Registering a birth

All children born in South Africa must be registered within 30 days of their birth (in terms of the Births and Deaths Registration Act, 1992.)

A parent, parents, guardian or any other person legally responsible for the child must complete Form BI-24 (with black ink only) and it must be submitted to the nearest office of the Department of Home Affairs if you are in South Africa, or the nearest South African embassy, mission or consulate if you are overseas. 

Once the child’s birth has been registered, an unabridged birth certificate is issued free of charge, usually a day or so after the registration application has been submitted.

Getting copies of birth certificates

Unabridged birth certificates are issued upon request to persons who are:

• South African citizens, whether in the Republic or outside the Republic, including persons who are not South African citizens but who sojourn permanently or temporarily in the Republic, for whatever purpose.

If you need additional copies of an unabridged birth certificate you must: 

• complete Form BI--154 and submit it to the nearest office of the Department of Home Affairs if you are in South Africa, or the nearest South African embassy, mission or consulate if you are overseas
• pay the required fee for the application

Undocumented Foreign Nationals who are born in South Africa are issued with a certificate free of charge on registration of their births. 

Late registration of a birth

Births reported after 30 days have additional requirements. These types of registration of births are divided into three main categories:

• After 30 days by before one year
• After one year but before 15 years
• 15 years and older (Follows new LRB process)

After 30 days but before one year

• Form BI-24 must be completed and submitted along with written reasons why the birth was not registered as required by the Births and Deaths Registration Act.
• If successful, the application will then be forwarded to the DHA Head office for the allocation of an identity number and for archiving.

After one year but before 15 years

You must still complete Form BI -24/1and attach written reasons why the birth was not registered as required by the Births and Deaths Registration Act.  In addition, you must provide documented proof in the form of:

• The identity and status of the child - an affidavit by the parents
• If the parents are deceased, an affidavit by a close relative at least 10 years older than the child who is familiar with the circumstances of the child’s birth
• Any other documents which could help establish the identity of the child.

The following documents are required to ensure the quick processing of your application:

• • A certificate by the hospital or maternity home where the child was born. The certificate must be signed by the person in charge and must have the institution's official stamp
  • Confirmation of the child's personal details as extracted from the school register of the first school attended by the child. The confirmation must be on the school's official letterhead, be signed by the principal and must have  the school's official stamp
  • The child's baptismal certificate
  • In the case of abandoned children, a social worker report must be submitted
  • A clinic card
  • School reports
  • Any other documentary evidence that may assist in proving the child's identity and status.
• Upon application, you will be interviewed and your fingerprints will be verified against the national database.
• If successful, your application will then be forwarded to the DHA Head office for the allocation of an identity number and for archiving.

After 15 years

• You must complete Forms DHA-24, DHA-24/A x 2 and DHA-288 for the registration of birth.
• You must be a South African citizen or permanent residence permit holder with a valid South African Identity Document.

Registering the birth of a child born within wedlock

Children born within wedlock can be registered under the surname of the father and mother jointly, where both parents have given constent (subject to the signatures on the margin).

Form BI-24must be completed (with black ink only) and it must be submitted to the nearest office of the Department of Home Affairs if you are in South Africa, or the nearest South African embassy, mission or consulate if you are overseas.

Once the child’s birth has been registered, an unabridged birth certificate is issued free of charge, usually a day or so after the registration application has been submitted.

Registering the birth of a child born out of wedlock

Children born out of wedlock are registered under the surname of the mother. They may also be registered under the surname of their biological father provided that the father acknowledges paternity and both the father and the mother consent to the registration of the child under the father’s surname in the presence of a Home Affairs official.

Form BI-24 must be completed (with black ink only) and it must be submitted to the nearest office of the Department of Home Affairs if you are in South Africa, or the nearest South African embassy, mission or consulate if you are overseas.

Once the child’s birth has been registered, an abridged birth certificate is issued free of charge, usually a day or so after the registration application has been submitted.