There you go then. The rules must vary in different regional offices. I DID have to provide ID but was not asked to pay any more for same day provision. I picked it up there and then. As wonderwoman says , perhaps the best thing to do is take ID with you just in case or even telephone your local office to see what you are required to bring , if anything at all. To be honest , I did not know that you could obtain a birth certificate via the post. I always assumed that you had to be present to pick up the copy , so there you go.