An external birth certificate is issued to a child born outside Zimbabwe and when they were born, either of their parents was a Zimbabwean citizen or any of their grandparents was a Zimbabwean citizen by birth or descent.
Requirements
- Child’s foreign birth certificate/ child’s foreign health card/foreign birth confirmation record/ notification of birth. Mother’s names must correspond with those on the passport and national identity document.
- If the above documents are lost an affidavit and police report can be submitted.
- Mother’s passport showing that she was in a foreign country at the time of birth of the child. If the passport is expired a national identity document is required.
- Explanatory affidavit and national identity document where the mother’s passport is lost or does not have a passport.
- Father’s national identity document or valid passport.
- Marriage certificate where applicable.
- Prescribed statutory fee.
- Where the parents are in a registered marriage, one parent can register the child and must bring either national identity documents or a valid passport in the case of a foreign husband or wife.
- Where parents are not in a registered marriage/ not married or child was born before the marriage was solemnized, both must be present to sign the declaration of paternity.
- A single mother can also register a child under her maiden surname.
- Where one parent is deceased and they were in a registered marriage, registration is done by the surviving spouse upon production of the death certificate of the deceased.
- Where the alleged father is deceased, registration is done upon joint request by the mother and a near relative of the alleged father. The father’s near relative must submit an explanatory affidavit.
- Where the mother is deceased the registration is done upon joint request by the father and a parent or near relative of the mother. The mother’s near relative must give notice of birth.
Statutory fee
Normal – US$15.00
Processing time
Normal – 1 day
1.3 Non-Citizen Birth Registration
A non-citizen birth certificate is issued to a child born in Zimbabwe to foreign parents.
Requirements
- Parent’s Zimbabwean Non-Citizen identity documents where applicable or valid foreign passports
- Valid residence permit
- Child’s birth confirmation record
- Marriage certificate where applicable
- School letter for children above the age of six (6).
Statutory fees
-
- Normal processing – US$ 10.00
Processing time
-
- Normal application – 1 day (For applications done at Central Registry)
- 1 month (For applications submitted through mail)