Standard Service
The Standard Service costs £11
We aim to process your application within a maximum of 15 working days. Certificates will be posted out second class. Post is taking longer than normal to be delivered at the moment.
Please do not contact the Register Office to check where your certificate is until 4 weeks after you applied.
If you need your certificate for a specific date, that is less than 15 working days away, plus an allowance for delivery time, we advise you to use the Priority Service.
Priority Service
There are two postage options available.
Option 1: £35 - we will send your certificate within 24 working hours of receiving your application. Applications received after 12 noon will not be processed until the next working day. The certificate will be sent by first class post. (Although Royal Mail aim to deliver 93% of first class mail the next working day after posting, within the UK, they are unable to provide a guaranteed service. For guaranteed next day delivery within the UK they recommend Special Delivery Guaranteed - see Option 2)
Option 2: £42 - we will send your certificate within 24 working hours of your application being received. Applications received after 12 noon will not be processed until the next working day.
UK mainland - the certificate will be sent by Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed by 1pm (currently 4pm) (next working day delivery). Royal mail provide a money back guarantee if your item doesn't arrive on time, and end to end tracking and signature on delivery online or via your mobile.
For overseas applicants certificates will be sent by Royal Mail International Signed. Royal Mail aim to deliver to Europe within 3-5 working days and worldwide within 5-7 working days. However, when the certificates are delivered will depend upon the speed of the postal service within the destination country.
The £42 service is currently only available for records held at the Manchester Register Office. (Birth certificates from 1920 to the present date; death certificates and marriage certificates from 1945 to the present date; civil partnership certificates.)
We can only provide a copy certificate if:
- the person was born after 1 July 1837
If the person was born before this date, see family history research.
- the person was born in the city of Manchester
The place of birth must have been in the City of Manchester boundary area at the time. The boundaries of the city of Manchester have changed over time. Neighbouring areas like Salford, Trafford, Rochdale, Oldham and other Greater Manchester areas do not count as the city of Manchester. Check which areas are in the Manchester boundary.
- you have all the information we need to complete the search
We need the person's full name, date of birth, and your email address and payment card details.
We need extra information if they were born before 1 January 1928.