Birth Certificate
Initial Registration
Requirements
Please Note
- Both parents must be present to sign declaration of paternity if not legally married.
- Single mothers can register their children in their maiden names.
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Important Documents
REQUIREMENTS FOR ISSUANCE OF TRAVEL DOCUMENT - (PASSPORTS & TTDS).
> Birth certificate > National identity card > Marriage certificate / Divorce order > Citizenship certificate (for Citizens by registration) > Old passport or Emergency Travel Documents if any
ISSUANCE OF A NATIONAL IDENTITY DOCUMENT
To obtain a national identity document, one must be at least sixteen (16) years of age. This applies to both citizens and non-citizens who are lawfully resident in Zimbabwe.
Requirements:
- Original full birth certificate either manual or computerized.
- A short original manual birth certificate for adopted or abandoned children.
- Valid Zimbabwean passport, where applicable.
- National identity document or valid passport of parent, legal guardian or near relative.
- Zimbabwean citizenship certificate or citizenship card or confirmation where applicable.
- Notarial deed or addendum where applicable.
- Original marriage certificate where applicable. Foreign marriage certificates are authenticated and / or translated by the country of issue or verified through the embassies.
- Divorce order where applicable. The divorce order must be confirmed.
- Resident permit, work permit or student permit where applicable.
- Death certificate where applicable
- Affidavits where applicable.
- Fingerprint vetting for applicants above the age of twenty-two (22).
EXTERNAL BIRTH REGISTRATION
External birth certificates are issued to children born outside Zimbabwe and when they were born: -
a) Either of their parents or both were citizens of Zimbabwe. or
b) Either of their grandparents were Zimbabwean citizens by birth or descent.
Requirements
- Â Foreign birth certificate or foreign birth confirmation record or foreign health card.
- Father and mother’s national identity documents or valid passports where applicable. Mother’s passport showing that she was in a foreign country at the time of birth of the child or an affidavit in cases where the mother is not a passport holder.
- Â Marriage certificate where applicable.
- Â Single mothers can register their children in their maiden names.
DEATH REGISTRATION
- Deceased person’s national identity document or passport.
- Birth certificate where applicable.
- One informant and at least two competent witnesses with national identity documents, preferably close relatives of the deceased or farm owner/ representative who were present at the time of death and should have attained 18 years of age by the time when the death occurred.
- A letter from chief or headman or village head or farm owner or mine owner confirming that the person died in his/her area of jurisdiction.
- Hospital or clinic records where applicable
- Completed form 231 from the Police where the death was reported.
Mandate
To provide sterling leadership in the issuance of Vital Civil Registration and Travel documents, to ensure all citizens are properly registered and to enable them participate in national affairs. In carrying out its mandate, the department is guided by the following Acts of Parliament: –
- Â Births and Deaths Registration Act (Chapter 5:02)
- Â Burial and Cremation Act (Chapter 5:03)
- Â National Registration Act (Chapter 10:07)
- Â Citizenship of Zimbabwe Act (Chapter 4:01)
- Brands Act (Chapter 19:03)
- Marriages Act (Chapter 5:17)
- African Marriages Act (Chapter 5:07)
- Constitution of Zimbabwe