Applicant/informant should be mother, father, relative or anybody present at birth of child.

 Steps:

1. Applicant/informant completes NR8 (Birth Report Form)
2. Completion of NR8 should be done before the mother is discharged
3. The applicant/informant shall sign on the NR8 Form and provide their contact phone number.
4. Health personnel issues Acknowledgement Slip to the informant.
5. Birth Certificate shall be issued before the mother is discharged in facilities with certificate printers.
6. For health facilities without certificate printers, birth certificate will be processed at the District Registration Office within 30 days.

Applicant/informant should be mother, father, relative or anybody present at birth of child

 Steps:

1. Applicant/informant completes NR8 (Birth Report Form)
2. The applicant/informant shall sign on the NR8 Form and provide their contact phone number.
3. Village Head shall verify the birth by signing on the NR8 Form
   • The child shall be registered in the village/area in which the birth has occurred
4. Village Head issues Acknowledgement Slip to the informant.
5. Village Head will issue birth certificates to informants within 30 days.

3.1. Late Birth Registration at District Registration Office

Late birth registration is registration after six weeks but within a year of birth.

Applicant/informant should be mother, father, relative or anybody present at birth of child.

Steps:

1. Applicant/informant completes NR8 (Birth Report Form)
2. The applicant/informant shall sign on the NR8 Form and provide their contact phone number.
3. Village Head shall verify the birth by signing on the NR8 Form
   • Birth Registration will take place at District Registration Office or Post Office
4. The applicant/informant pays late birth registration fee of MK2,000 at the Treasury Cashier Office.
5. Birth Certificates shall be issued immediately.

3.2. Delayed Birth Registration at District Registration Office

Delayed birth registration is registration after a year of birth.

Applicant/informant should be mother, father, relative of child or in case the person to be registered is 16 years old or above with National ID, can be safe applicant/informant.

Steps:

1. Applicant/informant completes NR8 (Birth Report Form)
2. The applicant/informant shall sign on the NR8 Form and provide their contact phone number.
3. Village Head shall verify the birth by signing on the NR8 Form
   • Birth Registration will take place at District Registration Office or Post Office
4. The applicant/informant pays late birth registration fee of MK2,000 at the Treasury Cashier Office.
5. Birth Certificates shall be issued immediately.

Birth registration special cases include the following:

• Abandoned children
• Orphaned children
• Adopted children
• Malawians 16 years and above who live abroad and are not yet registered for National ID

4.1. Birth Registration of Abandoned Children

Birth registration special cases include the following:

• Abandoned children
• Orphaned children
• Adopted children
• Malawians 16 years and above who live abroad and are not yet registered for National ID

4.2. Birth Registration of Orphans

• Birth registration will take place at District Registration Office.
• Applicant/Informant shall be Social Welfare Officer or Administrator of Orphanage Home.

Steps:

1. Applicant/Informant completes NR8 Form and sign as informant.
   • The Social Welfare Officer shall sign and stamp Part 5.
2. The Applicant/Informant attaches a letter from the District Social Welfare Officer (DSWO) to the NR8 Form supporting the registration.
3. Verification by Village Headman section will remain blank.
4. Registration Officer (RO) issues Acknowledgement Slip to the Applicant/Informant.
5. Birth certificate shall be issued immediately.

4.3. Birth Registration of Adopted Children

• The cases for adoption of the children are facilitated only by court orders. The details of the biological parents (if known) and adopting parents are provided in the court order and birth registration will be undertaken as per the orders. The NR8 Form will be accompanied by a copy of the court order.

4.3.1. Adopted Children who are already registered for birth

• Birth registration will take place at District Registration Office.
• Applicant/Informant shall be adoptive parent

Steps:

1. Applicant/Informant completes NR8 Form and attaches certified copy of Adoption Order and the birth certificate.
   • If adoptive parents are resident foreigners, they shall attach certified copy of Adoption Order, birth certificate and copy of Resident Foreigner ID from National Registration Bureau (NRB).
   • If adoptive parents are Malawians by naturalization, they shall attach certified copy of Adoption Order, birth certificate, copy of National ID from National Registration Bureau (NRB) and copy of Malawi Citizenship Registration Certificate.
2. Verification by Village Headman section will remain blank.
3. Registration Officer (RO) issues Acknowledgement Slip to the Applicant/Informant.
4. Birth certificate shall be issued immediately.

4.3.2. Adopted Children not already registered for birth

• Birth registration will take place at District Registration Office.
• Applicant/Informant shall be adoptive parent

Steps:

The steps to be followed are the same as under where the child is already registered except that two NR8 forms will be completed by the Applicant/Informant where the detailed of biological parents are known, one bearing names of the biological parents and the other with names of adoptive parents.

Birth abroad is defined as births occurring to a Malawian citizen residing outside the boarders of Malawi. As per UN Principles and Recommendations, such births are to be registered at the place of birth and that country should issue a birth certificate or other similar documents. For demographic and statistical purposes such births may be registered again here in Malawi at an opportune time. Birth certificate can be printed on demand after stating the reasons for need of the Malawian Birth Certificate.

Birth abroad is defined as births occurring to a Malawian citizen residing outside the boarders of Malawi. As per UN Principles and Recommendations, such births are to be registered at the place of birth and that country should issue a birth certificate or other similar documents. For demographic and statistical purposes such births may be registered again here in Malawi at an opportune time. Birth certificate can be printed on demand after stating the reasons for need of the Malawian Birth Certificate.

Note:

• All requested amendments to birth records will be vetted by the Head of the District Registration Office (DRO) before they can be effected.
• For persons 16 years and above registered for National ID, no amendments will be permitted if the requested amendments contradict details on the ID.
• Name change on birth certificate shall be allowed within two years of birth.

Steps:

1. Applicant completes NR8 and NR6 forms.
2. Applicant attaches the old Birth Certificate and evidence documents substantiating the requested change.
3. The applicant pays prescribed fee of MK5,000 for name change or MK2,500 for edits at the Treasury Cashier Office.
4. New birth certificate will be printed immediately.

8.0.    Replacement of Lost or Damaged Birth Certificate

Note:

• All requests for replacement of birth certificate shall be vetted by the Head of the District Registration Office (DRO).

Steps:

1. The Applicant completes NR8 and NR6 forms.
2. The applicant attaches the old certificate (for damaged) or police report (for loss).
3. The applicant pays prescribed fee of MK2,500 at the Treasury Cashier Office.
4. Birth certificate will be immediately.

Places of registration are: District Registration Offices (DRO), Designated Post Offices (PO) and Designated Outreach Centres. Click here to find registration location in your district