A birth certificate is an essential identification document that enables access to services for a child until he or she attains the age of 18 years and acquires a national identity card.
A birth certificate simplifies the application of other essential documents that might be necessary for life such as ID, passport, visa, examination registration, and other procedures that require identification.
A child born in Kenya should be registered for a birth certificate after birth. It is also essential for parents or guardians to follow up on the issue until they get a birth certificate in their hands for smooth sailing when documents are required. Technology has made it simpler and more convenient to apply for a birth certificate because you can apply for it online.
Birth certificate online application
Government services in Kenya are available in electronic form on a platform called Citizen. And the birth certificate is one of the services that you can access here.
You start by creating an eCitizen account using an ID card number. Submit a working email as part of account creation. The ID or email will be the way to log in to the eCitizen account together with a password.
The email is the place where the eCitizen portal will send a message when you want to reset a password. Also, provide a genuinely registered phone number.
After successful registration and signing into the account, you can under the Civil Registration Department apply for a birth certificate. Applications take place through a parent’s account that is linked to a phone number that will be used to make any payments through mobile money transfer. A parent can apply under these categories:
- Child current
- Adult current
- Late registration certificate
Child Current is an application for births that took place in a hospital and the healthcare facility issued a notification. Submission should be in the account of a parent/guardian for applicants below age 18. Parents/Guardians should apply at least 30 days after birth.
Submission Requirements
- A scanned copy of a birth notification
- Scanned copy of National ID for applicants over 18 years
- Scanned copy of a parent’s ID
- A scanned copy of an original birth certificate for persons applying for replacements
- Payment of application fees
Application steps
- Sign in to eCitizen. Fill in an online form and relevant documents in PDF then submit them. The form has an option for an applicant to choose a new certificate or replacement.
- Choose a new birth certificate and that the birth took place in a health facility. You can amend the name of a child, add an extra name, or remove spelling mistakes if you had made an earlier application. The amendment is allowed only for children below two years.
- Requirements for new applications are that one must decline an amendment option. One should acknowledge that a child is under 18 years and proceed to fill in: the county of the birth, hospital, and birth notification number.
- Attach a scanned PDF copy of the birth notification.
- Fill in three names of a child and gender. Fill in the name and ID number of both parents. Upload scanned copies of IDs for both parents and one for single parents
- Choose a pickup location for the certificate from included options like Huduma Centers or county birth and death registries.
The certificate is ready for collection in 2 to months. Applicants get a notification by text message when a certificate is ready for collection.
An early collection will save you from lining in a long queue outside government offices as many do in the last few months for examination registration.