Guidance issued by the Registrar General for Scotland on Phase 2 of the Route map through and out of the COVID-19 crisis

For birth registration, we propose the use of a staggered re-introduction along the lines of the following sample timetable, designed to ensure families are treated fairly and registration services are able to allocate resources to tackling the backlog of birth registrations:

This timetable is for information only, and individual authorities will be able to configure birth registration services as they see fit to best meet local need.

Local registration offices will work to ensure that births are registered as quickly as possible, but your patience will be much appreciated as the backlog of registrations is processed. 

Please contact the registration office [1] (528 KB PDF) where you would like to register your child’s birth to set up an appointment. 

In some districts, the registrar will make an appointment for you to call in to the office to give information for the registration, and sign the register page.  If either parent was born outside Scotland, it is helpful if the registrar can see their birth extract.  If you married or registered your civil partnership outside Scotland, it is also helpful if the registrar is able to physically see your marriage or civil partnership extract. 

In other districts, you may be asked to give the following information for registering your child’s birth by phone:

1. Contact details, including your telephone number and/or e-mail address
2. Information about the child’s birth, such as the date, time and place of birth 
3. Information about the parent(s) to be shown in the birth entry.  If either parent was born outside Scotland, it is helpful if the registrar can physically see their birth extract.  If you married or registered your civil partnership outside Scotland, it is also helpful if the registrar can see your marriage or civil partnership extract. 

Once information for the birth registration has been gathered by phone, the registrar will make an appointment for you to attend the registration office to check all of the information is correct on the register page, and to sign the entry for the register.