Help desk: Replacing a birth certificate in Scotland is as easy as your ABC

THIS week helpdesk looked into what to do if you lose your birth certificate. The National Records of Scotland office told us what to do if you need a new one.

Q My son is in Australia and rang me to ask if I could find his birth certificate for a visa application he has to make. Unfortunately I have looked everywhere and have not been able to find it.

Can you advise me what to do? I would like to order a replacement certificate for him. What will I need to do this. How much will it cost. Can the replacement certificate be sent directly to Australia.

Will it be a problem that I don’t have his passport.

CS Edinburgh

A spokesperson for the National Records of Scotland replied.

An official birth extract (certificate) can be obtained from the National Records of Scotland (NRS) in a number of ways. It can be requested via the NRS Telephone Ordering Service 0131 314 4411 (which is open between 9.00 and 16.30 Monday-Friday), in person at New Register House in Edinburgh, by post, fax and through the Scotlandspeople website: www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk.

The standard cost of an extract ordered by telephone is £15 and a separate delivery address – including an overseas address – can be requested at time of ordering.

Full details of the records NRS hold, the services provided and the charges made for such services can be found at their website: http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/famrec/index.html

• If you have a consumer issue that you would like tackling, contact Claire Smith on 0131 620 8511 or e-mail [email protected].