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It is advisable to do this within eight days at the nearest Civil Register Office though you may be allowed up to thirty days, or more under special circumstances, following the birth.  If you are married then either parent can register the birth, but if not, both parents will have to go along.  Getting this registration sorted will be vital for your child to access healthcare and education in the future.  Of course, as always with Spanish procedures, you should contact the Spanish authorities directly if you would like more information.

There is no obligation to register your child’s birth with the British Consulate-General.  However, I hear of lots of people who would like a record of the birth to exist with the UK authorities.  If your child is a British National and is born here in Spain, their birth can be registered at the Consulate-General in Madrid by the Passport and Nationality Section.  Once registered, you can obtain a British birth certificate from the Consulate-General.  At the end of each year, copies of all registrations are sent to the General Register Office in the UK.  You can also get a birth certificate from them.

You can find all the relevant information and forms at: http://ukinspain.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/living-in-spain/birth-registration  You’ll need to send the application form along with the documentation and fee listed on our website to the Consulate-General in Madrid.  If you’re already sending another application to the capital, for example to request a passport for your child, why not register the birth at the same time?

If your children are grown up, or if you were born in Spain and didn’t register the birth with the Consulate-General, it’s not too late to make the application.  Providing you supply the right documentation and fee, the birth can still be registered at the British Consulate-General and the registration lodged with the General Register Office. Particularly if you intend to move back to the UK to live, you could find that having you or your child’s birth already registered is really convenient.  For example, you may be required to provide a British birth certificate when claiming family benefits in the UK.

For more information on birth registration and other services offered by the British Consular Network in Spain, see ukinspain.fco.gov.uk

I hope you and your growing family stay healthy and well,

Matthew Vickers, British Consul, Canary Islands