With the right procedure & cost to obtain birth certificate in Nigeria, anyone can secure a standard Government-approved document that details situations around one’s birth with ease. Then, one will be able to use it for the reason one need it in the first place. The National Population Commission usually awards birth certificate right to children born in the hospital. It is not only just provided for the new born babies, the adults or teenagers who may have lost or misplaced theirs can also follow a certain procedure before they could have access to owning an original birth certificate.
The National Population Commission
The NPC is an agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria established and saddled with the responsibility of issuing a birth certificate in Nigeria. The agency also issues attestation of birth certificate for any person born in Nigeria where applicable. The Nigeria birth certificate is used for various purposes. It is the main document confirming that a particular person is born within Nigeria territory.
NPC Act states that birth certificates issued from hospitals, churches, mosques are not accepted as a legal birth certificate for presentation in schools, embassies, immigration purposes, visa processing and so on. The Act further provides that Nigerians and foreigners born before 1992 will obtain the Attestation Of Birth Certificate from the NPC, while Birth Certificate will be issued to any person born in Nigeria after 1992. The attestation of a birth certificate has the same legal effect as the birth certificate.
The National Population Commission is the only authorized body eligible to sign and give birth certificate in Nigeria.
Procedure & Cost to Obtain Birth Certificate in Nigeria.
The procedure & cost to obtain birth certificate in Nigeria are simple. The following are the step-to-step approach that you can take to having your own NPC-approved birth certificate in Nigeria.
Get a Data Form to Fill
The first step to take in getting to know the procedure & cost to obtain birth certificate in Nigeria is collecting a data form and filling it appropriately. Whether you are applying for a birth certificate for those given birth to from 1992 or an attestation of the certificate of birth for those given birth to before 1922, you have to go to any branch of the National Population Commission closest to you.
When you get there collect and then proceed to fill the appropriate Data form. This is the first step that you have to take before moving on to the other aspects of the procedure.
Submit Valid Documents with the Form
When you are done filling the application form, you have to submit it together with some documents. The documents to submit with your data form at the NPC office are the affidavit you have sworn at the High court of your state, a copy of either of the valid means of identification such as International Passport, National Identity Card/Slip, Driver’s License, etc. and lastly, your two passport photographs.
Be Patient for your Data Forms to Processed and Verified
Finally on the procedure & cost to obtain birth certificate in Nigeria is to await the verification of your submitted documents at the NPC office. You can also handle the application for someone, that is, application by proxy. In this case you will have to present a proxy form and still tender the required documents listed above for the person that you are applying for. Then, the whole application documents will be processed and therefore verified. After this, your birth certificate will declared ready and you will be given date for collection.
Cost to Obtain Your Birth Certificate
If not for the documents that must be required by the NPC, Birth Certificate is absolutely free of charge. It is issued to Children from age Zero (0) to Eighteen (18).
The cost you may incur is if you do not have the required documents, you will have to go get them and this will definitely cost you.
Other Procedures for Birth Certificate Collection
Birth Certificate in Nigeria for Child Born In the Hospital
After the birth of a child in the hospital, the institution will issue a certificate to the child as a proof of the birth.
The birth report from the hospital is then taken to any National Population Commission registration center in the hospital or at the local government headquarters.
When you get to the registration office, you will submit the proof of the birth issued by the hospital or health center. A birth certificate or certificate of registration is then issued for the child. Note that the birth certificate given at the hospital or proof of the birth is not valid. Only the one issued by the National Population Commission is. Also, the birth certificate is free of charge as long as it obtained within sixty days of birth.
Birth Certificate in Nigeria for Child Born Outside the Hospital
In a case where a child was born at home, church or any other place outside the hospital, health center or medical establishment, you have to go through the following steps:
You will go to the Local Government Authority where the person was born and get an affidavit. This will serve as the proof of birth.
Then you will take the affidavit as proof of the birth to the National Population Commission registration center at the local government headquarters or a hospital or health center or any other NPC office designated.
When you get to the registration office, you will submit the affidavit to the registration officer. A birth certificate or certificate of registration is then issued for the child.
Birth Certificate in Nigeria for a Person under the Age of 18
This is for someone who probably does not have a birth certificate issued at birth or for someone whose birth certificate cannot be found. In some cases, it is also applicable for someone who has undergone a change of name.
The National Population Commission issues a birth certificate to anyone under eighteen years of age. In any of these cases, you will have to visit the National Population Commission located in the State Local Government Secretariat. When you get the NPC office, you will be given a form to fill for your birth certificate. The form comes at a particular cost. In most cases, you will be required to obtain an Age Declaration Affidavit from a court before the birth certificate can be issued. For people under the age of 18, the presence of a parent is usually required before an Age Declaration Affidavit can be obtained. The Age Declaration Affidavit can be submitted the NPC office and a birth certificate will be issued.
For people above the age of 18, only an attestation letter is given. The attestation letter is a document given to back up the sworn Age Declaration Affidavit.
