Could anyone please advise if they have ever requested a duplicate birth certificate from U.K.
Was/is it straightforward? How long does it take etc?
I have my original certificate. The sporting association I am a member of here, are requesting a specific copy - 'Un extrait d'acte de naissance (récent) avec obligatoirement les mentions marginales'.
Do I assume this means a confirmed recent copy issued by the UK authorities? Or can I make the copy myself and date/sign it?

Hi, your Association assumes that all Birth Certificates are the same as French ones, which have marriages, divorces, etc... mentioned in writing in the margin. Which is why it has to be "recently" issued (within 3 months, I believe). They'll have to make do with the British style! If they don't accept a photocopy of your original one, then I suppose you'll have to get a duplicate from the UK.
As a matter of interest, is it still Somerset House that issues duplicates? My Sous-Préfecture might decide that a photocopy of mine isn't sufficient, and it'll be good to know in advance!

I found it pretty straight forwards order from the Government website but they were slow so I would recommend their express service which bumps the price up.

http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/

Thanks for the link, I'm glad I asked!

I got a friend in the UK to order one online for me this summer and it seemed to arrive quite quickly. But there was no great urgency. These things always take longer when you need them fast, it's sod's law.

If you have your full original then there's little point in ordering a duplicate from the GRO as it will have the same information, unless they intend on keeping it, in which case I would order another certified copy for £10 and submit that.

As dmu points out French bureaucracy doesn't seem to recognise there is any system other than their own. I would ask them that they need from someone born outside France and be prepared for a long wait.

Many thanks for all your replies.
I'll speak to the Prefecture and see if they will accept a copy certified by myself, with my original prepared for presentation to them if required.

Against all expectations, the S-P did accept the photocopy, as the Mairie rang today to say that my renewed French Passport is awaiting me!
If the same good fairy is watching over him, TP shouldn't have problems at his Préfecture!!

Glad that has been sorted. We have had to order one or two birth certificates (online) mainly because there are two versions in the UK, the long and the short. The longer version I think is a copy of the birth registration and so is more detailed. I made sure we obtained both for our children when they were born and I'm glad I did, they required the long version for the legendary French administration!

It's easy http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/