me that she might need a British birth certificate. I thought a British passport would suffice. It has until now.

JSMill · 24/10/2023 11:48

MrTiddlesTheCat · 23/10/2023 12:13

Nope there's no way of getting one. There is a 'certificate' that you can get from the embassy but it's expensive and ISN'T a birth certificate. It states on it that it isn't a birth certificate and cannot be used as such.

That's not true. My children were issued with birth certificates by the British consulate. We weren't planning to return to the UK when I got them but I'm glad I did as it smoothed the way for a few things when we did.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 24/10/2023 11:56

User562377 · 23/10/2023 13:19

If he wasn't born in the UK then he won't get a UK birth certificate.

So long as he was properly registered in the cou try where he was born you'll be fine.

Or are you worried that his birth wasn't properly registered?

One of my dds was born in Abu Dhabi - the British Embassy issued her birth certificate.
I doubt she’d have been entitled to an Abu Dhabi (UAE) one anyway.

Kpo58 · 24/10/2023 12:46

As long as you have a copy of their birth cert translated into English (assuming it isn't already), then you don't need a British birth cert for anything.

feellikeanalien · 24/10/2023 12:56

MrTiddlesTheCat · 23/10/2023 12:13

Nope there's no way of getting one. There is a 'certificate' that you can get from the embassy but it's expensive and ISN'T a birth certificate. It states on it that it isn't a birth certificate and cannot be used as such.

DD was born in Portugal and I have a certificate from the British Consul in Lisbon. The header states "Birth within the district of the British Consul at Lisbon". I can't remember now but I don't think it was particularly expensive.
It doesn't state that it cannot be used as a birth certificate and any time I have needed to show her birth certificate now that we are back in the UK I have used this.
She also has a Portuguese birth certificate.

UnevenBalance · 24/10/2023 15:07

It’s likely to be basically a translation of the original birth certificate.
I have 8ne as well of my British born dcs with the French embassy.

It helps because the French administration needs the translated version (with good reasons!) but it’s not their birth certificate.

LIZS · 24/10/2023 15:56

Dc one is a copy of an entry in the register, headed similar to @feellikeanalien describes.