Bahamas Birth Registration : Registrar Generals Department

Name of the Organization : Registrar Generals Department
Type of Facility : Birth Registration
Country : Bahamas

Official Website : https://www.bahamas.gov.bs/

Birth Registration :

The law requires that a birth should be registered within 21 days from its occurrence at the Births and Deaths Section of the Registrar General’s Department.

Related : Bahamas Registrar Generals Department Apply For Birth Certificate : www.statusin.org/5156.html

If a birth has not been registered within 21 days as prescribed by law, you have up to the age of three to register the birth, however after the age of one, an affidavit is required stating the reason for not registering the child sooner. Registration of a birth by a person other than a parent requires an authorisation letter.

Eligibility :
Registration of births within 21 days from its occurrence.

Application Process :

To register a birth which takes place within 21 days of occurrence, the following steps should be taken :
** Obtain a completed form from the hospital or birthing centre where the child was born.
** Submit this completed form to the Births Section of the Registrar General’s Department.
** Present a valid photo ID.
** The Clerk will enter the birth into the Birth Register.
** Copies of the birth certificate are printed for signature by parents and the Registrar General.
** After signature by the Registrar General, one original birth certificate is presented to the parent(s) of the child.

To register the birth of an infant who is older than one but under the age of three years, the following steps should be taken :
** Obtain a completed form from the hospital or birthing centre where the child was born.
** Submit this completed form to the Births Section of the Registrar General’s Department.
** Present a valid photo ID.
** The Clerk will enter the birth into the register.
** Copies are printed for signature by parents and the Registrar General.
** After signature by the Registrar General, one original birth certificate is presented to the parent(s) of the child.

Note : a sworn affidavit explaining the reason for the delay is also required.

To register the birth of an illegitimate child, the following steps should be taken :
** Obtain a completed form from the hospital or birthing centre where the child was born.
** Submit this completed form to the Births Section of the Registrar General’s Department.
** Present a valid photo ID.
** The Clerk will enter the birth into the Birth Register.
** Copies are printed for signature by parents and the Registrar General.
** After signature by the Registrar General, one original birth certificate is presented to the parent(s) of the child.

Note : All illegitimate children are given the mother’s last name. The father’s surname may be added to the certificate of an illegitimate child as long as a joint affidavit by both father and mother is sworn requesting that the name of the child’s father be recorded in the Register of Births. The affidavit must be presented at the time of the registration.

Individuals who would like to register a birth from the Family Islands can submit their documents to the Family Island Administrator who will do the registration. Birth registrations sent in by the Family Islands are recorded at the Registrar General’s Department.

Application Form(s) :
There is no application form for this service.

Supporting Documents :
** A completed form from the hospital or birthing centre.
** A valid photo ID.
** A sworn affidavit where required.

Turn-around time :
If all documents are submitted at the time of registration, the process should take about one to three days.

Deadline :
Births should be registered within 21 days of occurrence.

Related Fee(s) :
There are no fees associated with this service.

For more information please contact :
Births Registration Section
Registrar General’s Department
Cor. of Shirley and Charlotte Street
P.O. Box N 532
Nassau
New Providence
The Bahamas

Tel. (242) 397-9105/8957/9110
Fax. (242) 322-5553
Email. Regbirth@bahamas.gov.bs

Email. registrargeneral@bahamas.gov.bs

Opening Hours : 9:30 am to 4:00 pm, Monday to Friday, except on Public Holidays.