How To Get a Birth Certificate In Kenya

A birth Certificate serves as the first form of identification before you finally attain the age of applying for a national identity card. It doesn’t end there. The Kenyan birth certificate number is used when applying for a national ID, passport or visa. So, are you conversant with the process of birth certificate application?

How To Get a Birth Certificate In Kenya

There are several requirements that you need to fulfil when applying for this document. To apply for one, you will be required to present the following:

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 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.
  • Once 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 one meets the above requirements. Birth certificate application in Kenya attracts different charges depending on the current situation and need.

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 out 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:
  1. Identity Card
  2. Parent’s Original ID Card/Passport/Births Certificate.
  3. School leaving Certificate (Form Four or Class 8).
  4. Baptismal Card.
  5. National Registration Bureau printout for those who do not have the parent’s ID.

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-chiefs office so as to register the birth
  • Here the applicant is required to fill out 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:
  1. Baptismal certificate
  2. Child immunization clinic card
  3. Municipal notification of birth
  4. School leaving certificate
  5. Identity card or passport

One is required to pay a sum of Ksh 150 if one meets the above requirements.

Apply Online:

Online applications are available for the Nairobi region only. Other regions will be added soon.

  1. Visit E -citizen
  2. Log in or create an account if you do not have one.
  3. Scroll down and look for the civil registration department. Click the get service button’
  4. Next, click the make application select birth certificate and follow the instructions
  5. You will need the name of the hospital, birth notification number (available on the birth notification slip you were given by the hospital), other ID number and mother’s maiden name (fathers ID number and name are optional)
  6. The fee is 100 which is payable via Lipa Na Mpesa
  7. Submit a copy of your eCitizen invoice to ACK Bishop House for processing to begin

You should present the following to ACK Bishop House for processing to begin.