Okay almost-daddy, you’ve figured out what to carry in the hospital bag for delivery and understood the signs that your wife might be going into labor.
It is equally important to get the documentation right after your baby is born. A birth certificate is a basic necessity to ensure your child is identified as an Indian citizen and reaps the benefits that come with their identity.
Here are a few important things to remember.
1. India allows for both online and offline (at the registrar’s office) applications.
2. A birth certificate is issued by the Municipal Corporation in urban areas, Tehsildar in rural areas and Gram Panchayat Office in villages.
3. If the child’s birth takes place at home, application can be made online or office by the family.
4. In the event of an institutional (hospital/clinic) birth, application can be made online or offline only by the authorized person at the institution.
5. General documents required for a child’s birth certificate registration include:
- Birth certificates of both mother and father.
- Parents’ marriage certificate.
- Parents’ proof of identity.
- Proof of birth letter from the hospital (in case of an institutional birth).
- Declaration by parent(s) in a prescribed format (in case of a home birth).
- Self-attested proof of address.
6. The birth of a child must be reported within 21 days. If the 21-day limit is exceeded, the parents must approach the concerned registrar’s office.
7. Applications made after the 21-day limit will require additional paperwork, approval/permission from a competent authority (police verification or order from first class magistrate) and the payment of a delayed fee.
8. Online applications for home births can be made on the Civil Registration System (CRS) website.
9. Offline applications for home births can be made at the local registrar’s office (municipal authority).
10. After the successful online application has been made (either for home or institutional births), users will receive a confirmation and all application status updates by email. Once the birth certificate has been registered, the user will be notified by email and can access the document online (anytime) by using the Application Reference Number.
11. The computer-generated online birth certificate (containing the necessary QR codes & Barcodes) is a valid legal document for all official purposes in India.
12. Timelines for offline applications can be provided by your local registrar’s office.
The source of information is this guide is the website of the Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Update: 7th November, 2018.