Belfast Registry Office

Registry Services in Belfast

Belfast Register Office is magnificently housed in the iconic Belfast City Hall, a stunning Baroque Revival masterpiece located in Donegall Square in the heart of Belfast city centre. This Grade A listed building, designed by Sir Alfred Brumwell Thomas and opened in 1906, was constructed in Portland stone at a cost of £369,000. As Northern Ireland’s premier civic building, it features a distinctive green copper dome, ornate marble interiors, and serves as the main registry venue for Belfast.

How to Apply for Certificates

Booking Your Appointment

Belfast Register Office operates exclusively on an appointment-only basis. You can book appointments by calling 028 9027 0455 or emailing registrar@belfastcity.gov.uk. Appointments take place at the Registration Office in Belfast City Hall. Birth registration appointments are available from 9.30am to 3pm, Monday to Friday and will last around 30 minutes.

Required Documents

When applying for any certificate, you’ll need to provide:

• Valid photo identification (passport, driving licence)
• Full name as registered on the original certificate
• Date of event (birth or marriage)
• Place where event was registered
• For births: mother’s maiden name
• For marriages: spouse’s full name

Processing and Fees

Standard certificates cost from £11.00 and are processed within 5 working days. Priority service is available with additional fees for urgent processing. You can apply for certificates online, by phone, or in person at GRONI. Marriage notice fees are £22 per person, with civil ceremony fees starting from £44.

Planning Your Visit

Location and Transport

Belfast Register Office is located in Belfast City Hall in Donegall Square, which effectively divides the commercial and business areas of the city centre. The venue is easily accessible by public transport with excellent bus and rail connections to Belfast city centre. Great Victoria Street railway station and Europa Bus Centre are within walking distance.

Historic City Centre Setting

Located in the heart of Belfast’s civic quarter, Belfast City Hall sits in one of Northern Ireland’s most prestigious locations. The building is surrounded by beautifully manicured lawns and contains memorials including the Cenotaph and Titanic Memorial Garden. The location offers excellent opportunities for wedding photography in this historic setting.

Parking and Access

Belfast City Hall offers limited courtyard parking for ceremony guests – up to two vehicles Monday to Friday and up to four vehicles on Saturday, with advance booking required through security. The public search room is accessible to wheelchair users with a personal induction loop system available for deaf or hearing-impaired visitors. Public parking is available in surrounding streets and nearby car parks.

Historic Belfast City Hall

Belfast Register Office is housed in one of Ireland’s most magnificent civic buildings featuring:

• Baroque Revival Architecture – Designed by Sir Alfred Brumwell Thomas in 1906, built in Portland stone in the grand Baroque Revival style
• Grade A Listed Building – Protected historic building with exceptional architectural and cultural significance
• Iconic Copper Dome – Features a distinctive 173-foot green copper dome with lantern crown, topped by a statue representing the Celtic warrior Thane
• Grand Interior Spaces – Magnificent marble staircases, stained glass windows featuring Queen Victoria and William III, and ornate ceremony rooms
• Historic Significance – Witnessed pivotal moments including the Ulster Covenant signing in 1912 and the Good Friday Agreement in 1998
• Civic Pride – Built during Belfast’s industrial golden age when it briefly overtook Dublin as Ireland’s most populous city