This article explains how to get a birth certificate in Kenya through various ways, and also how to replace a birth certificate in Kenya.

A birth certificate is an important identification document that allows a child to access services until he or she reaches the age of 18 and obtains a national ID.

Furthermore, it simplifies the application of other important documents, such as a national identity card, a passport, visas, registering for KCPE and KCSE, and many other government applications.

A child born in Kenya should be registered for a birth certificate either immediately or within six months of birth.

If you’re wondering how to get a birth certificate in Kenya, this article will walk you through the process.

So keep reading until the end…

 

How to get a birth certificate in Kenya

The birth certificate can be obtained at the nearest Huduma Centre or at the district birth and death registries in your county.

Additionally, the birth application process can also be completed online through the eCitizen portal.

To obtain a birth certificate, however, you must first register the birth with the hospital where the child is born. The hospital will then give you a birth notification, which you will use to obtain the birth certificate.

There are different scenarios for birth certificate application as follows:

1. New birth certificate (for kids immediately after birth or within 6 months after birth).
2. Late registration (after 6 months of birth).

 

How to apply in person for a birth certificate

Requirements

To obtain a new birth certificate:

• The original and a copy of the birth notification
• Copies of parents’ national ID
• Application fees (kshs. 60 to Kshs. 180; the price may vary from time to time).

 

For applications for a late birth certificate:

1. For people under 18 years of age

• A clinic card or prenatal records
• Parents original ID card or births certificate or death certificate (if a parent is deceased)
• Documents such as a letter from the chief or a lawyer
• Late registration application form duly completed

2.For individuals over 18 years of age

• Applicant’s ID card
• Parents’ original ID card/ passport/ births certificate/ death certificate (if any parent is deceased)
• Baptismal card
• Class 8 and Form four school leaving certificates
• National registration bureau printouts for those who do not have the parents ID card
• Duly filled application form for late registration

 

Procedure

1. Visit your district’s Office of the Registrar of Births and Deaths or Huduma Centre, and you will be given a form to fill out.
2. After completing the form, attach the copies of ID and the birth notification.
3. Submit the application form to the registration office.
4. The information you’ve provided is then verified and you are directed to the cash register to pay the application fees.
5. You’ll then be given a receipt, which you’ll use to pick up the birth certificate when its ready.

 

How to get a birth certificate in Kenya online

Through the eCitizen platform, you can now apply for a birth certificate from wherever you are, thanks to advances in technology.

You can apply for a birth certificate for your child as well as late birth certificate registration online.

The following are the requirements and steps to take to get the process started:

Requirements

• Scanned copy of the notification of birth.
• Scanned copy of parents’ national ID (scanned copy of death certificate if any parent is deceased).
• For those over the age of 18, a scanned copy of their ID is required.
• The application fee.

 

Application steps

1. Go to the eCitizen portal
2. Log in or if you don’t already have an account, sign in or create one.
3. Go to the Civil Registration Department and click the ‘get service’ button
4. To get started, click on the make application
5. Choose birth certificate
6. Complete the online application form.
7. Upload all required documents and make sure they are in PDF format.
8. Remember to select a location for the birth certificate pick-up.
9. Click “Continue” and pay for your application using any of your preferred payment methods (options range from Mpesa to debit or credit cards to Airtel money).
10. Print the invoice and keep it for future reference (mostly during the collection of the birth certificate).
11. When the birth certificate is ready, you will be notified.

 

How to get a birth certificate in Kenya without notification

1. If you do not have a birth notification (for instance, in cases where the child was born at home or registration was late), there is no need to panic.

All you need to do is start the process at the local sub-chief’s office, where you’ll be given the necessary documentation. This is because sub-chiefs are authorized to register births in their locations.

 

2. In case the birth notification is lost and you don’t have a copy, the only option is to go back to the hospital where the baby was born and request for a copy of the birth notification.

Alternatively, you can also go to the Civil Registry in your County and have a copy of the notification retrieved, then proceed to apply for the birth certificate.

How to replace a birth certificate in Kenya

If you’ve lost your birth certificate or your child’s, or if it’s damaged, you should replace it as soon as possible.

But, you can only replace a birth certificate if you have a copy of the birth notification or birth certificate.

However, if you don’t have any of these, you’ll have to go to the Civil Registry in your county to get a copy.

A lost birth certificate can be replaced in person at Huduma Central or online at the eCitizen portal.

 

Physical application of birth certificate replacement

Required documents

• Copy of birth notification or birth certificate—in case you don’t have any, you are required to go to the civil registry in your county to get a copy.

• Copy of the parents’ ID. In case any of the parents is dead, you should have a copy of death certificate.

Procedure

1. Visit the Huduma Centre nearest to you or the department for civil registration and present a copy of the birth notification or birth certificate.

Those born within Nairobi County can go to Huduma Centre or the office of the Registration for Births and Deaths located at Bishop’s Plaza, opposite Milimani Court.

On the other hand, those born outside Nairobi can visit Hass Plaza, 4^th Floor, on the Lower Hill Road.

2. Fill in the application form (Form B1), pay the prescribed fee (the fee ranges between Kshs. 60 and Kshs. 180), and submit it to the registration officer together with the documents mentioned above.
3. You will then be notified once the birth certificate is ready.

 

Online application of birth certificate replacement

Requirements

• Scanned copy of either a copy of the birth notification/ birth certificate
• Scanned copy of the parent’s national ID or scanned copy of death certificate if any parent is deceased.

Process

1. Log in to the parents eCitizen portal.
2. Go to civil registration department
3. Select birth certificate, then select apply for replacement
4. Fill in the required details and upload all the necessary documents
5. Choose your mode of payment and pay the application fee
6. Once done, submit your application.
7. Download the application invoice and submit a copy of the invoice to the Civil Registration Department located at ACK Bishop House, Bishop’s Road, off Ngong Road (for the process to begin).
8. You’ll then be notified once the birth certificate is ready.

 

How to get a birth certificate in Kenya—FAQs

How can I get my birth certificate number online in Kenya?

At the moment, there is no way to check your birth certificate number online. Any new information will be posted here as soon as it becomes available.

 

Conclusion on how to get a birth certificate in Kenya

Finally, whether it’s a new or replacement birth certificate, the application process in Kenya is quite simple.

Simply follow the steps above, and you’ll have it in no time.

All the best!

 

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