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Wrong Information on Your South African Birth Certificate? Here Is How to Fix It

Last Updated: March 10, 2026|Reviewed By: Home Affairs Editorial Team|Fact-checked against official DHA and Other Official Sources|Not affiliated with the DHA

How to Correct Errors on Your South African Birth Certificate

A spelling mistake in a name, an incorrect date of birth, a wrong place of birth — errors on a South African birth certificate flow through to your ID, passport, and every other official document you hold. This guide covers how to correct factual errors in the National Population Register (NPR) and on your birth certificate, what forms you need, how long it takes, and what the process looks like for different types of mistakes.

Two Different Processes — Corrections vs Changes

Before beginning, it is important to understand the distinction the Department of Home Affairs makes between two different things:

Corrections (governed by Section 7(2) of the Births and Deaths Registration Act, 1992) are for fixing incorrect information that was entered wrongly — a misspelled name, a wrong date of birth, an incorrect place of birth. This is the process covered in most of this guide.

Changes are for intentionally altering registered information — for example, changing your surname after marriage, legally changing your forename, or adding a biological father’s details. These are separate processes with different forms and requirements. Links to each are included in the related guides section at the bottom of this page.

Fees at a Glance

ServiceFee
Correction of incorrect personal information — inside SAFree
New birth certificate issued after correctionFree
Smart ID reissued with corrected informationFree
Temporary Identification Certificate (TIC) while awaiting correctionR70

The Western Cape Government confirms that if your ID contains incorrect personal information, the DHA will replace it free of charge.

What Can Be Corrected

Under Section 7(2) of the Births and Deaths Registration Act, you can apply to correct the following types of errors in the National Population Register:

  • Misspelled or incorrectly recorded forename(s)
  • Misspelled or incorrectly recorded surname
  • Incorrect date of birth
  • Incorrect place of birth
  • Incorrect gender (factual error only — gender change applications follow a separate process under the Alteration of Sex Description and Sex Status Act, 2003)

Forms You Will Need

FormPurposeAvailable From
BI-526Application for amendment of personal particulars — the primary correction formDHA offices
BI-24Notice of birth — used alongside BI-526DHA offices (barcoded, not downloadable)
BI-529 (also written DHA-529)Determination of citizenship — assists DHA in locating your record in the NPRDownload from DHA or obtain at a DHA office
DHA-9Fingerprint form — mandatory for all applicants aged 16 and olderDHA offices only (barcoded, not downloadable — request in advance if applying by post)

Note: Forms BI-24 and DHA-9 are barcoded and cannot be downloaded or printed at home. They must be obtained from your nearest DHA office. If you are applying by post (from abroad or a remote area), contact the DHA in advance to have these forms sent to you.

Documents You Will Need

The correction request must be supported by documentary proof showing what the correct information should be. The exact documents depend on what is being corrected:

For name or surname corrections:

  • Certified copy of your South African ID or Smart ID card
  • Certified copy of your existing birth certificate
  • Supporting proof of the correct spelling — for example, a hospital birth record, clinic card, baptism certificate, school records, or affidavit from a parent or witness who was present at birth
  • If applicable: certified copies of parents’ IDs and/or marriage certificate

For date of birth corrections:

  • Certified copy of your South African ID or Smart ID card
  • Certified copy of your existing birth certificate
  • Documentary proof of the correct date of birth — hospital records, clinic cards, school records (showing the correct date), or an affidavit from a parent
  • The stronger and more official the supporting document, the smoother the process

For place of birth corrections:

  • Certified copy of your South African ID or Smart ID card
  • Certified copy of your existing birth certificate
  • Hospital or clinic records showing the correct place of birth, or an affidavit from a parent

For all applications (persons 16 and older):

  • Completed DHA-9 fingerprint form — this is mandatory and must be completed at a DHA office or by a commissioned fingerprint taker

Tip: Bring certified copies of your parents’ IDs, marriage certificate, and birth certificates wherever possible. According to the South African High Commission in Australia, these additional documents assist with finalising the application faster.

Step-by-Step: How to Correct Wrong Information on Your Birth Certificate

Step 1 — Identify the exact error

Before applying, note precisely what is wrong and what the correct information should be. If the error affects your ID number (which encodes your date of birth and gender), this will need to be corrected alongside the birth certificate. Errors in your date of birth are the most complex and require the strongest documentary evidence.

Step 2 — Gather your supporting documents

Collect the supporting documents that prove what the correct information should be. Certified copies must be less than 3 months old. Documents must be certified by a commissioner of oaths (a police officer, magistrate, or notary public).

Step 3 — Obtain the required forms

Visit your nearest DHA live-capture office and request forms BI-526, BI-24, DHA-9, and BI-529. Forms BI-24 and DHA-9 are barcoded and cannot be obtained elsewhere. Complete all forms in black ink and block letters.

Step 4 — Submit at a DHA office

Submit your completed forms and supporting documents at any DHA live-capture office. Your fingerprints will be taken on the DHA-9 form at the office if you are 16 or older. Keep your submission receipt.

Step 5 — Wait for processing

Corrections must be published in the Government Gazette before they are finalised. According to the South African Embassy in New York, this process takes approximately 3 to 4 months. Once finalised, you will receive an updated birth certificate confirming the corrected information.

Step 6 — Apply for updated documents

Once your birth certificate reflects the corrected details, apply for a reissued ID and/or passport as needed. The DHA will reissue an ID with corrected personal information free of charge, according to Legal Aid South Africa.

Correcting the Same Error on Your ID

A birth certificate correction updates the National Population Register — the source record. Once the NPR is corrected, your ID must also be updated to reflect the change.

To correct your ID, submit the following at any DHA office, as confirmed by Legal Aid South Africa:

  • Form BI-9 completed with the correct information
  • Form BI-309 completed with the correct information
  • Proof of the error showing what the correct information should be (for example, your corrected birth certificate)
  • Two identical colour ID photographs (not required at Smart ID live-capture offices, which capture images digitally)

The DHA will replace your ID with corrected information free of charge.

Applying From Abroad

If you are outside South Africa, you can submit a personal amendment application through the nearest South African embassy or high commission.

The process is the same but the DHA-9 fingerprint form must be completed at the mission. Processing still takes approximately 3–4 months as the amendment must be published in the Government Gazette in South Africa. Contact your nearest mission before applying to confirm their current procedures and whether an appointment is required.

What If the Error Affects Your ID Number?

Your South African ID number encodes your date of birth (first six digits) and gender (seventh digit). If the date of birth or gender on your birth certificate is wrong, your ID number itself may be wrong. In this case:

  • The personal amendment (correction) process updates the NPR
  • Once confirmed, you apply for a new ID with the corrected ID number
  • DHA issues the corrected ID free of charge
  • Your old ID number is retired from the NPR

This process is more complex and may take longer than a standard name or spelling correction. Be patient and follow up via the call centre on 0800 60 11 90 if you have heard nothing after 4 months.

What You Cannot Do

  • You cannot correct a birth certificate online — the application must be submitted in person at a DHA office or an overseas mission
  • You cannot use the personal amendment process to change your surname after marriage — that is a separate application (see: Assume Another Surname — Form BI-196 for adults, BI-193 for minors)
  • You cannot download form BI-24 or DHA-9 — these barcoded forms are only available from DHA offices
  • You cannot bypass the Government Gazette publication requirement — all personal amendments must be gazetted before they are legally valid
  • Naturalised citizens and Permanent Residents can now apply for Smart IDs at bank branches (Phase 1 rollout), but only if they are from certain visa-exempt countries. All others must still use a DHA live capture office.

Official DHA Contact Details

ChannelDetails
DHA Call Centre (toll-free)0800 60 11 90
Emailhacc@dha.gov.za
Official websitewww.dha.gov.za
SMS status checkSMS the word ID followed by your ID number to 32551 (R1 per SMS)
Office locatorDHA branch finder
SA embassy locatorDIRCO mission finder

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I correct a spelling mistake in my name on my birth certificate? You need to submit Forms BI-526, BI-24, BI-529, and (if 16 or older) DHA-9 at a DHA office, along with documentary proof of the correct spelling and certified copies of your ID and existing birth certificate. Processing takes approximately 3–4 months as the correction must be gazetted.

2. Can I correct a wrong date of birth on my birth certificate? Yes, but this is one of the harder corrections because the date of birth is encoded in your ID number. You need strong supporting documentation — hospital records, clinic cards, or school records showing the correct date — as well as Forms BI-526, BI-24, BI-529, and DHA-9. The process takes approximately 3–4 months.

3. How long does a birth certificate correction take? Approximately 3–4 months. This is because the amendment must be published in the South African Government Gazette before it is legally finalised. Once gazetted, an updated birth certificate is issued.

4. Does correcting my birth certificate automatically fix my ID? No. Once your birth certificate is corrected, you must separately apply for a reissued ID using Forms BI-9 and BI-309 together with your corrected birth certificate as proof. The DHA will reissue the ID free of charge.

5. I was registered with a wrong name at birth. Who is responsible for the error? Whether the error was made by the hospital, a registering official, or on the original Form BI-24, the correction process is the same. You submit the personal amendment application with proof of the correct information. DHA does not charge for corrections to errors that occurred during original registration.

6. What if I only discovered the error as an adult — does that affect the process? No. You can apply for a personal amendment at any age. The same forms and documentary requirements apply regardless of how long ago the error was made.

7. Can I change my name at the same time as correcting an error? No. A correction (fixing a factual error) and a name change (legally assuming a different name) are two separate processes. Each must be applied for separately. See the related guides section below for name change processes.

8. I applied from abroad and it has been 5 months. Is that normal? Slightly longer than the standard 3–4 month window, but not unusual given postal delays and overseas processing backlogs. Contact the DHA Call Centre on 0800 60 11 90 or email hacc@dha.gov.za with your full name, ID number, date of submission, and the mission where you applied.

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