There have been many changes to UK Passport Applications over the past few years, one of which is the requirement to supply a Full Birth Certificate to support your application. A full birth certificate is one that includes the names of both parents (assuming both were named at the time of your birth). If you only have a short birth certificate that simply states your name, date of birth and place of birth, you will need to order a new certificate.
For Married Women
If you have changed your name through marriage, please note that you will also need to supply a copy of your Marriage Certificate(s).
Have you Legally Changed Your Name?
For those people who have changed their name either by Deed Poll or Statutory Declaration, you will need to supply a copy of this document along with your birth certificate. You will not need to supply a birth certificate in your changed name as this will not exist (as you were not born with this name.
For Adopted Persons
You will probably have been asked to provide your birth certificate with no mention of an adoption certificate. Under UK law no organisation can demand that you show an original birth certificate if you have been adopted. A copy of your Adoption Certificate will have replaced your birth certificate and could no longer be used in any case.
I have been told I need an original certificate
There is a great deal of confusion regarding the status of original and (certified) copies of a birth certificate. The passport office will not accept a certified photocopy of your birth certificate. This is what they are referring to when they state that certified copies are not acceptable. An original Certified Copy of an Entry of Birth (which is the official name for a replacement original birth certificate) is fully accepted by the passport office and is what is supplied by Vital Certificates. This is what is referred to as an Original Birth Certificate.
