nidirect government services
Have an online search and pay-to-view database for historical birth, marriage and death records for the six counties of Northern Ireland: Antrim, Armagh, Londonderry, Down, Fermanagh, and Tyrone.
If you are interested in genealogy or local history, you can search the archives and view or buy copies of certificates for life events, such as births, marriages and deaths for your own family or for a family you are studying.
GRONI holds civil birth, adoption, death, marriage and civil partnership records. It also maintains a public search room where you can search computerised indexes. Website
Full access to the General Register Office of Northern Ireland's database is now also available on four dedicated computers in the PRONI search room - Website
Where to find Birth, Marriage and Death Certificates in IN
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Marriages 1845 - 1921
Marriages RC 1864 - 1921
Marriages 1845 - 1943
Marriages RC 1864 - 1943
Marriages 1845 - 2018
Marriages RC 1864 - 2018
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Research family history at the General Register Office NI (GRONI) - Online
For data protection reasons, if you are using the internet to search the register, you will be able to access the following records:
• birth records over 100 years old
• marriage records over 75 years old
• death records (including World War II death records) over 50 years old
If you want to search registrations use the following links:
If you want to order certificates use the following links:
GRONI Public Search Room
GRONI also has a public search room where you can search computerised indexes and view records.
Book a place
GRONI has a limited number of spaces in the search room. Only one person at a time is allowed to use a computer terminal. If you want to use the public search room, there is no admission fee but you should make an appointment. GRONI cannot guarantee a place will be available in the search room if you have not made a reservation.
Index searches available
basic index view – free
enhanced index view – one credit*
view full record or image – five credits*
* One credit costs £0.50
Copies of certificates available
You can buy copies of certificates for records you trace at £8.00 each but these cannot be provided immediately. You can collect the certificates from GRONI at a later date or GRONI can post these to you.
If you apply for a copy certificate before 2.30 pm and pay an additional priority fee of £5.00, you will get the certificate within an hour of your application.
Records available in the public search room
The table below shows the records you can access in the GRONI public search room.
Civil registration type
Birth
Birth
Death
Death
World War II deaths
Marriages
Marriages
Adoptions
Adoptions
Civil partnerships
Date span
1 Jan 1864 to 31 Dec 1996
1 Jan 1997 to current
1 Jan 1864 to 31 Dec 1996
1 Jan 1997 to current
1939 to 1954*
1 Apr 1845 to first quarter 2004
Second quarter 2004 to current
1 Jan 1931 to Dec 2002
Jan 2003 to current
Dec 2005 to current
What can I view for these records?
an image and index information
information recorded in text format only
an image and index information
information recorded in text format only
an image and index information
an image and index information
information recorded in text format only
an image and index information
information recorded in text format only
information recorded in text format only
Preparing for GRONI's Public Search Room
Before making an appointment to visit the 'General Register Office Northern Ireland' (GRONI) Public Search Room in Belfast to research family history, take a look at the guidelines below.
Before your visit
Before you visit GRONI's Public Search Room (PSR), follow these steps to avoid unnecessary delays on the day of your visit:
1. you should set up a GRONI account from home before your first visit - following this link Register for a GRONI account
2. you should make sure that your GRONI account has been activated and that your password is up to date
3. also make sure that you've bought enough credits on your GRONI account to cover any planned searches on your visit
Credits
To buy credits, to find out the price of credits, or check the number of credits you have. Log in to your GRONI account. Go to GRONI online
On arrival
On arrival at GRONI, a member of the front desk reception team will hand you a pass and ask you to wait at reception for a member of staff to take you to the public search room:
PRONI search room
There is now no reason to visit GRONI's office. *
Full access to the General Register Office of Northern Ireland's database is now also available on four dedicated computers in the PRONI search room - website
If you then choose to buy credits for enhanced or full views of certificates, go direct to GRONI.
General Register Office for Northern Ireland
The General Register Office for Northern Ireland (GRO) is located within the Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency and is responsible for: the administration of marriage and civil partnership law the registration of births, deaths, marriages, civil partnerships and adoptions the maintenance of registration records the production of birth, deaths, marriage, civil partnership and adoption certificates on request
General Register Office for Northern Ireland
Telephone: 0300 200 7890 (from Northern Ireland)
Telephone: 0289 151 3101 (from elsewhere in the UK)
Telephone: +44 2891 513 101 (from outside the UK)
Email: gro_nisra@finance-ni.gov.uk
Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 4pm (excluding public, bank and Northern Ireland government holidays)
Anyone who wishes to access the GRO search room should visit the new public office at:
General Register Office for Northern Ireland
NISRA
Colby House
Stranmillis Court
Belfast
BT9 5RR
How to get there -
The 8A and 8D Translink Metro buses run regularly from Belfast city centre, Donegal Square East and Great Victoria Street to the Stranmillis Area. You should alight at Stranmillis Mews opposite Riddel Hall, and it is a short walk to Colby House. Metro timetables are available on the Translink website(external link opens in a new window / tab)
For those coming by rail, Colby House is a 15 minute walk from the City Hospital or Botanic stations. Rail timetables are also available on the Translink website(external link opens in a new window / tab).
If you are coming by car, there are several spaces allocated for GRO customers. Access to the car park is via the barrier controlled access adjacent to the Piazza. Visitors can contact the reception staff within Colby House by pressing the call button on the barrier post. Reception staff can then raise the barrier boom remotely.