Full birth certificates are issued upon request to persons who are South African citizens and whose births were duly registered in South Africa:
- South African citizens by birth or naturalization or foreigners who have valid permanent residence or work permits in South Africa.
- Birth registration for those who were born abroad to South African citizens.
This document once issued includes the parent's particulars of applicant. The requirements are as follows:
- A duly completed Form BI- 154
- Payment the required fee for the application (See consular Tariffs)
If you need additional copies of an abridged birth certificate (which could be either computer printed, a certified copy of the birth register or hand written) or copies of an unabridged birth certificate you must:
- Complete Form BI- 154 and submit it to the nearest office of the Department of Home Affairs if you are in South Africa, or the nearest South African embassy, mission or consulate if you are overseas
- Payment the required fee for the application (See consular Tariffs)
Applications are likely to take a minimum of 4 (four) months and possibly longer.
Request for a progress report on the application must be made in writing, so that the Embassy may refer it directly to the appropriate section at the Department of Home Affairs
Undocumented Foreign Nationals who are born in South Africa are issued with a certificate free of charge on registration of their births.