All births in Ireland must be registered within 3 months of the date of birth, by law. Birth registration is free, and once your baby is registered, you will receive their birth certificate and PPS number, both of which you’ll need for many things in the months and years ahead (child benefit, passport, school enrolment, GP visit card, and more).
This page sets out who needs to register, where, when, and what to bring.
Step 1. Get a Birth Notification Form (BNF/01) from the hospital
The hospital issues you with a Birth Notification Form (BNF/01) before you leave. This contains the basic details we have on record about your baby’s birth. Keep it safe; you will need it when you register the birth.
Step 2. Make an appointment with your local Civil Registration Office
Birth registration is handled by the Civil Registration Service (CRS), not the hospital. Find your nearest office at gov.ie/birth-registration, and contact them to make an appointment. In Galway, the local office is in the Civic Offices on College Road.
Step 3. Attend the appointment
You attend the appointment together, where possible. If the parents are married, only one of you needs to attend. If the parents are not married, both parents typically attend together to register both names on the certificate. The Registrar will fill in the official register based on the information you give.
Step 4. Receive your baby’s birth certificate
After registration, you can purchase a copy of the birth certificate at the appointment. A standard certificate costs €20, and a shortened certificate (without parents’ details) costs €5. There is also a free first copy for the purpose of applying for child benefit.
Step 5. Your baby’s PPS number
A Personal Public Service (PPS) number is automatically generated when you register the birth, and is posted to you within a few weeks. You will need this for child benefit, medical card applications, and many other state services.
Documents to bring
If parents are not married
If the parents are not married, both parents typically attend together, so both names can go on the birth certificate. If both parents cannot attend, the parent registering will need to bring a completed Statutory Declaration of Paternity signed by both parents in advance.
If only the mother attends without these arrangements, the father’s name will not be entered on the certificate. This can be added later, but is more straightforward to do at the time of registration.
