In accordance with the provisions of the South African Births and Deaths Registration Act, 1992, a South African citizen may apply to amend his/her personal information in the Population Register by virtue of a formal application for personal amendment.
Personal Amendments
Application to Assume another Surname
- Form BI-196 (majors), Form BI-193 (minors), Application to Assume Another Surname
- Form BI-795, Affidavit for the Insertion of a Surname (if registered without a surname or if adding a surname to an existing surname);
- Form BI-24, Notice of Birth, to indicate the surname to be assumed;
- Certified copy of Birth Certificate
- Certified copy of Statutory Declaration, Adoption Papers and Court Order or in the absence of these an affidavit motivating the necessity of the change of surname.
- Payment of the required fee for the application
Application for Alteration of a Forename
- Form BI-85, Application for Alteration of Forename
- Form BI-24, Notice of Birth, to indicate the new forename
- Certified copy of Birth Certificate
- Copy of Statutory Declaration, Court Order or in the absence of these an affidavit motivating the necessity of the change of forename;
- Payment of the required fee for the application
Application for Alteration of a Date of Birth
- Form BI-526E, Affidavit
- Form BI-24, Notice of Birth, to indicate the correct date of birth
- Certified copy of Birth Certificate
- Affidavit motivating the necessity/reasons for the change of date of birth;
- Payment of the required fee for the application.
All of the above application requires a processing period of 3 to 4 months as the amendment has to be published in the Government Gazette. Once the application is finalized, applicant will receive an abridged birth certificate to confirm the amended information.