Application of birth certificate in India

The process to apply for a Birth Certificate 

In India, the process of birth registration is highly centralized and we have a number of registration centres to approach. However, the Registrar General is the highest and the chief authority that coordinates the States. All States have a Chief Registrar and each local registration centre is supervised by Registrars and Sub Registrars. 

The process involves the following steps:

Step 1 

The first step involves obtaining a birth certificate registration form from the office of the Registrar located in your municipal jurisdiction.  

Step 2 

If a child is born in a hospital, the birth certificate registration form shall be provided by the Medical Officer in charge at the hospital. 

Step 3 

This prescribed form must be filled and submitted within a period of 21 days from birth. 

Step 4

In cases where the birth certificate is not filled and submitted within 21 days of the birth, a birth certificate will only be issued after the verification by the police. 

Step 5 

After verification of the records of the birth like the date of birth, time of birth, place of birth, ID proof of the parents, he name of the hospital or the nursing home etc., the registrar issues the birth certificate to the applicant. 

Step 6 

The applicant should follow up with the registrar or the municipal authority, after 7 days of application, to obtain the birth certificate. 

Step 7 

A self-addressed envelope is provided by the applicant at the office of the municipality and the birth certificated is later posted on the same address within a period of one or two weeks. 

Documents needed for the process of registration are as follows:

 - Birth Certificates of each of the parents 

 - Proof of marriage or a marriage certificate belonging to the parents

 - A proof of birth that is issued by the hospital or the nursing home. 

 - And for the purpose of verification, identity proof of the parents is needed. 

How to apply for a Birth Certificate in India?

With the onset of the digital space, the government has provided an online digital space for application for the birth certificate. With the availability of the online mode for the application, the offline mode might appear slow. Some of the cites in the urban areas provide for easy to use online registration method for obtaining a birth certificate and the applicants can go online to check whether the same facility is available in their urban city or not. 

Online Registration

1. Visit the website crsorgi.gov.in for online registration. 

2. On the left-hand side, the applicant will find a button that prompts sign-up. 

3. In order to register, the applicant should then click on signup for General public. 

4. After this, a pop-up box appears on the screen where the applicant is supposed to fill in the required details like the username, residence in the form of a village, town or district, place of birth, contact information like a phone number or email address etc. 

5. In the field of the Registration Unit, if the username and ID show active status, it means that the applicant’s town or district is eligible for online registration of the birth certificate. 

6. Once the applicant has registration, along with a Thank you message, a prompt to check one’s email ID in order to confirm registration appears on the screen. This email allows the applicant to set up a password for the registration. 

7. After this, sign up again and enter the password. 

8. Then a screen pops up prompting to enter the name of the child, name of the parents and the location of the child and parents. 

9. Fill this form and submit it within a period of 24 hours. Make of copy of this form in your computer and get a printout. 

10. After this to get this attested, one should visit the office of the registrar or sub-registrar in one’s region. 

Offline Registration 

1. Obtain a registration form for a birth certificate from the nearest office of Municipal Corporation in your city.  

2. The letter that issued by the medical in charge at the time of the birth of the child is to be submitted at the Registrar’s office. 

3. This form must be filed within a period of 21 days from the date of birth of the child. 

4. Details pertaining the time of birth, the place of birth, name of the parents, name of the hospital or the nursing home, the gender of the child etc. are to be verified by the office. 

5. Once the office has verified the required details, the applicant is usually sent the birth certificate on his or her address within 7 to 15 days. 

6. In the case of urgency, the applicant can request the office to send the birth certificate early by providing a self-addressed envelope at the office. 

7. If the applicant fails to register for a birth certificate within 21 days of the birth of the child, then verification by police ensues before the registration.

 Where is this Birth Certificate required?

A birth certificate can prove to be very useful in cases of admission of the child to colleges and schools, availing benefits, to prove inheritance or claim the property. 

Few examples are as follows-

To establish age in an insurance claim 

Establishing proof for marriage 

Proof for employment 

Passport application