How to get birth certificate Nigeria
Do you need a birth certificate for yourself or your baby? You will find out all the information you need concerning obtaining a birth certificate in Nigeria in this post.
A birth certificate is an official document given to every person born in Nigeria. It is given by the National Population Commission (NPC), which is responsible for registering every person born in Nigeria. The NPC has different registration centers in different locations. They have at the Local Government Headquarters, NPC registration post at hospitals, health centers and other NPC registration centers.
A birth certificate is very important especially for official purposes and for a lot of applications in Nigeria. For example, for higher institution registration, international passport application, etc. in Nigeria. There are different procedures involved in getting a birth certificate in Nigeria depending on the place of birth and the timing.
The procedures for getting a birth certificate for a person born in the hospital or any other medical institution is different from how to get a birth certificate for a person born outside of a medical institution. Also, based on timing, how to get a birth certificate after some months or years after a person’s birth is different from how to get it within 60 days after birth. Below are the various procedures on how to get a birth certificate in Nigeria.
How to get a birth certificate in Nigeria for a child born in the hospital or other medical institution
1. After the birth of a child in the hospital, the institution will issue a certificate to the child as a proof of the birth.
2. The birth report from the hospital is then taken to any National Population Commission registration center in the hospital or at the local government headquarters.
3. When you get to the registration office, you will submit the proof of the birth issued by the hospital or health center. A birth certificate or certificate of registration is then issued for the child.
Note that the birth certificate given at the hospital or proof of the birth is not valid. Only the one issued by the National Population Commission is. Also, the birth certificate is free of charge as long as it obtained within sixty days of birth.
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How to get a birth certificate in Nigeria for a child born outside the hospital
In a case where a child was born at home, church or any other place outside the hospital, health center or medical establishment, you have to go through the following steps:
1. You will go to the Local Government Authority where the person was born and get an affidavit. This will serve as the proof of birth.
2. Then you will take the affidavit as proof of the birth to the National Population Commission registration center at the local government headquarters or a hospital or health center or any other NPC office designated.
3. When you get to the registration office, you will submit the affidavit to the registration officer. A birth certificate or certificate of registration is then issued for the child.
Below is a Nigerian birth certificate sample.
How to get a birth certificate in Nigeria for a person under the age of 18
This is for someone who probably does not have a birth certificate issued at birth or for someone whose birth certificate cannot be found. In some cases, it is also applicable for someone who has undergone a change of name.
The National Population Commission issues a birth certificate to anyone under eighteen years of age. In any of these cases, you will have to visit the National Population Commission located in the State Local Government Secretariat. When you get the NPC office, you will be given a form to fill for your birth certificate. The form comes at a particular cost. In most cases, you will be required to obtain an Age Declaration Affidavit from a court before the birth certificate can be issued. For people under the age of 18, the presence of a parent is usually required before an Age Declaration Affidavit can be obtained. The Age Declaration Affidavit can be submitted the NPC office and a birth certificate will be issued.
For people above the age of 18, only an attestation letter is given. The attestation letter is a document given to back up the sworn Age Declaration Affidavit.
These are the basic things you need to get a birth certificate in Nigeria. Birth certificate at birth is free. But you will pay a certain amount if you are getting one long after birth. We hope the information provided is useful enough for you. You can ask for more information at the registration desk at any National Population Commission office or center.
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Source: Legit.ng
