Hi all,
I'm applying for a UK Ancestry Visa. I've got all my documents. I ordered my grandparent's "Birth Certificate" from the General Records Office. It is from 1907 and was written originally in hand. The certificate does not not say "birth certificate".
The Brittish High Commission states that one of the requirements to apply for the Ancestry Visa is an "original or a notarised copy of the UK long-form birth certificate of your grandparent that you are claiming through (please note: we are unable to accept grandparent's Certificates of Registration of Birth, these documents are not birth certificates)"
My concern is that my grandparent's certificate is so old, so I don't know if this is a "birth certificate" or a "certificate of regristration of birth". And frankly I can't find a definition for the latter online and no one at the UK Embassy hotline seems to know either.
Does anyone know the difference?
Thanks!!!!!!
I think you will find the definition of certificate of registration of birth below.
Authentication
Authentication is the means by which a copy of a public record can be accepted in place of the original record for the purposes of legal proceedings. This is in accordance with s.9(2) of the Public Records Act 1958. The authenticated copy is more commonly known and referred to as a certified copy, and the process is normally referred to as certification.
How can I tell a copy has been certified?
A certified copy has a label or stamp on it, often on the reverse, which contains a description of the record, the date the copy was produced, and the signature and name of the person certifying the copy. Over the signature will be an imprint of the seal of the Public Record Office. The Public Record Office is the legal entity within The National Archives that has the statutory authority to certify copies of records.
The above was copied from this link http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help/authentication.htm
I think the difference is that you need a copy of the long form version of the birth certificate, which contains loads of detail and is contained on a sheet of A4. It will be transcribed by the Registrar from the original register and signed by him and counts as an original even if it's dated today.
It contains details of the father's place of birth, address and occupation and the mothers name, maiden name, place of birth and address. (This is from an oldish one - fine detail may have changed)
There is also a short form one on (I think) half a sheet of A4 which just records the name of the child and date and place of birth - this is probably the certificate of registration of birth referred to. It's a cheaper version for some purposes but not an Ancestry visa.
The Public Record Office has nothing at all to do with birth certificates, and the issue has nothing to do with rules of authentication.
"Certificates of Registration of Birth" were sort of receipts given to whoever registered a birth. They go "I, the undersigned, do hereby certify that the birth of a male/female child born on the... has been duly registered by me at Entry No. .......... in my Register No. .........." If it's not headed "Certificate of Registration of Birth", it isn't one, and you can ignore the complication.
A birth certificate has all the details aubo mentions. This is the ONLY document you'll get if you go online to www.gro.gov.uk and order a copy of your ancestor's certificate.
Basically, 'Certificate of Registration of Birth' is a free certificate you get when you register a birth (and only then) - it doesn't contain any details of parentage, only the child's names and date and place of birth, signed by superintendent registrar or one of the deputies. This isn't acceptable for ancetsry visa application.
'Birth Certificate' is the full form, which costs around £3.50 at the time of registration and £7+ subesequently, which contains more details like parents' names and occupations. This is the one you need.
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