Birth & Death Certificates Zimbabwe : Registrar General’s Department RG

Organization : Registrar General’s Department
Type of Facility : Birth & Death Certificates
Country: Zimbabwe

Website : rg.gov.zw

RG Birth & Death Certificates

Personal documents on offer include:
** Initial Birth Certificates.
** Duplicate long Birth Certificates.

Related : Registrar General’s Department Zimbabwe Voters Registration : www.statusin.org/7391.html

A current birth registration can be done for children born in a medical institution within one year from the date of birth.

** Duplicate Death Certificates.
** External Birth Certificates.
** Non-Citizen Birth Certificates.
** Abridged birth Certificates.
** Authentications.
** Death Certificates.
** Export of bodies.

To obtain these documents clients are required to meet the following conditions:

Initial Birth Registration:

a (i) Children born in hospital:
Where parents are legally married, and were married before the child was born the following documents are required:
** Mother and father’s national identity cards
** Birth confirmation record from the hospital or clinic
** Marriage certificate
** Only one of the parents can register the child but must bring the national identity card for the other spouse.
** Where one or both parents are deceased relevant death certificates are required.
Surviving spouse or relatives can register the child as the case may be

Where parents are not legally married the following documents are required:
** Mother and father’s identity cards
** A birth confirmation record from hospital or clinic
** Both parents must be present to sign a declaration of paternity
** Where one or both parents are deceased relevant death certificates are required.
** Surviving spouse or relatives can register the child, as the case may be. The surviving spouse should sign the declaration of paternity
** Single mothers are free to register their children under their maiden name, if the biological father refuses to acknowledge paternity or his whereabouts are unknown.

a (ii) Children born out of hospital:
Where parents are legally married, the following documents are required:
** Mother and fathers national identity cards
** A marriage certificate
** A baptismal certificate or
** One witness with a national identity card, preferably a midwife. In the case of a child born on a farm, a witness or a letter from the farmer, confirming the birth of that child at therespective farm.
** Either parent can register the child but must bring national identity card for the other spouse.
** Where one or both parents are deceased relevant death certificates are required. Surviving spouse or relatives can register the child, as the case may be.

Where the parents are not legally married, the following documents are required:-
** Mother and father’s national identity cards.
** A baptismal certificate or
** One witness with a national identity card, preferably a midwife. In the case of a child born on a farm, a witness or a letter (declaration form supplied by the office) from the farmer.
** Both parents must be present to sign a declaration of paternity
** Where one or both parents are deceased relevant death certificates are required. Surviving spouse or relatives can register the child as the case may be. The surviving spouse should sign the declaration of paternity.
** Single mothers are free to register their children under their maiden name, if the biological father refuses to acknowledge paternity or his whereabouts are unknown.

(3) Late birth registration for children registered after one year from the date of birth.
A late birth registration can be done for children born in a medical institution or outside medical institution after one year from the date of birth.

(3.1) Children born in hospital/clinic

Where parents are legally married the following documents are required:
** Mother and father’s national identity cards
** Marriage certificate
** Birth confirmation record from the hospital or clinic
** Either parent can register the child but must bring the national identity of the other spouse.
** Children who are sixteen years of age and above must be present at the time of registration and must produce their identity cards if he/she was issued with one.

Where parents are not legally married, the following documents have to be produced:
** Mother and father’s national identity cards.
** Birth confirmation record from the hospital or clinic
** Both parents must be present to sign a declaration of paternity Where one or both parents are deceased relevant death certificates are required. Surviving spouse or relatives can register the child, as the case may be.
** Single mothers are free to register their children under their maiden name, if the biological father refuses to acknowledge paternity or his whereabouts are unknown
** Children who are sixteen years and above must be present at the time of registration and must produce their identity cards

(3.2) Children born out of hospital:
Where parents are legally married, the following documents are required:
** Mother and father’s national identity cards
** Marriage certificate
** A baptismal certificate or
** One witness, if the child is under sixteen years of age and two witnesses if the child is sixteen years and above. In the case of a child born on a farm, a witness/s or letter (Declaration form supplied by office) from the farmer.
** Where one or both parents are deceased relevant death certificates are required. Surviving spouse or relatives can register the child as the case may be. The surviving spouse should sign the declaration of paternity

Where parents are not legally married, the following documents are required:
** Mother and father’s national identity cards
** Baptismal certificate
** One witness, if the child is under sixteen years of age and two witnesses if the child is sixteen years and above
** Both parents must be present to sign a declaration of paternity
** Where one or both parents are deceased relevant death certificates are required. Surviving spouse or relatives can register the child as the case may be.
** Single mothers are free to register their children under their maiden name, if the biological father refuses to acknowledge paternity or his whereabouts are unknown.
** Children who are sixteen years and above must be present at the time of registration and must produce their identity cards if he/she was issued with one.

(4) Self Registration:
Self registrations are exceptional cases and are determined by the District Registrar and confirmed by the Provincial Registrar.

Applicants are required to produce the following documents:
** A National Identity card of the applicant.
** A baptismal certificate, if the child was baptized (within six months of birth).
** National Identity card of a near relative.
** A letter from the employer, if employed.
** In each case, citizenship status must be established beyond doubt.

Statutory fees for application for initial registration are presently as follows:
They are however subject to change when necessary:
** For children under 6 years of age: FREE.
** For children above 6 years: US$2 (Initial).

Processing time:
Registration at District of Birth – one day
Registration of Birth of a child born in another district – six weeks because of processing and communication between districts.