My Child has a problem accessing a Birth Certificate
Your Child’s Rights
Every child born in South Africa should be able to get a birth certificate, whatever their nationality. However, in reality, many people have problems trying to get a birth certificate for their child.
Steps you can take
Here are steps you can take to try and get a birth certificate for your child.
1. If YOU do not have valid documents
If you are the parent of a child that needs a birth certificate, and you do not have any valid documents, you will not be able to get a birth certificate for your child. First, you must get a valid document for yourself. You can contact our Scalabrini Advocacy Whatsapp line on 0782603536. Scalabrini cannot issue you documents or birth certificates, but we can give you more information.
2. Registering a birth within 30 days
In South Africa, you must try to register the birth of your child within 30 days after birth. In some clinics and maternity wards, there is an office (run by the Department of Home Affairs) that can issue a birth certificate for your child in the hospital before you leave after giving birth.
Otherwise, the birth can be registered by a parent, guardian or any other person legally responsible for the child at an office of the Department of Home Affairs. To find your nearest Home Affairs office, click here.
Bring yourself and baby to the Department of Home Affairs, and say you want to register the baby’s birth. They will ask you to fill out a form (called the Form BI-24). This application is free of charge. They will print out an unabridged birth certificate, which shows the details of both parents, where possible.
3. Applying for a birth certificate after 30 days
If you were not able to register the birth of your child 30 days after it was born, you must apply for a “Late Registration of Birth”.
To do this, you must go to the Department of Home Affairs office that is closest to where the birth happened.
At Home Affairs, tell the officials that you would like to apply for a Late Registration of Birth. You will have to fill out a special form (DHA 24/LRB) and you will also have to fill out a form proving the child’s birth and an affidavit explaining why you are late. After you have applied for a Late Registration of Birth, Home Affairs officials will go to the hospital to verify the birth of your child. They will also ask you to attend an interview with them. This process can take up to a year.
You can contact our Scalabrini Advocacy Whatsapp Line on 0782603536. Scalabrini cannot issue you documents or birth certificates, but we can give you more information.
4. Registering a birth that took place during the national Covid-19 lockdown
If you have given birth during the national covid-19 lockdown, and you hold expired documentation, you might have a problem in registering the birth of your child.
- If your documentation expired on or after 15 March 2020, the Department of Home Affairs should still give you a birth certificate. If you are applying for the birth certificate more than 30 days after the birth, you will have to apply for a Late Registration of Birth – see step 3, above. If you still have problems, you can contact our Scalabrini Advocacy Whatsapp line on 0782603536. Scalabrini cannot issue you documents or birth certificates, but we can give you more information.
- If your documentation expired before 15 March 2020, you will need to extend your documentation and have valid documentation before you go to the Department of Home Affairs to apply for a birth certificate. For this, you might need advice on how to get valid documentation. You can contact our Scalabrini Advocacy Whatsapp line on 0782603536. Scalabrini cannot issue you documents or birth certificates, but we can give you more information.
