Either parent can apply for a birth certificate. If the parents are legally married, either parent can register the child but must bring the national identity card of the other spouse. If the parents are not legally married, both parents must be present to sign a declaration of paternity.

For children born in a hospital:
Birth confirmation record from the hospital or clinic
Mother and father’s national identity cards
Marriage certificate (if applicable)
For children born out of a hospital:
Baptismal certificate or
One witness with a national identity card, preferably a midwife, or a letter from the farmer if born on a farm

The cost for an initial birth certificate for newborns is US$5.00 or the equivalent in ZiG (see the table above for ZiG fees)

Yes, single mothers can register their children under their maiden name if the biological father refuses to acknowledge paternity or if his whereabouts are unknown

Initial ID for persons above 16 years requires:
Long birth certificate
Parent’s national ID cards
If applicable, a marriage certificate.

The replacement fee for a lost national ID is US$10.00 or the equivalent of US$10.00 in ZiG

You can apply for a correction at the Registrar’s office. The fee for correcting an error is US$5.00 or the equivalent of this in ZiG. Documentary evidence, such as school certificates or hospital records, must be produced to substantiate the correction

The normal processing time for a birth certificate is up to 5 working days. Urgent processing takes 24 hours. Sometimes a birth certificate can be produced in as little as 30 minutes. It all depends on circumstances and if there is a backlog or an issue at the Registrar’s Offices

Non-citizens can apply for birth certificates only if they are eligible for citizenship. The fee is US$50.00 for an initial certificate and US$30.00 for a duplicate

To register a death, the following are required:
Death entry number of the deceased
Marriage certificate if the deceased was married
If customarily married or cohabiting, the spouse must call at the office with relatives of the deceased

The cost to replace a lost birth certificate is US$5.00 or the equivalent of this in ZiG

Requirements include national ID cards for both parties and in some cases, a pre-marriage counselling certificate.

Yes, but the birth certificate will only include the mother’s details unless the father is present to sign the declaration of paternity

The fee for fingerprint clearance is US$5.00 or the equivalent in ZiG. Urgent fingerprint clearance costs US$10.00 or the equivalent in ZiG.

To replace a lost national ID, you need the long birth certificate, a police report, and the replacement fee.

Yes, grandparents can register a birth if the parents are deceased or unavailable, but they need to provide proof of their relationship and the relevant documents

You need to provide the original death certificate issued abroad, translated into English if necessary, and the deceased’s national ID or passport

The fee for re-registration for legitimacy purposes is US$20.00.

To change the name on a birth certificate after marriage, you need the original birth certificate, your marriage certificate, and a fee of US$5.00 or the equivalent in ZiG.

f the parents are not legally married, both parents’ national identity cards and the birth confirmation record from the hospital are required. Both parents must be present to sign a declaration of paternity. Single mothers can register the child under their maiden name if the father does not acknowledge paternity or his whereabouts are unknown.

Yes, children born out of hospital can be registered with a baptismal certificate or a witness with a national identity card. In the case of a child born on a farm, a witness or a letter from the farmer is required

Applicants must provide their national identity card, a baptismal certificate (if applicable), the national identity card of a near relative, and a letter from their employer (if employed). Citizenship status must be established beyond doubt.

Late birth registration can be done for children born in a medical institution or outside a medical institution after one year from the date of birth. Requirements vary based on the circumstances of the birth and the parent’s marital status.

The minimum processing time for a normal duplicate birth or death certificate is 5 working days. Urgent processing takes 24 hours.

Yes, if the father is unwilling or unavailable, the child can still be registered under the mother’s name alone

Requirements include the long birth certificate, the current plastic ID card (if available), and a police report for lost IDs

Yes, a married woman can choose to use her maiden name or her husband’s surname for registering her child

Children must be registered in the district where they were born, but in exceptional cases, the Registrar General may allow registration in a different district

A birth certificate is essential for accessing health services, enrolling in school, and claiming inheritance rights. It serves as the first official form of identity linking an individual to their state and securing their rights as a citizen