Every birth in South Africa must be registered within 30 days. If that deadline was missed, by weeks or by decades, the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) requires a late registration of birth before a birth certificate can be issued. This guide covers the three categories, the documents for each, DNA tests, and what to do if DHA loses your DNA results.
In summary
- Cost: late registration and the first birth certificate are free at DHA offices. A DNA test, if DHA asks for one, is paid by the applicant.
- Categories: 31 days to 1 year, 1 to 7 years, and 7 years and older (including adults). Each needs more documents than the last.
- Where: in person at any DHA live capture office, as a walk-in service. Not online and not at a bank.
- Missing documents: under the Naki judgment, DHA must still accept your application.
- Lost DNA results: get written confirmation, then escalate through the Contact Centre and hacc@dha.gov.za (see below).
Fees at a glance
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Birth registration within 30 days | Free |
| Late registration, 31 days to 1 year | Free (extra documents required) |
| Late registration, 1 to 7 years | Free (extra documents and possible investigation) |
| Late registration, 7 years and older | Free (full investigation and panel interview) |
| First birth certificate after registration | Free |
| Temporary Identity Certificate | R70 |
| DNA test, if DHA requests one | Paid by the applicant |
DNA testing must meet DHA’s chain-of-custody requirements.
Without a birth certificate, a person cannot get a Smart ID, passport, SASSA grant or many other services, so late registration is worth doing as soon as possible.
Why births are registered late
DHA accepts that late registration happens for many legitimate reasons, including:
- Cultural practices that delay naming and registration
- Home births without access to a DHA office at a hospital
- Births during national emergencies, such as the Covid-19 lockdown
- Living far from a DHA office
- Family circumstances, or not knowing about the 30-day requirement
Late registration is accepted whatever the reason. As GroundUp notes, you must explain why the birth was not registered within 30 days, and DHA takes this into account.
Covid-19 note: children born from 26 February 2020 during the national lockdown were exempted from the extra documents normally required for late registration. Confirm current policy on 0800 60 11 90.
The three categories of late registration
DHA sorts late registrations by the age of the person being registered. Each category needs more than the one before.
Category 1: 31 days to 1 year
The simplest category, for infants registered after 30 days but before their first birthday.
- Form DHA-24/LRB, notice of birth for late registration (issued at the DHA office, not downloadable)
- Form DHA-24/PB, proof of birth from a hospital or clinic, or Form DHA-24/PBA, proof of birth affidavit for a home birth
- Form DHA-288/A, an affidavit giving reasons for the late registration
- The child’s biometrics: palm print, footprint or fingerprint
- The parents’ fingerprints
- The parents’ South African IDs or passports
- A marriage certificate, if the parents are married
- If one parent is a foreign national: a certified copy of their passport and visa or permit
Both parents should notify the birth where possible.
Category 2: 1 to 7 years
For children aged one to seven. DHA may investigate before approving. Everything in Category 1, plus:
- Form DHA-288, an additional affidavit with supporting evidence of the birth
- The child’s biometrics again
- Supporting evidence, such as a clinic card or Road to Health booklet, hospital or clinic records, school enrolment records, and affidavits from witnesses to the birth (neighbours, community members or traditional leaders)
Processing takes longer than Category 1, often several months.
Category 3: 7 years and older, including adults
The most complex category, for children aged seven and older and for adults who were never registered. According to Scalabrini and GroundUp, a DHA panel interviews the applicant and reviews the application. Where one parent is not South African and the parents are unmarried, DHA may ask for a DNA test. Everything in Category 2, plus:
- An ID-size photo and full fingerprints of the person being registered
- The parents’ fingerprints, where they are alive and available
- Affidavits from several independent witnesses to the person’s identity and birth
- Any records you have: school reports, clinic cards, baptism records, traditional authority letters, hospital or employer records, or any government document showing the person’s name and date of birth
- If a parent has died: a certified copy of the death certificate
- If both parents have died: documents from next of kin or a legal guardian
As GroundUp reports, the Naki judgment (2018), confirmed by the Constitutional Court in 2021, requires DHA to accept and consider a late registration application even if not every document can be provided. The ruling also confirmed that DHA cannot treat married and unmarried fathers differently when registering a child’s surname.
Step by step
Step 1: gather your documents
Use the checklist for your category. Bring originals and certified copies, certified within the last 3 months. If you cannot get everything, do not wait: the Naki judgment protects your right to have the application accepted.
Step 2: go to a DHA office
Late registration is done in person at a DHA live capture office, as a walk-in service. It is not booked on BABS and cannot be done online or at a bank. Arrive early, especially for Categories 2 and 3.
Step 3: complete Form DHA-24/LRB at the office
This barcoded form is only available at DHA offices. Complete it there in black ink and block letters, with no blank fields and no correction fluid.
Step 4: submit your application and biometrics
Hand in your completed forms and documents. The official captures the child’s biometrics and the parents’ fingerprints. Keep your receipt and its reference number for every follow-up.
Step 5: investigation and verification (Categories 2 and 3)
DHA may verify hospital or clinic records, interview the parents or applicant, ask for more documents or affidavits, or, in some cases involving an unmarried foreign parent, ask for a DNA test. For Category 3 this can take from several months to over a year; Scalabrini notes the investigation alone can take up to a year.
Step 6: collect the birth certificate
Once approved, the birth certificate is issued free. Collect it at the DHA office where you applied.
If you cannot provide every document
Under the Naki judgment, DHA must accept and consider your application even if documents are missing, and cannot refuse to receive it on that basis. Submit what you have and ask the official to record what is outstanding. You may be asked for more affidavits or an interview.
If you are refused despite a genuine application, these organisations can help:
- Lawyers for Human Rights, Cape Town, 021 481 3000
- Scalabrini Centre, WhatsApp advocacy line 078 260 3536
- Centre for Child Law
DNA tests
According to GroundUp and Scalabrini, DNA tests are a last resort, generally only requested when one parent is not South African and the parents are unmarried. The testing provider must meet DHA’s chain-of-custody requirements, and not every commercial provider does. Call 0800 60 11 90 for guidance on approved providers. The applicant pays for the test.
Civil society organisations have called on DHA to reduce the use of DNA tests, because the cost and complexity keep some children from being registered.
What to do if Home Affairs lost your DNA test results
If DHA tells you your DNA results cannot be found, or your application has stalled because they are missing:
- Get it in writing. Ask the office handling your application for your reference number and written confirmation that the results cannot be found.
- Contact DHA formally. Call the DHA Contact Centre on 0800 60 11 90, then email hacc@dha.gov.za with your reference number, the date of the test, the testing provider and the office.
- Contact the testing provider. Ask whether it still holds the results and can confirm when and to whom they were sent.
- Keep records. Keep copies of every receipt, letter and email, and note the date and name of everyone you speak to.
- Escalate if there is no answer. If you hear nothing within 30 working days, write to the branch manager, and consider the Public Protector (0800 112 040) or one of the legal aid organisations above.
Ask DHA directly whether a repeat test is needed and who pays for it before you book one.
What you cannot do
- You cannot register a birth late online. Form DHA-24/LRB is only available at DHA offices.
- You cannot use correction fluid on any DHA form. Start a new form instead.
- You cannot be refused just because some documents are missing (Naki judgment).
- You cannot use a DNA provider that does not meet DHA’s chain-of-custody requirements.
- You cannot check your status by SMS. The 32551 line has been discontinued.
Official DHA contact details
| Channel | Details |
|---|---|
| DHA Contact Centre (toll-free) | 0800 60 11 90 |
| hacc@dha.gov.za | |
| Official website | www.dha.gov.za |
| Birth registration information | gov.za birth services |
| SMS status check (32551) | Discontinued |
Born more than a year ago and facing an interview? See our guide to the late birth registration interview. If a parent has died or is absent, see how to get a birth certificate when a parent is dead, unknown or absent.
Frequently asked questions
What is the deadline for registering a birth in South Africa?
30 days from birth, under the Births and Deaths Registration Act. After that, the late registration process applies, with extra documents.
I missed the 30-day deadline by a few weeks. How urgent is it to register now?
Register as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more documents are needed: Category 1 (31 days to 1 year) is the simplest, while Category 3 (7 years and older) can take over a year.
Can an adult register their own birth if it was never registered?
Yes. Adults fall into Category 3 and apply in their own name, with full biometrics, witness affidavits, supporting records and usually a panel interview. It can take a year or more.
Both my parents have died and I have no birth records. Can I still apply?
Yes. Under the Naki judgment, DHA must accept your application even without every document. Submit what you have, such as school, clinic or church records and witness affidavits.
The DHA is asking for a DNA test. Is this compulsory?
DNA tests are a last resort, usually only requested when one parent is not South African and the parents are unmarried. If one is requested, the test must be done by a provider that meets DHA’s chain-of-custody requirements, and the applicant pays for it.
What if Home Affairs lost my DNA test results for a late birth registration?
Ask the office handling your application for a written reference number and written confirmation that the results cannot be found. Then call the DHA Contact Centre on 0800 60 11 90 and email hacc@dha.gov.za with your reference number, the date of the test, the testing provider and the office. Keep copies of every receipt and letter. If there is no answer within 30 working days, escalate in writing to the branch manager and consider the Public Protector (0800 112 040) or a legal aid organisation.
Can I register a birth late at any DHA office?
Yes. You can apply at any DHA live capture office in the country. Applications are processed centrally.
How long does late birth registration take?
Category 1: a few weeks to months. Category 2: several months, including investigation. Category 3: up to a year or longer, including a panel interview.
My child was not registered because of the Covid-19 lockdown. Are there exceptions?
Yes. Children born from 26 February 2020 during the national lockdown were exempted from the extra documents normally required for late registration. Confirm current policy on 0800 60 11 90.
How do I check the status of a late registration?
Call the DHA Contact Centre on 0800 60 11 90 with your receipt reference number. The 32551 SMS status line has been discontinued.
Related guides
- South African birth certificates: complete guide
- How to apply for an unabridged birth certificate
- Abridged vs unabridged birth certificate
- Birth certificate status check
- Birth certificate taking too long
- Wrong information on a birth certificate
- Adding a father’s name to a birth certificate
- Birth certificate application rejected
- Lost or damaged birth certificate