Genealogy Chat

Hi,

I am ordering some certificates through the GRO for some births abroad. I am not even sure that they will have the events recognised.

Can anyone please advise that if they cannot find a record do they refund the certificate fee back? As I have to pay for conversion from pounds to Australian dollars it can be a little expensive. I know I can tick the Reference Check box for them to searh the non mandetory details but that's all I can see.

I have searched their Frequently asked Questions but this wasn't there.

Kind regards

Rachelle

I do not believe that you can order overseas births from GRO


and if you do not have the GRO reference number they will charge you at least £10


Thye will not refund the fee.


The only time they refund a part of the fee is if you have provided a reference as to name of spouse or name of parent(s) ........... if the name of that reference does not match the certificate ordered they do not send the certificate, and refund £3 of the £7 charged (£10 if you don't he the GRO reference number)



Where did the births take place? What makes you think that GRO has the certificates for them?





sylvia

Hi Sylvia,

Their website advises that they hold details of births of British Citizens who were born abroad.

The birth took place in Alexandria, Egypt 1944 and the father was a member of the British Army and although born in Malta was considered in Egypt as a British subject.

I have the parents names and occupations but as it was in wartime I am guessing only that they may have the record but of course it may have been lost in transit.

I thought it worth a shot anyway

Hi Rachelle


It's worth a try!



But I don't think you will get your money refunded!




sylvia

Thanks, will try it and see how I go, I just thought I'd ask here first to see what anyone else's experience was.

GRO does have an overseas branch which receives records of events which took place abroad for Brits. However, this does depend on the efficiency of the overseas country who may send details immediately, may send them weeks, months or years later, or never send them at all.

You can find the GRO references for Army births abroad on the Findmypast website. You then order in the normal way from the GRO but remember to click "overseas births" when starting to order.

If for any reason they can't find the birth (although they should if you supply the reference), then the refund £4 of the £7 you pay and keep £3 to cover the cost of the search they do.

Kath. x

Findmypast had indexes of Overseas birth - have you looked there for the year & reference info
MB

Some time ago I ordered a 1940 overseas marriage cert from GRO...the marriage took place in Palestine.

I had no problem at all.

Linda

Thanks to those who took the time to reply.

I have checked the FindMyPast website but no results come up, so it is a bit frustrating. (A lot frustrating really!) It seems to be a lot harder trying to track a European part of the tree whose people moved between Italy and Malta, then to Egypt then to Australia.

Thanks all

SYLVIA -

For a list of registers the GRO hold, see:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/documents/digitalasset/dg_176232.pdf