The Registration of Births, Deaths, Marriages and Civil Partnerships (Fees and Records) (Amendment) Regulations 2024

This Statutory Instrument has been made in part as a consequence of omissions in SI 2016/911 and is being issued free of charge to all known recipients of that Statutory Instrument.

Statutory Instruments

2024 No. 598

Registration Of Births, Deaths & Marriages, Etc., England And Wales

Civil Partnership, England And Wales

The Registration of Births, Deaths, Marriages and Civil Partnerships (Fees and Records) (Amendment) Regulations 2024

Made

1st May 2024

Laid before Parliament

7th May 2024

Coming into force in accordance with regulation 1(2) and (3)

The Secretary of State makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 5(1), (2)(a) and (7)(c) of the Places of Worship Registration Act 1855(1), sections 65A(1) and (3)(a), 71A(1), (2), (3), (4) and (7)(b) and 74(3) of the Marriage Act 1949(2), sections 34A(1) and (3), 38A and 39A(1) of the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953(3), section 19B(1), (2)(a) and (5)(a) and (c) of the Registration Service Act 1953(4), sections 34(1), (1A) and (1C) and 258(3) of the Civil Partnership Act 2004(5), sections 15(4) and 18(1) of, and paragraph 6(1) and (3) of Schedule 1 to, the Presumption of Death Act 2013(6) and sections 9(4)(e) and (f) and (5B) and 18(4)(a) and (b) of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013(7).

In accordance with section 65A(5) of the Marriage Act 1949 and section 39A(2) of the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953, before making these Regulations the Secretary of State has consulted the Registrar General.

Citation, commencement, extent and interpretation

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Registration of Births, Deaths, Marriages and Civil Partnerships (Fees and Records) (Amendment) Regulations 2024.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3), these Regulations come into force on 28th May 2024.

(3) Regulation 6 comes into force on the day on which section 33A of the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953(8) comes into force, ignoring any commencement of that section only for the purpose of making regulations.

(4) These Regulations extend to England and Wales.

(5) In these Regulations, “the Fees Regulations” means the Registration of Births, Deaths, Marriages and Civil Partnerships (Fees) Regulations 2016(9).

Amendment of the Fees Regulations

2.  The Fees Regulations are amended in accordance with regulations 3 to 6.

Amendment of regulation 2 (interpretation)

3.  In regulation 2, in the definition of “relevant information”, after paragraph (f) insert—

“(g) in the case of a certified copy of an entry provided under regulation 23(2) of the Marriage of Same Sex Couples (Conversion of Civil Partnership) Regulations 2014(10), either a reference number relating to an index kept by the Registrar General under that regulation corresponding to the certified copy for which the application is made, or sufficient information which allows the Registrar General to establish such a reference number;

(h) in the case of a certified copy of an entry provided under regulation 24(2) of the Marriage of Same Sex Couples (Conversion of Civil Partnership) Regulations 2014, either a reference number relating to an index kept by the superintendent registrar under that regulation corresponding to the certified copy for which the application is made, or sufficient information which allows the superintendent registrar to establish such a reference number;

(i) in the case of a certified copy of an entry provided under regulation 13 or 18 of the Gender Recognition Register (Marriage and Civil Partnership) Regulations 2015(11), either a reference number relating to an index kept by the Registrar General under that regulation corresponding to the certified copy for which the application is made, or sufficient information which allows the Registrar General to establish such a reference number.”.

Amendment of regulations 3A to 3E

4.—(1) In regulation 3A (transmission of part of fees to Registrar General)—

(a) in paragraph (2)—

(i) in sub-paragraph (a), for “£58.00” substitute “£64.00”;

(ii) in sub-paragraph (b), for “£47.00” substitute “£52.00”;

(iii) in sub-paragraph (c), for “£40.00” substitute “£44.00”;

(b) in paragraph (5), in the definition of “category A fee”—

(i) in paragraph (c), for “37A,” substitute “37A;”;

(ii) after paragraph (c) insert—

“(d) the fee specified in column 3 of row 48A,”.

(2) In regulation 3B(1) (offline application fee), for “£4.00” substitute “£4.50”.

(3) In regulation 3C(1) (premium postal service fee)—

(a) in sub-paragraph (a), for “£7.25” substitute “£8.00”;

(b) in sub-paragraph (b), for “£19.25” substitute “£21.50”;

(c) in sub-paragraph (c), for “£12.00” substitute “£13.50”.

(4) In regulation 3D(1) (general index search fee (no reference provided)), for “£3.00” substitute “£3.50”.

(5) In regulation 3E(1) (retained fee), for “£3.50” substitute “£4.00”.

Amendment of Schedule 1 (fees payable)

5.—(1) Schedule 1 is amended as follows.

(2) In column 3 of the row in the table in Schedule 1 specified in column 1 of the table in the Schedule to these Regulations, for the fee specified in the corresponding entry in column 2 of that table (“the current fee”), substitute the fee specified in the corresponding entry in column 3 of that table (“the increased fee”).

(3) After row 48, insert—

“48A

The Marriage of Same Sex Couples (Conversion of Civil Partnership) Regulations 2014 regulation 28(c)

Correction of an entry in the conversion register, other than a correction relating to an error caused by the superintendent registrar when information was recorded in the register

£99.00

The superintendent registrar”

(4) For rows 51 and 52, substitute—

“51	The Births, Deaths, Marriages and Civil Partnerships Records Regulations 2016 regulations 2, 3 and 4(12)	(a) Where the entry is a copy of a record (in electronic format) which is held in a digital format—
		(i) a copy of a record, in electronic format, of information contained in the Registrar General’s certified copies of entries in the birth register, the death register and marriage register books and copies of entries in the conversion register, or in the entries in the marriage register	£8.00	The Registrar General
		(ii) a copy of a record, through the online view service, of information contained in the Registrar General’s certified copies of entries in the birth register, the death register and marriage register books	£3.00	The Registrar General”

Amendments introducing fees for the short certificate of death

6.—(1) In regulation 2, in the definition of “relevant information”—

(a) for paragraph (a), substitute—

“(a) in the case of a short certificate of birth provided under section 33(1) of the 1953 Act, any particulars prescribed to be furnished under that section of that Act;”;

(b) after paragraph (a) insert—

“(aa) in the case of a short certificate of death provided under section 33A(1) of the 1953 Act, any particulars prescribed to be furnished under that section of that Act;”.

(2) In the table in Schedule 1, after row 22 insert—

“22ZA	Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 section 33A(13)	(a) Standard service for a short certificate of death obtained from a registrar or superintendent registrar	£12.50	The registrar or superintendent registrar providing the certificate
		(b) Priority service for a short certificate of death obtained from a registrar or superintendent registrar	£38.50	The registrar or superintendent registrar providing the certificate
		(c) Standard service for a short certificate of death obtained from the Registrar General	£12.50	The Registrar General
		(d) Priority service for a short certificate of death obtained from the Registrar General	£38.50	The Registrar General”

Amendment of the Births, Deaths, Marriages and Civil Partnerships Records Regulations 2016

7.—(1) The Births, Deaths, Marriages and Civil Partnerships Records Regulations 2016(14) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 1(2), omit the definitions of “expedited service”, “relevant hours”, “standard service” and “working day”.

(3) In each of regulations 2(2), 3(2) and 4(2), for the words from “must” to the end of the paragraph, substitute “must be made via the website for the General Register Office(15)”.

(4) Omit regulation 5.

Transitional provision

8.—(1) In this regulation—

“applicable fee” means the fee payable in respect of a relevant service;

“relevant service” means a service for which a fee is payable under Schedule 1 to the Fees Regulations.

(2) Where—

(a) a person applies for, or requests, a relevant service before 28th May 2024; or

(b) an applicable fee is payable in respect of anything a person did before 28th May 2024 which resulted in the relevant service being required or permitted to be provided,

the applicable fee is that which was payable immediately before 28th May 2024.

9.—(1) The amendments made by regulation 4(1)(a) do not apply where the relevant fee paid was the category A, category B or category C fee specified immediately before 28th May 2024.

(2) The amendment made by regulation 4(5) does not apply where the application for a certified copy was made before 28th May 2024.

(3) The substitution of row 51 in Schedule 1 to the Fees Regulations by regulation 5(4) does not apply where the request for any copy referred to in that row was made before 28th May 2024.

Tom Pursglove

Minister of State

Home Office

1st May 2024

Regulation 5(1)

SCHEDULE Amendment of the table in Schedule 1 to the Fees Regulations

Table

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3
Row-	Current fee-	Increased fee-
1	£29.00	£32.00
2(a)	£35.00	£42.00
2(b)	£47.00	£57.00
3(a)	£47.00	£57.00
3(c)	£68.00	£82.00
4	£60.00	£66.00
5(a)	£64.00	£71.00
5(b)	£123.00	£136.00
6(a)	£64.00	£71.00
6(b)	£123.00	£136.00
7	£123.00	£136.00
8	£86.00	£104.00
9	£46.00	£56.00
10(a)	£81.00	£98.00
10(b)	£88.00	£106.00
11(a)	£84.00	£101.00
11(b)	£94.00	£113.00
11A(a)	£11.00	£12.50
11A(b)	£35.00	£38.50
14	£18.00	£20.00
15(a)	£11.00	£12.50
15(b)	£35.00	£38.50
16(a)	£11.00	£12.50
16(b)	£35.00	£38.50
16ZA	£90.00	£99.00
16ZB	£90.00	£99.00
16A	£40.00	£44.00
17	£1.00	£1.50
17A(a)	£75.00	£83.00
17A(b)	£90.00	£99.00
18(a)	£11.00	£12.50
18(b)	£35.00	£38.50
19	£18.00	£20.00
20(a)	£11.00	£12.50
20(b)	£35.00	£38.50
21(a)	£11.00	£12.50
21(b)	£35.00	£38.50
22(a)	£11.00	£12.50
22(b)	£35.00	£38.50
22(c)	£11.00	£12.50
22(d)	£35.00	£38.50
22A	£50.00	£55.00
22B	£50.00	£55.00
22C	£75.00	£83.00
22D	£75.00	£83.00
23	£3.00	£4.00
24	£15.00	£18.00
25(a)	£2.00	£2.50
25(b)	£2.00	£2.50
25A	£50.00	£55.00
25B	£50.00	£55.00
26	£2.00	£2.50
27	£81.00	£98.00
28	£88.00	£106.00
29	£46.00	£56.00
30(a)	£35.00	£42.00
30(b)	£47.00	£57.00
31	£47.00	£57.00
32	£68.00	£82.00
33	£3.00	£4.00
34	£60.00	£66.00
35	£15.00	£18.00
36(a)	£11.00	£12.50
36(b)	£35.00	£38.50
37(a)	£11.00	£12.50
37(b)	£35.00	£38.50
37A	£90.00	£99.00
38	£35.00	£38.50
39	£11.00	£12.50
40	£45.00	£50.00
41	£99.00	£109.00
42	£117.00	£129.00
43	£15.00	£18.00
44	£27.00	£30.00
45(a)	£27.00	£30.00
45(b)	£91.00	£101.00
47(a)	£11.00	£12.50
47(b)	£35.00	£38.50
48(a)	£11.00	£12.50
48(b)	£35.00	£38.50
49(a)	£11.00	£12.50
49(b)	£35.00	£38.50
50(a)	£11.00	£12.50
50(b)	£35.00	£38.50

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Registration of Births, Deaths, Marriages and Civil Partnerships (Fees) Regulations 2016 (“the Fees Regulations”) and the Births, Deaths, Marriages and Civil Partnerships Records Regulations 2016 (“the Records Regulations”).

Regulations 2 to 6 amend the Fees Regulations. The amounts of all fees are increased. Rows 51 and 52 of the table in Schedule 1 to the Fees Regulations have been amended to reflect changes to services for electronic copies of register entries. Omissions in the definition of “relevant information”, in regulation 2, and in the table in Schedule 1 to the Fees Regulations have been corrected. These Regulations are being issued free of charge to all known recipients of the Fees Regulations.

Regulation 7 amends the Records Regulations, removing the “expedited service”, the “standard service” and related definitions and omitting regulation 5.

Regulations 8 and 9 make transitional provision. Where a service in Schedule 1 to the Fees Regulations was applied for, requested or otherwise triggered before 28th May 2024, the fee payable will be the fee which was payable immediately before 28th May 2024.

So far as the provision made by this instrument is within the scope of policy relating to the publication of impact assessments, no impact assessment has been produced because no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.

(1)

1855 c. 81 (18 and 19 Vict). Section 5 was substituted by paragraph 6 of Schedule 15 to the Immigration Act 2016 (c. 19).

(2)

1949 c. 76 (12, 13 & 14 Geo 6). Section 65A was inserted by section 99(1) of the Deregulation Act 2015 (c. 20). Section 65A(1) was amended by paragraph 39(2) and (3) of Schedule 1 to the Registration of Marriages Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/411). Section 65A(2) was omitted by paragraph 18 of Schedule 15 to the Immigration Act 2016 (c. 19). Section 71A was inserted by paragraph 1 of Schedule 15 to, the Immigration Act 2016 and amended by paragraph 42 of Schedule 1 to the Registration of Marriages Regulations 2021. See section 71A(9) for the definitions of “marriage services” and “prescribed”. Section 74(3) was inserted by section 52 of, and paragraph 15 of Schedule 4 to, the Immigration Act 2014 (c. 22).

(3)

1953 c. 20 (1 and 2 Eliz 2). Section 34A was inserted by section 98(2) of the Deregulation Act 2015 (c. 20). Section 38A was inserted by paragraph 2 of Schedule 15 to the Immigration Act 2016 (c. 19). Section 39A was inserted by section 56 of, and paragraph 17 of Schedule 6 to, the Welfare Reform Act 2009 (c. 24) and amended by paragraph 30 of Schedule 15 to the Immigration Act 2016. See section 38A(6) for the definitions of “birth or death registration services” and “prescribed”. Section 41(1) of the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953, as renumbered by paragraph 21(2) of Schedule 21 to the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25), provides that in that Act, “the Minister” means the Secretary of State.

(4)

1953 c. 37 (1 and 2 Eliz 2). Section 19B was inserted by paragraph 3 of Schedule 15 to, the Immigration Act 2016 (c. 19) and amended by section 46(3) of the Digital Economy Act 2017 (c. 30). Section 21(1) of the Registration Service Act 1953 provides that in that Act “the Minister” means the Secretary of State.

(5)

2004 c. 33. Section 34 was amended by paragraph 14(b) of Schedule 2 to the Transfer of Functions (Registration) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/678). Section 34(1A) and (1C) were inserted by paragraph 4(3) of Schedule 15 to the Immigration Act 2016 (c. 19).

(6)

2013 c. 13. See paragraph 6(3) of Schedule 1 for the definition of “prescribed”.

(7)

2013 c. 30. Section 9 was amended by section 99(3) of the Deregulation Act 2015 (c. 20). Section 9(5B) was inserted by paragraph 5 of Schedule 15 to the Immigration Act 2016 (c. 19).

(8)

Section 33A was inserted by paragraph 19 of Schedule 21 to the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25).

(9)

S.I. 2016/911; relevant amending instruments are S.I. 2017/947, 2018/1268, 2020/1093, 2021/440 and 2023/1143.

(10)

S.I. 2014/3181, amended by S.I. 2016/911. There are other amending instruments but none is relevant.

(11)

S.I. 2015/50, amended by S.I. 2021/410. There are other amending instruments but none is relevant.

(12)

S.I. 2016/980; relevant amending instruments are S.I. 2018/1268, 2020/1093 and 2021/411.

(13)

Section 33A was inserted by paragraph 19 of Schedule 21 to the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25).

(14)

S.I. 2016/980; relevant amending instruments are S.I. 2018/1268, 2020/1093 and 2021/411. There are other amending instruments but none is relevant.

(15)

www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content