Get a Birth Certificate

A birth certificate is the basic record of a person’s date and place of birth in India. This guide is for parents registering a newborn, and for adults or families who never registered a birth and now need a certificate for school, a passport or a government job.

Who needs this

Every birth in India must be registered under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969. Since the 2023 amendment, a birth certificate for anyone born on or after 1 October 2023 works as a single proof of date and place of birth for school admission, passports, Aadhaar, marriage registration and government jobs. If you were born earlier and were never registered, you can still register, but the process gets longer the more time has passed.

Registration is not handled by one central office. Each state runs its own registrars, usually the municipal corporation or council in towns and the gram panchayat secretary or a health officer in villages. Many states use the central Civil Registration System portal, while others have their own website. Always register at the place where the birth happened, not where the family lives.

Documents explained

Birth report (Form 1). This is the form that records the child’s details, the parents’ names, address and place of birth. For a hospital birth, the hospital fills and submits it. For a home birth, the parent or head of the household does.

Hospital slip or proof of home birth. A hospital discharge summary is enough for most institutional births. For a home birth, a letter from the ASHA or ANM worker, or a statement from whoever attended the birth, helps the registrar accept the report.

Parents’ ID and address proof. Aadhaar, voter ID or passport of both parents. Make sure the spellings on these match what you write on the form, because the certificate will copy them.

Affidavit and supporting proof (for late cases). If you are registering more than 30 days after the birth, you need an affidavit stating the date and place of birth, plus any old record you have, such as an immunisation card or school record.

Non-availability certificate and magistrate’s order (for very late cases). For births reported more than a year late, the registrar first confirms there is no existing entry, and then a magistrate must order the registration.

Step-by-step process

1. Ask the hospital first. If the child was born in a hospital, it has very likely already reported the birth. Ask for the registration number or acknowledgement.
2. Report a home birth within 21 days. Visit the local registrar or use your state portal and submit the birth report.
3. Choose the right portal. Use the CRS portal or your state’s birth and death portal. If you are unsure which applies, the municipal or panchayat office can tell you.
4. Fill in the details carefully. Names, date and place of birth must be correct. Corrections later need proof and take time.
5. Handle late registration. Between 22 and 30 days you only pay a late fee. Between 31 days and one year you need written permission from the District Registrar, an affidavit and a late fee.
6. Get a magistrate’s order for old births. From 1 October 2026, births reported one to two years late need an order from the District Magistrate, Sub-Divisional Magistrate or an authorised Executive Magistrate. Beyond two years you need an order from a Judicial Magistrate First Class.
7. Add the child’s name later if needed. You can register a birth without a name and add it afterwards. Doing it within 12 months is free.
8. Download or collect the certificate. Approved certificates can usually be downloaded with a digital signature, or collected from the registrar’s office.

Fees and timelines

On-time registrations are usually processed within one to two weeks. Late registrations depend on how quickly the District Registrar or magistrate acts, and a court order can take a few months.

Common problems and fixes

The hospital never reported the birth. Get a letter or discharge record from the hospital and apply yourself at the registrar for the area where the hospital is located.

Spelling mistakes on the certificate. Apply to the same registrar for a correction with documents that show the right spelling. Minor clerical errors are fixed by the registrar after checking.

You moved to another city. You still have to apply where the birth happened. Many states let you do this online, so check before travelling.

No old records for a very late registration. Collect whatever you can, such as school leaving certificates, old ration cards or statements from elders, and attach them to your affidavit. The magistrate decides based on the evidence.

Frequently asked questions

Is the birth certificate free?

Registering within 21 days is free, and most states give the first certificate free. Extra copies and late registration cost a small fee that your state sets.

Can I register a birth without the child’s name?

Yes. You can add the name later. Doing so within 12 months of registration is free; after that a late fee applies. Most registrars allow name addition for up to 15 years, but check with your registrar.

Where do I apply if my state does not use the CRS portal?

Use your state’s own birth and death registration website, or visit the municipal or panchayat registrar’s office in person.

My birth was more than two years ago and never registered. What now?

From 1 October 2026 you need an order from a Judicial Magistrate First Class. Get a non-availability certificate from the registrar, file an application with your affidavit and proof, and take the court’s order back to the registrar.