Registration of birth - is that a birth certificate?

[redstripe]

Hi everyone

I have a question regarding British Citizen otherwise than by descent.

I realise that for any child born outside of the UK to UK citizens, they most likely become British citizens by decent. Except for some special circumstances. Therefore, that child will be unable to pass on their citizenship.

Unless, they are adopted, naturalised or have the birth registered. It states it like this on several website, probably taken from statute I guess:

You can be a British Citizen otherwise than by descent by:

Birth;
Registration;
Naturalisation;
Adoption.

My question is, how do I know if a birth has been registered? Is it just a standard birth certificate? Or is it a separate citizenship document?

A bit of context - the birth was abroad (non qualifying colony, dominion or other) in 1948 and the birth certificate or document I have was registered in the UK in 1956. Is that document what is required to meet the 'registration' criteria and therefore make the child British Citizen otherwise than by decent, as opposed to British Citizen by decent? Or is there some other document required to prove otherwise.

Thank you in advance!

[Obie]

Registration of the Birth of a Child is different from Registration of a Child under 18 as British Citizenship.

They are two different concept.

The former is a legal requirement in many jurisdiction, the later is a mean by which someone can become a British Citizen.

[redstripe]

Thank you for this Obie.

Was this concept around in 1948 at the time of birth (or 1956 at the time of registration)?

Or would the process have been different then? I'm trying to figure out which document(s) in 1956 would legally represent a registration of any birth or a registration of a child under 18 for British Citizenship.