Services offered:-
• Initial birth certificates
• Duplicate birth certificates
• Death certificates
• Duplicate death certificates
• External birth certificates
• Non-Citizen birth certificates
• Abridged birth certificates
• Authentications
• Import/Export of bodies
• Adoption registration
• Refugee birth registrations
• Correction of errors
• Re-registrations
• Issuance of addendums
• Amendment of records
REQUIREMENTS
1.Initial birth registration
(a) Current birth registration
Current birth registration can be done for children born in a medical institution within one year from the date of birth.
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 of 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 hospitals
Where parents are legally married, the following documents are required:-
• Mother and fathers national identity cards
• A marriage certificate
• A baptism 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 the respective farm.
• Either parent can register the child but must bring national identity card of 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 baptism 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.
(b) Late birth registration
Late birth registration can be done for children born in a medical institution or outside a medical institution after one year from the date of birth.
b (i) 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 document 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
b (ii) 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 baptism 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
• Baptism 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.
Statutory fees
• For children 6 years and below - Free
• For children above 6 years (Initial) - US$2.00
Processing time
Registration at district of birth - one day
Registration of birth of a child born in another district - 20 working days
(c) Self Registration
Self registrations are exceptional cases and are determined by the District Registrar and confirmed by the Provincial Registrar.
Requirements
• National Identity card of the applicant.
• Baptism certificate, if the child was baptized.(within six months of birth)
• National Identity card of a near relative.
• Letter from the employer, if employed.
• In each case, citizenship status must be established beyond doubt.
Statutory Fees
• Normal processing - US$2.00
2. Issuance of duplicate full birth certificates
Requirements• Applicant’s birth entry number.
• If the applicant does not have a birth entry number he/she will furnish the office with the date or year when his/her birth was initially registered and pay US$10.00 search fee for each year provided.
• Applicant’s identity document.
Statutory fees
Normal processing - US$ 5.00
Urgent processing - US$10.00
Processing time
Normal application - 5 working days
Urgent application - One day
3. External birth registrations
Issued to persons born out of Zimbabwe to Zimbabwean citizens other than by descent.
Requirements
• Both parents to provide Zimbabwean passports and their Zimbabwe identity cards.
• Marriage certificate (if not married both parents must acknowledge paternity).
• Foreign birth certificate.
Statutory fees
Normal processing - US$50.00
Processing time
• Normal processing - 5 working days
• Normal processing through mail - 20 working days
4. Non-citizen birth registrations
These are birth certificates issued to children of foreign nationals (visitors and expatriates).
Requirements
• Foreign passports for both parents.
• Marriage certificate (if not married both parents must acknowledge paternity) if the marriage certificate is in foreign language, recognised authorities must translate it.
Statutory fee
• Normal processing - US$25.00
• Urgent processing - US$30.00
Processing time
Normal processing - 10 working days
Urgent processing - 5 days
5. Adoptions
Requirements
• Child’s birth certificates.
• Seven copies of the order of adoption.
Statutory fee
• Normal - US$2.00
Processing time
• Normal - 10 working days.
6. Correction of errors
Requirements
Documentary evidence e.g. school certificates or hospital records must be produced to substantiate the correction.
Statutory fee
• Normal - US$7.00
• Urgent - US$12.00
Processing time
Normal - 5 working days
Urgent - One day
7. Change of surnames
Requirements
• Notarial deed
• Publication evidence
Statutory fee
• Normal - US$105.00
• Urgent - US$110.00
8. Change of first names
Requirements
Documentary evidence should be produced to substantiate any changes to be made.
Statutory fee
• Normal - US$7.00
• Urgent - US$12.00
Processing time
• Normal - 5 working days
• Urgent - One day
9. Legitimation
Requirements
• Affidavit from the mother consenting that the child assumes the father’s surname and stating the name of the father of the child.
• Affidavit from the father confirming that he is the father of the child and he now wants the child to assume his surname.
• If either parent is deceased an affidavit from a close relative of the deceased must call at the office with an identity card.
• Both parents to present themselves at the office with affidavits.
Statutory fee
• Normal - US$50.00
Processing time
• Normal - 1 to 2 months
10. Authentications
Requirements
• Applicant’s birth certificate
• National identity card
Statutory fees
• Normal - US$50.00
Processing time• Normal - 2 weeks
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