UK guide · Birth certificates
Do birth certificates have the time of birth?
It depends on where in the UK you were born, and on which certificate you hold. Here is what each register records, and where else a time might be written down.
Updated
The short answer
- England and Wales
- Usually no. A time is recorded for twins, triplets and other multiple births.
- Scotland
- Yes, for every birth. You need the full extract, not the abbreviated certificate.
- Northern Ireland
- Not confirmed. Ask GRONI what your entry holds before ordering.
Short certificates, in any of the four nations, show only the basics. If you are looking for a time, you need a full copy of the register entry.
England and Wales
Births in England and Wales are generally registered without a time of birth. When a time does appear, it usually means the child was a twin, triplet or part of another multiple birth: the time records the order in which the children were born. The General Register Office's guide to birth certificates says as much.
So if you are not a twin, a full certificate from England or Wales will most likely leave the time out. If you are, or you aren't sure, order a full copy from the General Register Office: £12.50 standard or £38.50 priority at the time of writing.
Scotland
Scottish birth registrations record the time of birth for every child, not only for twins and multiple births. The abbreviated certificate leaves it out, so ask for a full extract of the entry through ScotlandsPeople or National Records of Scotland. Fees were under review in 2026, so check the price when you order.
Northern Ireland
We couldn't find an official statement on whether Northern Ireland birth entries include a time. Before paying for a full certificate, ask the General Register Office for Northern Ireland what your entry records.
Other birth records with a time
If the certificate is blank, the time may still exist elsewhere:
- Hospital maternity records. In England these should be kept for 25 years. You can request them with a subject access request.
- Family keepsakes. Baby books, hospital wristbands, cot cards and birth announcements.
- Family memory. Useful as a range, even when nobody remembers the minute.
Our guide on how to find out what time you were born goes through each of these step by step.
Astrology is a symbolic practice, not a science. Your report gives the most consistent birth-time window for the events you share. It is not a certified birth time.