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Sunday, 22 November 2009

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Registering babies born abroad

In most countries babies born as British citizens or babies born to serving members of the British Armed Forces can be registered by the appropriate British authorities. However, you need to request this facility as there is no automatic notification of the birth to UK authorities.

Babies born as British citizens abroad

You can go to either the British High Commission or the British Consul in most countries to register a birth. Birth certificates are issued by these authorities and can be used as proof of British citizenship, British Dependant Territories citizenship or British Overseas citizenship.

Your overseas registrations will be processed in the UK within 12 months, after which time additional certificates can be ordered.

Babies born to serving members of the British Armed Forces

If you are serving in the British Armed Forces abroad when your child is born, you can register the birth with the Forces Family Services or your relevant Registering Officer. You should do this within 12 months.

Useful contacts include:

Country	Address
Australia	British Defence Liaison Staff, British High Commission, Commonwealth Avenue, Canberra, ACT 2600
Germany	G1 Compassionate (BMD) Headquarters UKSC, Germany, BFPO 140
Gibraltar	HQBF Registry, The Tower, British Forces Gibraltar, BFPO 52
Cyprus	Personnel Branch Headquarters, British Forces Cyprus, BFPO 53
Washington	British Defence Staff, British Embassy, 3100 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008-3688 USA
Canada	British Defence Liaison Staff, British High Commission, 80 Elgin Street, Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 5K7
Canada (BATU)	Headquarters, British Army Training Unit Suffield, BFPO 14
Kenya	British Army Training Liaison Staff, Kenya, BFPO 10
Falkland Islands	Headquarters, British Forces Falkland Islands, Mount Pleasant Airfield, BFPO 655