Applying for a Kenya Birth Certificate

A child born in Kenya, whether in a hospital, at home or elsewhere, is entitled to receive a birth certificate issued by the government. 

The Civil Registration Services (CRS) is the government department responsible for birth certificate registration in Kenya.

Operating under the Ministry of Interior & Coordination of National Government, the CRS derives its authority from The Births and Deaths Registration Act, Chapter 149 of the Constitution of Kenya.

The CRS department plays an important role in maintaining a comprehensive and ongoing record of births and deaths.

Children need a birth certificate to fully access their rights and have legal proof of their existence both nationally and internationally.

A birth certificate simplifies the application process for other important documents, such as:

• A National Identification Card upon reaching the age of 18.
• School enrollment at nursery, primary, secondary, and university levels.
• Registration for the Kenya National Examinations.
• Application for a Kenyan passport.
• Health insurance: Civil servants, private sector, and civil society employees need birth certificates to include their children in employer health insurance schemes.

In cases of parental divorce, a birth certificate can ensure continued financial support for the children and sometimes alimony for the ex-partner. In custody disputes, it can prove parentage in court. For inheritance issues involving minors, a birth certificate can help secure their rights.

Eligibility for applying for a kenyan birth certificate include:

• Parents of a newborn child
• Guardians of a newborn child
• Rescue centers or children's homes responsible for the care of newly born abandoned babies.
• An individual must be born in Kenya and have at least one parent who is a Kenyan.

The child must be born in Kenya and of Kenyan parents. For children born abroad, click on this link to learn more about How to register a foreign born child in Kenya

Below are the different types of birth applications in Kenya, depending on your current situation

1. Application for Current Birth Certificate (under 6 months old)

Register the birth and obtain a birth notification.

• If born in a hospital, medical facilities provide a birth notification card.
• Parent’s Identification Documents i.e National ID, Passport, Alien Card or a Refugee ID
• For home births, the Sub-Chief authorizes registration and issues the notification after filling out the Register of Birth (Form A1).

2. Application for Late Birth Certificate

For births not registered within 6 months, start at the local sub-chief’s office if you lack a birth notification.

Fill out the Late Birth Certificate Application (Form B3) and submit it to your District Registry or ACK Bishop House in Nairobi opposite NSSF Building. 

Some of the required documents include:

• Baptismal certificate
• Child immunization clinic card
• Municipal notification of birth
• School leaving certificate
• Identity card or passport

3. Applying as an Adult (18 Years Age)

Adults without a birth certificate can apply at their local sub-chief's office, District Registry, or Huduma Centre by providing proof of their date of birth. 

Required documents include:

• Identity Card
• Parents' ID/Passport/Birth Certificates
• School leaving certificate
• Baptismal Card

For those lacking parents' ID, include a National Registration Bureau identification report printouts.

1. Ecitizen Portal

All applications for births in Kenya are done online on the eCitizen platform.

A person is required to fill in the online application form, upload all required documents, pay for the application, and present proof of payment (receipt or completed online forms) at the selected pick-up location.

During the application, ensure you select the location where you intend to pick up your birth certificate.

2. Huduma Centres

These are physical centers located across various parts of Kenya where you can access multiple government services, including applying for and collecting birth certificates.

3. District Birth and Death Registries

Located in each district, these Civil Registration Services (CRS) government offices allow a person to obtain forms and assistance to apply for a birth certificate in person.

Here is a detailed price breakdown of the charges applicable when applying through the eCitizen platform;

The birth certificate processing takes about four weeks. After submitting the online FORM B4 in the eCitizen portal, wait at least four weeks before visiting your selected pickup location. Ensure you choose this location during your application.

You can apply for a replacement by following the steps outlined in this link: How to replace a lost birth certificate in Kenya

Kenyans residing outside of Kenya have the option to register their children and apply for a birth certificate through the Kenyan Embassy in their country of residence.

This process is specifically designed for children born abroad to a Kenyan parent. It typically takes longer than local applications because the necessary documents must be sent to Kenya for processing.

For a detailed guidance on this procedure, you can refer to How to Register a Foreign-Born Child in Kenya.

E-Citizen Civil Registration Service Application Portal

Ministry of Interior & Coordination of National Government 

Form A1

Form B3