How you will get your 2023 Census forms
We are delivering census packs from 13 February 2023. Find out how you might receive yours.

We aim to make it as easy as possible for everyone to do the census. But different people will need different things to make it easy.
Because of this, we will deliver census forms and instructions in different ways in different parts of the country. We base this on what we understand from past censuses, and from different communities.
So depending on where you live or stay, you may get your forms and instructions:
- before or after others in your community
- either directly from a census collector, or in the post.
Before census day, we will deliver what you need to do the census
This will come to your dwelling (the place where you live or stay). It will be either:
- a letter with an access code, which lets you do the census online
- a letter with an access code, and forms to do the census on paper if you prefer.
No matter where you live, you can choose to do the census online or on paper.
- If you get paper forms, you can still choose to do the census online.
- If you do not get paper forms but would like them, you can order them for free.
Thursday 22 June 2023: Orders for new sets of paper forms have now closed.
In some parts of the country, census collectors will deliver census materials to each dwelling
If you live in one of these areas, a census collector will come to your door with a letter and paper forms. They will also offer support to do the census.
If you are not at home, they will either:
- come back later
- leave the letter and paper forms in your letterbox
This type of delivery begins on 13 February 2023.
In other parts of the country, census materials will arrive in the post
If you live in one of these areas, keep an eye on your letterbox for either:
- a letter with an access code
- a letter with an access code, and paper forms.
This type of delivery begins on 21 February 2023.
In communal or temporary accommodation, the person in charge will supply census materials
Communal or temporary accommodation includes places like hotels, hospitals, and retirement villages.
If you are staying somewhere like this on census day, the person in charge will give you what you need to do the census.
After census day, we will follow up if we have not received your forms
If we have not received all your completed forms after census day, we will be in contact with you. Depending on how we delivered your census materials, we will:
- visit your dwelling one or more times to collect your forms, or offer support to complete them
- post reminder letters to your dwelling
- both visit your dwelling and post you reminder letters.