If you are expecting a baby, it is important for you to know the procedure to apply for and obtain a birth certificate for your child born in India.

A birth certificate is an important document that establishes the date of birth of a person. It is usually required for admission of your child in a school, applying for a passport etc. If you apply for a birth certificate for your child immediately after birth, you will realize that it is a very simple process. If you delay it, the process can get unnecessarily complicated.

Birth Certificate is issued by the Municipal Corporation/Municipal Council in urban areas whereas in rural areas the authority is the Tehsildar at the Taluka level. The authority at the village level is the Gram Panchayat Office.

To apply for a Birth Certificate, you must first register the birth. The birth has to be registered with the concerned local authorities within 21 days of its occurrence, by filling up the form prescribed by the Registrar. Birth Certificate is then issued after verification with the actual records of the concerned hospital.

Here are the steps to register a birth and obtain a birth certificate

  1. Obtain a birth registration form from the birth center (hospital) or Town Registrar’s office and fill in complete details.   In rural areas, there may not be actual application forms available and in such cases, the applications with complete details of birth can be written on plain paper. The details that are typically asked for in the registration form are

    Name of the child
    Name of Father
    Name of Mother
    Place of Birth
    Date of Birth
    Sex (Gender)
    Permanent address of Parents

  2. Submit the duly completed application form along with fee. The fee may vary from one state to another.
  3. The registrar of births will verify the birth with birth center (hospital) and then issue a birth certificate by mail.
  4. In case the birth has not been registered within the specified time of its occurrence (21 days), the certificate is issued after due police verification ordered by the revenue authorities.  This can take a long time and it is therefore better to register the birth within 21 days

It will usually take about 10 days for the birth certificate to be ready.  There is a legal fast-track process where the birth certificate can be collected in 2 days.