Notice of birth application and process


Notice of Birth
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) which can be
accessed from www.LawyersEzyFind.co.za and serves as a notice of birth.

The Form 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.

A notice of birth referred to above must be given by, where possible, both parents to the Director-General and accompanied by:

1. proof of birth on Form DHA-24/PB attested to by a medical practitioner who:

• Attended to the birth; or
• Examined the mother or the child after the birth of the child;
2. an affidavit attested to by a South African citizen who witnessed the birth of the child where the birth occurred at a place other than a health institution on Form DHA-24/PBA;

3. biometrics, in the form of a palm, foot or fingerprint of the child whose birth is sought to be registered in the appropriate space on Form DHA-24;

4. fingerprints of the parents, which shall be verified online against the national population register, provided that where the
fingerprints cannot be verified online, the full set of fingerprints of the parents shall be taken on Form DHA-24/A;

5. a certified copy of the identity document of the biological or adoptive mother or father or both parents of the child whose birth
is sought to be registered, as the case may be;

6. a certified copy of a valid passport and visa or permit, where one parent is a non- South African citizen;

7. where applicable, a certified copy of a death certificate of any deceased parent;

8. where applicable, a certified copy of the marriage certificate of the parents of the child whose birth is sought to be registered;

9. where applicable, a certified copy of the identity document or valid passport and visa or permit of the next-of-kin or legal guardian;

10. where applicable, Form DHA-288/B: where a woman gives birth to more than one child during a single confinement, a notice of
birth referred to above must, be given for each child on a separate Form DHA-24 with all the supporting documents and the
exact time of each birth must be recorded on this Form.

A notice of birth which does not meet the requirements of above shall not be accepted by Home Affairs.

Getting copies of birth certificates

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 reside permanently or temporarily in the Republic, for whatever purpose.

If you need additional copies of a 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:

According to the Births and Deaths Registration Act, all births must be registered within 30 Days of birth. If a child’s birth is not registered within
30 days, it is considered a late registration of birth.

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

• 31 days to one year;

• one year up to seven years;

• seven years and above.

31 days to one year

Apply at the designated office with the following requirements:

• DHA 24/LRB (notice of birth);
• Children born at a health facilities: DHA 24/PB (Proof of birth)/ Children born at home: DHA 24PBA (Proof of Birth Affidavit)
• DHA 288 /A (Affidavit giving reasons for late registration of birth);
• Biometrics (palm, foot or fingerprint) of the child to be registered
• Fingerprints of parent/s
• ID/Passport of parent/s

One year up to seven years

Apply at designated offices with the following requirements:
• DHA 24/LRB (notice of birth);
• Children born at a health facilities: DHA 24/PB (Proof of birth)/ Children born at home: DHA 24PBA (Proof of Birth Affidavit);
• DHA 288/A (Affidavit giving reasons for late registration of birth);
• DHA 288;
• Biometrics (palm, foot or fingerprint) of the child to be registered;
• Fingerprints of parent/s;
• ID/Passport of parent/s.

Seven years and above

Apply at designated offices with the following requirements:

• DHA 24/LRB (notice of birth);
• Children born at health facilities: DHA 24/PB (Proof of birth) /
Children born at home: DHA 24PBA (Proof of Birth Affidavit);
• DHA 288/A (Affidavit giving reasons for LRB);
• DHA 288;
• Biometrics (ID-size photo and fingerprint) of the person to be registered;
• Fingerprints of parent/s;
• ID/Passport of parent/s.
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 consent
(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.