A birth certificate is the first legal record of a person. In India every birth has to be registered under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, at the place where the birth took place. The rules on time limits are the same across the country, while fees, forms and websites are set by each State.
This guide explains the process and the time limits as they stand in October 2026.
Who has to report the birth
The birth is registered by the Registrar of the local area - usually an officer of the municipality, corporation, panchayat or health department. Who gives the information depends on where the child is born.
| Place of birth | Who reports it |
|---|---|
| Hospital, health centre, nursing home | The medical officer in charge |
| At home | The family, to the Registrar of that local area |
| Jail | The jailor |
| Hotel or lodge | The manager |
The 2023 amendment to the Act added more people to this list: adoptive parents in a non-institutional adoption, the biological parent in a surrogacy birth, and the parent of a child born to a single parent or unwed mother. It also requires the Aadhaar numbers of the parents and the informant to be given when a birth is reported.
The 21-day rule and what happens if you are late
A birth has to be reported within 21 days. After that, the procedure becomes longer with each stage of delay.
| When the birth is reported | What is needed |
|---|---|
| Within 21 days | Registration is free |
| After 21 days, within 30 days | A late fee |
| After 30 days, within one year | Written permission of the prescribed authority, the prescribed fee and an affidavit |
| After one year, within two years | An order from a District Magistrate, Sub-Divisional Magistrate or authorised executive magistrate, after verification, and the prescribed fee |
| After two years | An order from a judicial magistrate of the first class |
The last two rows are new. They come from the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act, 2026, which changed section 13(3) of the 1969 Act and came into force on October 1, 2026.
The amount of the late fee is fixed by each State's rules, so it differs from place to place. Ask the Registrar's office or check your State's registration website for the current figure.
How to register and get the certificate
Birth in a hospital. The hospital sends the birth report to the Registrar. Give the hospital the correct spelling of the parents' names, the address and the Aadhaar numbers, and check the entry before discharge.
Birth at home. A family member reports the birth to the Registrar of the local body within 21 days, using the birth reporting form.
Getting the certificate. Since October 2023, registrations are kept digitally through the Civil Registration System (CRS), and the law allows the certificate to be issued electronically. Many States run their own websites. In Tamil Nadu, for example, certificates for births registered from January 1, 2018 can be downloaded free of cost from the State's site, crstn.org. For earlier births, the State asks people to approach the local body concerned.
If your State is not on a portal of its own, the Registrar's office of the area where the birth took place is the place to apply.
Adding the child's name later
A birth can be registered without a name, which is common when the child has not yet been named. The parent or guardian then gives the name to the Registrar afterwards.
State rules set the period. Under Delhi's rules, for example, the name is to be given within 12 months of the registration. It is still accepted after that, up to 15 years from the date of registration, on payment of a late fee of Rs 5. Other States follow a similar pattern, but check your own State's rules and form. Tamil Nadu's site has a separate Name Inclusion service and a Name Declaration Form.
Correcting a mistake
Apply to the Registrar who made the entry, with documents that show the correct details. The procedure and the documents asked for vary between States.
If you are not satisfied with a Registrar's action or order, the 2023 amendment provides an appeal:
- Against the Registrar - to the District Registrar.
- Against the District Registrar - to the Chief Registrar.
- The appeal has to be filed within 30 days of receiving the order, and it has to be decided within 90 days.
Where the birth certificate is used
For persons born on or after the 2023 amendment took effect on October 1, 2023, the birth certificate is the document used to prove the date and place of birth for:
- admission to an educational institution
- preparation of voter lists
- appointment to a government post
- registration of marriage
- any other purpose the Central Government notifies.
Related guides: how to apply for a passport in India and how to apply for a voter ID online.
Key points
- Report the birth within 21 days. It is free, and it avoids affidavits and magistrate's orders later.
- Check every spelling before the hospital sends the report.
- If the child is not yet named, register the birth anyway and add the name within 12 months.
- Use only your State's official registration website or the Registrar's office.
Frequently asked questions
Within how many days must a birth be registered in India?
The birth must be reported to the Registrar of the area where it took place within 21 days. Registration within this period is free.
Who registers a birth that takes place in a hospital?
The medical officer in charge of the hospital reports the birth to the Registrar. Parents do not have to file a separate report, but they should check the details before leaving the hospital.
Can a birth be registered after one year?
Yes, but only on an order. From October 1, 2026, a delay of more than one year and up to two years needs an order from a District Magistrate, Sub-Divisional Magistrate or authorised executive magistrate. A delay of more than two years needs an order from a judicial magistrate of the first class.
Can the child's name be added to the birth certificate later?
Yes. A birth can be registered without a name. The name is normally given within 12 months of registration. State rules allow it later as well, usually up to 15 years, on payment of a late fee.
Is a birth certificate needed for school admission?
For persons born on or after the 2023 amendment took effect (October 1, 2023), the birth certificate is the document used to prove date and place of birth for purposes such as admission to an educational institution, voter lists and government appointments.
