Birth Certificates ordering issue

[Redroger]

Thanks for the factual perspective Guy.

[smithy6]

hi,  I'm trying to track living people from relatives in the UK, just confirming I am on the right track about the people and location, through. place of birth and the full names. Yes I could have tried other ways but I thought this would be the quickest method. If they refuse, I will try other ways of course.

[danuslave]

Here in the UK a birth certificate is not and never has been proof of identification.

Anyone in the world has the right to order a certified copy of the registration details of any birth, marriage or death in the UK.
It is enshrined in law and has been since 1836.

There is no need to jump through hoops simply give the GRO reference or if not known what details you do know and sit back and wait for the certificate.

Cheers
Guy

PS Some office policies try to demand further details before supplying certificates. Such demands are entirely illegal and should never be complied with.
Cheers
Guy

So how do we prove our ID??

Surely you need a birth cert to get a passport, which is the other way of proving who you are

Confused.....

[davidft]

So how do we prove our ID??

Surely you need a birth cert to get a passport, which is the other way of proving who you are

Confused.....

If you look at your certificates you will see it says: Warning this certificate is not proof of identity of the person presenting it,

[Guy Etchells]

So how do we prove our ID??

Surely you need a birth cert to get a passport, which is the other way of proving who you are

Confused.....

Just think about it logically.
A birth certificate only "proves" that a child was born to a set of parents.
It shows no identifying marks, no colour of eyes etc..

There is no requirement in the UK for an individual to carry the same name throughout life.
This means the person may not even have the same name as appears on the birth certificate.
Add to that sex change etc. and a birth certificate as proof of identity of a specific person is worthless.

In the UK we use a multiple document source approach this includes a photograph signed on the back by a person thought to be of standing in the community to testify they have known the subject of the photo as x for a number of years.
No one document is relied on as proof.
Cheers
Guy

[stanmapstone]

As of 4 May 2004, anyone born on or after 1 January 1983 who is applying for a UK passport for the first time will have to provide their full birth certificate, which includes details of parentage, to prove identity and nationality. The move is one of several recent initiatives to improve passport security to combat fraud and identity theft. http://www.rootschat.com/links/0f08/

Stan

[Guy Etchells]

As of 4 May 2004, anyone born on or after 1 January 1983 who is applying for a UK passport for the first time will have to provide their full birth certificate, which includes details of parentage, to prove identity and nationality. The move is one of several recent initiatives to improve passport security to combat fraud and identity theft. http://www.rootschat.com/links/0f08/

Stan

The relevance of the certificate in a passport application is to prove nationality not identity.
Cheers
Guy

[stanmapstone]

The site says specifically  "to prove Identity" or are they wrong?

Stan

[Guy Etchells]

The site says specifically  "to prove Identity" or are they wrong?

Stan

I know the site includes the words "to prove Identity" but as you posted it also includes "and nationality" which is more relevant as a birth certificate cannot and does not prove identity.

The NIdirect site adds this
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0f09/

"A birth certificate is not considered absolute proof of identity. Even if you were born in the UK, IPS may ask to see further documents."

As you can see one's mother's birth certificate is still required to help prove the nationality issue.
Cheers
Guy