ProcedureEdit
A child born in Kenya should be registered immediately after birth or within the first six months. This should be done by the parents or the designated guardians. Even if a child dies at birth, it still needs to be registered.
Below are the different scenarios for birth certificate application in Kenya
- Application for Current Birth Certificate– (Immediately after birth, less than 6 months old)
- Application for Late Birth Certificate (after 6 months of birth)
- Applying for a Birth Certificate as an Adult
Apply In-Person:
- Application for Current Birth Certificate– (Immediately after birth, less than 6 months old) :
- The process begins with the registration of birth and the issuance of a notification of birth. If your child is born in the hospital, all medical facilities in Kenya register the birth and provide a birth notification card.
- However, if your child was born at home, the Sub-Chief is authorized to register births in his location and will issue the notification of birth after the Register of Birth (form A1) is duly filled by the applicant. In Nairobi all births are registered at the City Hall. You can also get birth registration services at the District Birth and Death Registries.
- One you have your birth notification you can submit your duly filled Application for Birth Certificate (Form B4) to your District Birth and Death Registries offices or ACK Bishop House, if you are in Nairobi for processing to begin.
- One is required to pay a sum of Ksh 50 to 150 if they meet the above requirements. Birth certificate application in Kenya attracts different charges depending on the current situation and need.
- Application for Late Birth Certificate:
- This application is for births which were not registered within 6 months. If you do not have a birth notification (In cases where the child is born at home or late registration) you need to start the process at the local sub-chief’s office so as to register the birth
- Here the applicant is required to fill the Late Birth Certificate Application (form B3) and then submit it for processing in the District Birth and Death Registries offices or ACK Bishop House, if you are in Nairobi for processing to begin.
- The following documents are crucial for the late registration process:
- Baptismal certificate
- Child immunization clinic card
- Municipal notification of birth
- School leaving certificate
- Identity card or passport
- The following documents are crucial for the late registration process:
- One is required to pay a sum of Ksh 150 they meet the above requirements.
- This application is for births which were not registered within 6 months. If you do not have a birth notification (In cases where the child is born at home or late registration) you need to start the process at the local sub-chief’s office so as to register the birth
- Applying for a Birth Certificate as an Adult:
- If you are an adult without a birth certificate, you can apply by going to the local sub-chief, your District birth and death registry office or Huduma Centre. You must provide a document that can validate your date of birth. Once validated you can then fill form B1 and submit it to the civil registration officer. A fee of Ksh180 is charged for the process. Notification for collection is usually through a text message after twenty one (21) working days.
- The following documents are crucial for applying for a birth certificate as an adult:
- Identity Card
- Parents Original ID Card/Passport/Births Certificate.
- School leaving Certificate (Form Four or Class 8).
- Baptismal Card.
- National Registration Bureau printout for those who do not have the parents ID.
- If you are an adult without a birth certificate, you can apply by going to the local sub-chief, your District birth and death registry office or Huduma Centre. You must provide a document that can validate your date of birth. Once validated you can then fill form B1 and submit it to the civil registration officer. A fee of Ksh180 is charged for the process. Notification for collection is usually through a text message after twenty one (21) working days.
Apply On-line:
On-line applications are available for Nairobi region only. Other regions will be added soon.
- Visit E -citizen
- Log in or create account if you do not have one.
- Scroll down and look for civil registration department. Click the get service button'
- Next click the make application and select birth certificate and follow the instructions
- You will need the name of the hospital, birth notification number (available on the birth notification slip you were given by the hospital), others ID number and mother’s maiden name (fathers ID number and name are optional)
- The fee is 100 which is payable via Lipa na Mpesa
- Submit a copy of you eCitizen invoice to ACK Bishop House for processing to begin
You should present the following to ACK Bishop House for processing to begin.
For Current Birth Certificate application
- Your eCitizen invoice
- Printed B4 application form
- Copies of Parents ID cards
- Copy of Birth Notification
For Late Birth Certificate application
For individuals who are under 18 years of age
- Clinic Card
- Parents Original ID Card/Passport/Births Certificate.
- Additional Documents may be requested e.g. Antenatal records or letter from Lawyer or Chief.
- Clinic Card
For individuals who are over 18 years
- Identity Card
- Parents Original ID Card/Passport/Births Certificate.
- School leaving Certificate (Form Four or Class 8).
- Baptismal Card.
- National Registration Bureau printouts for those who do not have the parents ID.
Required DocumentsEdit
- Your eCitizen invoice
- Dully filled B4 application form
- Copy of Birth Notification
- Register of birth form B1 or A1
- Mothers Proof of Identity/National Identity Card
- Fathers proof of Identity/National Identity
- Proof of date of birth for late Registration (School Leaving certificate, Passport, National Identity Card, Notification of Birth, and Baptismal Certificate)
- Childs Identity Card No (For Late Registration)
- Copy of both parents ID cards
- Copy of a Death certificate (If a parent passed on)
Office Locations & ContactsEdit
Department of Civil Registration - Head Office
Hass Plaza 4th Floor, Lower Hill Road,
P.O Box 49179- 00100
Nairobi
Tel: +254-20-2714987/8
Fax: 2714989
Email; [email protected]
Website: link
EligibilityEdit
- Parents/guardians of a newly born baby
- Rescue centres taking charge of newly born abandoned babies
- The individual must be born in Kenya and of Kenyan parents (either one or both).
FeesEdit
- For a person who is applying for a birth certificate in Kenya without amendments pays Ksh 50.
- For amendments in Birth Certificates in Kenya and correction of the Childs name on the birth certificate in Kenya, there is usually a payment of Ksh 100.
- To correct the name of the parent in a birth certificate in Kenya, one pays Ksh 90.
- For correction of both the name of child and the name of the parent in a birth certificate in Kenya, a total of Ksh 130 is paid.
- For re-registration for a birth certificate in Kenya, a fee of Ksh 90 is paid.
- For late registration of a Birth certificate in Kenya – which is usually termed when registration is occurring six months from date of birth occurrence in Kenya, a fee of Ksh 150 is paid at the offices of birth registration in Kenya.
- For a person who is applying for a birth certificate in Kenya without amendments pays Ksh 50.
- A person above 18 years of age who is required to pay Khs180 for the process.
ValidityEdit
- The Birth Certificate Valid Forever
Documents to UseEdit
- Register of Birth (form A1) : Form A1
- Application for Birth Certificate (Form B4) : Birth certificate
- Application for Late Registration Of A Birth (Form B3) : Form B3
Sample DocumentsEdit
Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.
Processing TimeEdit
Three weeks
Related VideosEdit
Kenya - Obtain a Birth Certificate - English
<video type="//www.youtube.com/">kJ8Kbz8AKgY|width="560" height="340"</video>
Kenya - Kupata Cheti cha Kuzaliwa (Obtain a Birth Certificate) - Kswahili
<video type="//www.youtube.com/">IK_7ezgl42w|width="560" height="340"</video>
InstructionsEdit
- Obtaining a birth notification that is presented to the district registrar of births and deaths for the birth certificate to be processed.
- If the child is born at home, then the process of obtaining a birth certificate can be started at the Sub-Chiefs office.
- Individuals older than 6 months can also obtain birth certificates but submitting notification cards, baptismal certificate, school leaving certificate, identity card or passport. As many of these documents are needed to validate their date of birth.
Required InformationEdit
- The name of the new born baby. This may sometimes be optional.
- Date and the place of the birth.
- The sex of the child (Whether male or female)
- The type of birth (i.e. whether single or multiple as in twins/triplets etc.)
- Exact place of Birth / Name of hospital where child was born
- The nature of birth.
- Birth Notification No.
- The particulars of the mother. i.e. the name, age, marital status, the previous births and the area/district the mother resides in.
- Full Name of Mother before marriage
- The name of the father for the married couples.
- Applicants' Address
- Postal Address of Child (For late application)
Need for the DocumentEdit
- The birth certificate is the first step towards the full exercise of citizenship. It is a proof of citizenship in Kenya and enables the holder to access the rights of a citizen of Kenya.
- It proves your existence, your place and the date of birth, it is a legal document that proves and provides the names of your parents. i.e. it shows one’s kinship.
- Without this document and the birth certificate number, citizens are deprived of their most fundamental rights and have no access to social programs and other government services.
These services and documents include;
- National ID Cards
- Passports application
- Visa application
- Application for employment
- Registering for final exams in primary and secondary schools.
- Register your child for the National Hospital Insurance Fund
- Apart from being the first legal acknowledgement of a child’s existence and ticket to citizenship and nationality, a certificate of birth is fundamental to the realisation of a number of rights and practical needs such as:-
- Ensure that children enrol in school at the right age.
- To prevent child labour by enforcing laws relating to minimum age for employment.
- To effectively counter the problem of forced marriage for girls before they are legally eligible without proof of age.
- Getting a passport.
- Getting an educational, health and or insurance policy cover for a child.
- Opening a bank account for a child.
- Protecting a child orphan from being disinherited by guardians/ relatives
- Ensure that children in conflict with the law are given special protection and not treated (legally) and practically as adults.
- Protect children who are trafficked, including through repatriation and family reunion.
- Ensure that children enrol in school at the right age.
Without a birth certificate a child does not officially exist and therefore lacks legal access to the privileges and protection of a Nation.
It is therefore very vital that parents apply for their children’s birth certificate as soon as they are born to avoid inconveniences in the future.
Information which might helpEdit
- Kenyans living abroad can also register for their children and apply for a birth certificate. This process is facilitated by the Kenyan Embassy in the county they are domiciled. This takes much longer than the others since your documents have to be sent from Kenya. This is only applicable if the child was born outside the country but to Kenyan parents.
- Note: Processing time takes 3 months or more depending on the time it takes for the authorities to verify parents’ citizenship details.
- In case of late registration of birth must be followed by application for a birth certificate. Therefore if you are applying for the late registration you will also be required to apply for a birth certificate. Even though the current limit for the current late registration has a time limit of six months from the onset for the date of birth of the child, the maximum time period for the process of late registration is at 60 years from the date of birth
other uses of the Document/CertificateEdit
- Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.
- It is used to register a child in the national insurance scheme NHIF.
- It is used to register for primary and secondary school examinations.
- The birth certificate is required during the application of a Kenyan passport.
External LinksEdit
- E-Citizen civil registration service application portal :E-Citizen
- Ministry of Interior & Coordination of National Government :Refer Link
- Civil registration forms : Forms
OthersEdit
- Application of Registration of Birth Occurring Abroad :Form