If a child’s birth was not registered within 30 days, the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) treats it as a late registration. For births registered after the first year, DHA interviews the applicant and the person registering the birth. This page explains who is interviewed, what to bring, how long it takes and what happens after.
In Summary
- Registering within 30 days is the normal route and has no interview. Between 31 days and 1 year is a late registration without an interview.
- From 1 year upwards, the applicant and the informant (the person registering the birth) are interviewed separately by a DHA screening committee.
- DHA’s reply to Parliament gives 180 days as the turnaround if all requirements are met, so plan for months, not weeks.
- We could not confirm the exact interview questions. This page covers what DHA has said it checks.
Late Registration Without an Interview and With One
| Age at registration | Interview |
|---|---|
| Within 30 days | No, this is on time registration |
| 31 days to 1 year | No interview, but a late registration penalty has applied under the 2014 regulations |
| 1 year and older | Yes, applicant and informant are interviewed separately |
DHA’s own parliamentary replies split late registration into 31 days to 1 year, and 1 year up to the mid teens. Different replies give the upper age as 14 or 15, so ask your office which category your case falls into. For the general late registration process, see our late birth registration guide.
Who Is Interviewed
The applicant and the informant are interviewed separately. The panel is looking for consistent accounts of where and when the birth happened. If a parent cannot attend, a court ruling (the Naki case) means DHA must still consider the application, according to GroundUp’s explanation of the ruling. If this is your situation, say so at the start and bring a written explanation.
What the Panel Looks At
DHA has told Parliament that the screening committee checks reasons for the delay, such as a mother without an ID, an absent father or an ill parent. It also runs a fingerprint check on the Home Affairs system, checks proof of birth and runs background checks before the committee reviews the application.
What to Bring
DHA’s published lists differ slightly by source, so confirm with your office. Commonly listed documents are:
- The informant’s original ID and a certified copy, and photos of the applicant
- Proof of birth, such as a clinic card, hospital letter, maternity certificate, school records or a baptismal certificate
- The marriage certificate if the parents were married, or a death certificate if a parent has died
- The late registration forms DHA gives you at the office (DHA-24 and an informant affidavit, DHA-288, are the forms named in its replies)
- Fingerprints are taken for the applicant and informants
Unverified parent fingerprints can block an application, according to a Scalabrini explanation published by GroundUp, so check that parent records are in order before you go.
What Happens After the Interview
- The application is checked against the fingerprint system and background records.
- The committee reviews the case.
- If approved, the application goes to DHA Head Office, where the ID number is generated.
- DHA tells you when the certificate is ready, and you collect it at the office where you applied.
DHA gave 180 days as the turnaround where all requirements are met. Delays come from applicants who cannot be reached, weak documents and poor fingerprints. One 2026 parliamentary reply said that at one office, approved cases were captured and certified the same day as the interview, but we treat that as one office’s practice, not a rule.
What If Your Application Is Delayed or Rejected
Keep every reference number and the name of the official who helped you. If the application stalls, see our guide to a rejected birth certificate application and use our complaint letter generator. If a parent is not South African and the parents are unmarried, DHA may ask for a DNA test, paid for by the client, as explained in our DNA test guide.
What We Could Not Confirm
- The actual questions asked at the interview. No official source lists them.
- What the “under investigation” status means in practice.
- The current late registration fee. The 2014 regulations set a penalty of R70 for registering between 31 days and 1 year, and we found no current fee schedule.
What You Cannot Do
- You cannot skip the interview for a registration after the first year.
- You cannot rely on a clinic card alone. Bring every piece of proof you have.
- You cannot assume a parent’s absence ends the application. Explain it and bring written proof.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an interview for late birth registration?
Yes, if the birth is registered after the first year. DHA interviews the applicant and the informant separately. Between 31 days and 1 year there is no interview.
What questions are asked at the late birth registration interview?
We could not find an official list. DHA has said the committee looks at the reasons for the delay and checks that the accounts of the applicant and informant match the proof of birth.
How long does late registration of birth take?
DHA gave 180 days as the turnaround where all requirements are met. Delays happen when the applicant cannot be reached, documents are weak or fingerprints are poor.
Who must attend the interview?
The applicant and the informant are interviewed. If a parent cannot attend, DHA must still consider the application, according to the Naki ruling as explained by GroundUp. Bring a written explanation.
What documents do I need for late birth registration?
Commonly the informant’s original ID and certified copy, proof of birth such as a clinic card or school records, photos, and a marriage or death certificate where relevant. Confirm the list with your DHA office.
What does under investigation mean on a late birth registration?
We found no official explanation of this status. It is generally understood as the application still being screened. Ask the office where you applied for the stage it is at.
How much does late birth registration cost?
The 2014 regulations set a R70 penalty for registering between 31 days and 1 year. We could not confirm the current fee, so ask your DHA office. The first unabridged birth certificate is free according to gov.za.
When do I get the certificate after approval?
DHA says the application goes to Head Office for the ID number to be generated, then you are told when to collect at the office where you applied.
Can I do late birth registration if the other parent is absent?
Yes, but you must explain the absence. DHA must still consider the application if a parent cannot attend. See our late birth registration guide for the full route.