Applying for a birth certificate in South Africa

Registering a birth

• A parent, parents, guardian or any other person legally responsible for the child must complete Form BI-24 and must submit it to the nearest Department of Home Affairs office if in SA or the nearest South African embassy, mission or consulate if you’re overseas. Remember that your fingerprints will be used as part of the registration process.
• The palm, foot or fingerprint of the child whose birth is being registered is required. Records will be archived.
• Births reported after 30 days have additional requirements and you may need to pay a required fee for the application.

How to apply 

Newborn babies will receive an unabridged certificate free of charge. However, if you want to apply for a new unabridged certificate, lost your birth certificate or you need additional copies, you must

• complete Form BI-154
• take your ID (if you take copies, they should be certified),
• an application fee
• take your child’s ID, if you’re applying with the abridged certificate

Submit all this documentation at your nearest Home Affairs office or the nearest South African mission, consulate or embassy if you’re overseas.

This process will take 6 – 8 weeks. 

If you're waiting on the unabridged birth certificate and need to travel, consider asking a Home Affairs office for a letter that provides the details of both parents. Your child will be able to travel when you receive this letter.

More information

Learn more about the amendments to the Births and Deaths Registration Amendment Act or contact Home Affairs customer care on 0800 601 190.