If it is a first application you need to send the birth certificate no matter what. On the front of the form there is a "If you want to pay for us to send your supporting documents back to you please tick box.....blah blah" This is an extra 3 pounds but worth it as so many originals can get lost.

If you were born before 1982/4(sorry havn't got a form to hand) you only need short birth certificate......if born after it has to be the long birth certificate.

bah even more complications. i was born 1987 and i only have the short birth certificate. The place to get hold of a full one is 600 miles away...

You can order them online nowadays.......go to the council you were born ats website

I asked my dad to see if he could get hold of one for me