Getting a birth certificate When & where? A birth must be registered within 30 days after the birth at the nearest Home Affairs office. Some hospitals also offer birth registration. The parents may register the birth at the hospital where the child was born. Requirements Late registration of birth (LRB) If a birth is not registered within 30 days of the birth, a more challenging process, called late registration of birth (LRB), is followed. Requirements There are 3 categories of LRB according to the child’s age: In each category the informant (parent/next of kin/social worker) will be interviewed by a panel of Home Affairs officials who either approve or deny the LRB application. Proof of birth form, also called a DHA 24/PB. This form is filled out and stamped by the hospital where the child is born. It provides the details of the birth. The proof of birth form is NOT a birth certificate. - If a child is born at home a different proof of birth form (called the DHA 24/PBD) must be filled out. Biometrics (palm, foot or fingerprint) of the child to be registered Fingerprints of parent/s ID/Passport of parent/s Where available, the visa/ permit of parent Where applicable, the death certificate of a parent In the court case, Centre for Child Law v Director General: Department of Home Affairs and Others (“Naki”), the court declared these requirements unlawful because they exclude some children, and decided that even where a parent has no valid passport or visa, the birth must still be registered. 10 HOW TO GET DOCUMENTED CATEGORY 1: Registration from 31 days up to 1 year after the birth - DHA 24/LRB (Notice of birth form for LRB) - DHA 24/PB (Proof of birth for children born at a health facility) / DHA 24/PBA (Proof of Birth Affidavit for children born at home) - DHA 288/A (Affidavit giving reasons for LRB) - Biometrics (palm, foot or fingerprint) of the child to be registered - Fingerprints of parent/s - ID/Passport of parent/s CATEGORY 3: Registration from 7 years and above CATEGORY 2: Registration from 1 year up to 7 years - Category 1 requirements - DHA 288 (Affidavit in support of the notice of birth) - Category 1 requirements - ID-size photo and fingerprint of the person being registered In the court case, Centre for Child Law v Director General: Department of Home Affairs and Others (“Naki”), the court declared these requirements unlawful because they exclude some children, and decided that even where a parent has no valid passport or visa, the birth must still be registered. HOW TO GET DOCUMENTED 11