Zimbabwe Birth Certificate Fees & How to Apply (2026 Guide)
Every Zimbabwean needs a birth certificate before they can get a National ID or a passport, so it’s usually the first document you’ll ever apply for. Here’s what it costs in 2026, who can apply, and what to bring with you to the Registrar General’s office.
Zimbabwe birth certificate fees
Prices last confirmed 4 hours ago.
All of these are handled by the Civil Registry Department (the same office that issues passports). Fees are billed in USD, but you can pay in ZiG at the exchange rate on the day.
| Service | Fee (USD) | Fee (ZiG) |
|---|---|---|
| Searching birth or records for any one year of any document | US$1.00 | ZiG 27 |
| Photocopying any birth or death document/page | US$0.20 | ZiG 5 |
| Initial birth certifcate for persons six years or younger | US$0.00 | ZiG 0 |
| Initial birth certifcate for persons above six years | US$5.00 | ZiG 133 |
| Certified copy of an entry of birth or death certificate | US$5.00 | ZiG 133 |
| An extract of an entry relating to birth or death | US$2.00 | ZiG 53 |
| Urgent birth/death certicate | US$10.00 | ZiG 266 |
| External birth certificate | US$15.00 | ZiG 399 |
| Non-citizen birth certificate (initial) | US$10.00 | ZiG 266 |
| Non-citizen birth certificate (duplicate) | US$25.00 | ZiG 665 |
Who can apply, and what you need to bring
Either parent can register a birth. If the parents are legally married, either one can do it alone, but must bring the other spouse’s national ID card. If the parents aren’t married, both must be present to sign a declaration of paternity — though a single mother can still register the child under her own name if the father won’t acknowledge paternity or can’t be found.
For a child born in a hospital or clinic
- The birth confirmation record from the hospital or clinic
- Both parents’ national ID cards (or one, plus the other’s ID, if only one parent is registering)
- A marriage certificate, if the parents are married
For a child born outside a hospital
You’ll need a baptismal certificate, or a witness (preferably a midwife) with a national ID card. If the birth happened on a farm, a letter from the farmer can stand in for a witness.
Registering yourself as an adult who was never registered as a child (self-registration) works differently — you’ll need your own national ID card, a baptismal certificate if you have one, a near relative’s national ID card, and a letter from your employer if you’re employed. Your citizenship has to be established beyond doubt before the Registrar will proceed.
Processing time
A first-time birth certificate normally takes up to 5 working days, urgent processing takes 24 hours, and — depending on the office and how busy it is — some are issued in as little as 30 minutes. A duplicate (replacing a lost certificate) follows the same timeline: 5 working days normally, 24 hours urgent.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
It’s free for children six years old or younger. Above six, the initial birth certificate costs US$5.00 (or the ZiG equivalent on the day).
A duplicate (replacement) birth certificate costs US$5.00, or the equivalent in ZiG.
Only if they’re eligible for Zimbabwean citizenship. The fee is higher than for citizens: US$50.00 for an initial non-citizen birth certificate and US$30.00 for a duplicate.
Yes, but the certificate will only carry the mother’s details unless the father is present to sign the declaration of paternity.
Yes, if the parents are deceased or unavailable — grandparents can register a grandchild’s birth, but need to bring proof of the relationship along with the usual documents.
A birth can still be registered more than a year after the fact, whether it happened in a medical institution or not. The exact requirements depend on the circumstances of the birth and the parents’ marital status — it’s worth calling ahead to your local Registrar’s office to confirm what to bring.
Apply at the Registrar’s office. The correction fee is US$5.00 (or the ZiG equivalent), and you’ll need documentary evidence — school records or hospital records, for example — to support the correction. If the error originated from the Department itself, there’s no charge.
It’s the first official proof that links you to the state — you need it for a National ID, a passport, school enrolment, accessing health services, and later, claiming inheritance rights. Almost every other civic document in Zimbabwe traces back to it.
Related civic documents
- National ID fees & application guide — the document you’ll need your birth certificate for next.
- Passport application fees & FAQs
- Death certificate fees & registration guide
- All birth, death, National ID and citizenship fees in one place
