The Registration of Births and Deaths (England and Wales) (Specified Requirements) Regulations 2026

Published: Thu 5th Nov 26

Mandated truth declarations and identity verification for persons registering births and deaths in England and Wales.

These Regulations establish new procedural requirements for individuals registering births and deaths in England and Wales under the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953.

It directs that any person under a legal duty to sign a birth or death register must make a formal declaration of truth regarding the information provided.

For birth registrations and re-registrations, the Regulations further require the individual to verify their identity using either a digital verification service or by providing specific documentary evidence such as a passport, driving licence, or utility bills.

These requirements apply to parents, informants, and others legally responsible for providing vital statistics to the registrar.

Arguments For

The Regulations aim to modernize the registration process by allowing digital verification as an alternative to physical presence and manual signing.
Proponents state that the requirements ensure the accuracy of the register by mandating a formal declaration that the particulars provided are true.
The document indicates that the identity verification requirements for births provide a secure framework for confirming the identity of informants through digital services or specified documentation.
The explanatory note states that complying with these requirements satisfies the legal duty to sign the register, facilitating remote or streamlined registration procedures authorized under the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025.

Arguments Against

Legal scholars may note that the requirement for specific documents or digital identity services could create barriers for individuals who lack standard identification or consistent internet access.
Privacy advocates have raised concerns regarding the use of "digital identity verification services" and the potential for data sharing between agencies.
Local authorities may face administrative burdens in training registrars to verify the wide range of acceptable documents listed in the Schedule, including electronic copies.
There is potential ambiguity regarding the "unreasonable" refusal of a passport by foreign authorities mentioned in the Schedule, which relies on the discretion of the Secretary of State.

Citation and commencement

These Regulations may be cited as the Registration of Births and Deaths (England and Wales) (Specified Requirements) Regulations 2026 and come into force on 9th November 2026.

This section provides the official name of the regulations and sets the date they become legally active. All requirements described in the document apply starting 9 November 2026.

Duty to comply with specified requirements

2.-(1) The requirements set out in paragraphs (2) and (3) of this regulation are specified requirements for the purposes of section 38B of the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 ("the Act"), and apply where a person is under a duty to sign the register under any of the provisions of the Act that are specified in regulations 3 and 4.

(2) In relation to any of the duties specified in regulations 3 and 4, the person must make a declaration that the particulars provided are true to the best of the person's knowledge and belief.

(3) In relation to any of the duties specified in regulation 4, the person must also provide evidence of their identity by-

(a) using a digital identity verification service; or
(b) providing to the registrar either an original or electronic copy of-
(i) one of the documents listed in paragraph 1; or
(ii) two of the documents listed in paragraph 2,

of the Schedule.

(4) In this regulation, "digital identity verification service" has the meaning given in regulation 1(3) of the Digital Government (Disclosure of Information) (Identity Verification Services) Regulations 2024.

This section mandates two primary actions for people registering life events.

First, everyone registering a birth or death must declare that their information is accurate to the best of their knowledge.

Second, those registering births must prove their identity through a government-approved digital service or by showing specific ID documents listed in the Schedule.

Compliance with these rules counts as having legally signed the register.

Relevant duties: deaths

The duties referred to in regulation 2(1) are-
(a) section 16(3) (information concerning death in a house);
(b) section 17(3) (information concerning other deaths);
(c) section 19(1)(c) (registrar's power to require information concerning a death).

This section lists the specific legal obligations related to death registration that trigger the requirement for a truth declaration.

It applies to individuals providing information about a death occurring in a house, deaths occurring elsewhere, or when a registrar formally requests death information.

Relevant duties: births

The duties referred to in regulation 2(1) are-
(a) section 2(1) (information concerning birth to be given to the registrar within forty-two days);
(b) section 3 (information concerning finding of a new-born child to be given to the registrar within forty-two days);
(c) section 4(c) (registrar's power to require information concerning birth);
(d) section 10(1)(a) and (1B)(a) (registration of father or of second female parent where parents not married or civil partners);
(e) section 10A(2)(b), (bb), (c) and (cc) (re-registration where parents neither married nor civil partners).

This section identifies the birth-related legal duties where both a truth declaration and identity verification are required.

These duties include the standard 42-day registration window, reporting a foundling, and specific cases involving the registration or re-registration of fathers or second female parents.

Schedule

Regulation 2(3)(b)

Evidence of Identity

The documents referred to in regulation 2(3)(b)(i) are the person's-
(a) passport, whether current or expired;
(b) valid biometric immigration document within the meaning of section 5(1)(a) of the UK Borders Act 2007;
(c) valid travel document issued in the United Kingdom at the discretion of the Secretary of State where the person has been formally and, in the view of the Secretary of State, unreasonably, been refused a passport by the authorities in their own country and who has-
(i) been granted limited leave to enter or remain or humanitarian protection on rejection of a claim for asylum or for recognition as a stateless person; or
(ii) been granted indefinite leave to enter or remain;
(d) valid travel document issued to them pursuant to Article 28 of the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees done at Geneva on 28th of July 1951;
(e) valid travel document issued to them pursuant to Article 28 of the Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons done at New York on 28th September 1954;
(f) current UK photocard driving licence (full or provisional);
(g) UK birth certificate;
(h) UK adoption certificate;
(i) current full EU photocard driving licence;
(j) EU Member State ID Card;
(k) PASS Card (National Proof of Age Standards Scheme).
The documents referred to in regulation 2(3)(b)(ii) are-

(a) a utility bill (except mobile phone bills);
(b) a Council Tax statement;
(c) a bank or building society statement;
(d) a mortgage statement;
(e) a credit card statement;
(f) evidence of the person's entitlement to state benefit, pension or tax credit issued by the Department for Work and Pensions or His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (or any successor bodies);
(g) a P45 or P60 statement;
(h) the person's marriage or civil partnership certificate;
(i) a letter from a government agency;
(j) a letter from the National Health Service or the person's general practitioner;
(k) a notification from His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (or any successor body);
(l) an armed forces or police ID card;
(m) a signed firearms certificate;
(n) proof of mail redirection, which must be on Royal Mail letterhead;
(o) a document issued by the person's local authority, as defined in section 1 of the Local Government Act 2000;
(p) evidence of the person receiving state pension;
(q) a letter from a head teacher or college principal, in the case of 16-19 year olds in full time education,

issued to the person and showing their name.

The Schedule lists the specific documents acceptable for identity verification during birth registration.

A person must provide one primary document, such as a passport or driving licence, or two secondary documents, such as utility bills or bank statements.

All documents must show the individual's name to be valid for this purpose.

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