eCitizen: How to Apply for Birth Certificate Online During Covid-19

As Kenya battles Coronavirus (Covid-19), many government services shifted online to avoid congestion in offices and reduce the spread of the virus.

Huduma Kenya shut down in March 2020 but advised Kenyans to access government services online, and one of the portals where services are offered is the eCitizen.

eCitizen was launched in 2014 and one can access various services including applying for Birth Certificates. Currently, only Nairobi residents are allowed to fill for Birth Certificates online. Other regions are set to be added.

A screengrab of services offered on eCitizen/FILE

Account Creation

One has to create an account on eCitizen, using their ID card number, and the form is populated using data from the Integrated Population Registration Service.

Upon creation of an account, one will also submit a working email. The email or ID will be used to log in together with a password.

The email will also be used when one wants to reset a password. One will also provide a registered phone number.

After signing in, one can apply for a Birth Certificate under the Civil Registration Department.

You can apply for Child Current, Adult Current and Late Registration certificates categories.

All applications must be done in the parent’s account which will be linked to the phone number in case of payment through mobile money transfer.

1. Child Current Birth Certificate

This application is for births where a notification was issued at the hospital. It should be submitted in the parent/guardian account for applicants below 18 years.

It should also be submitted at least 30 days after the date of birth.

Requirements:

Scanned copy of the birth notification

Scanned copy of the National ID for applicants above 18 years

Scanned copy of the parent’s ID

For replacements, scanned copy of the original birth certificate

Charges: Ksh180

Steps

An online form is filled and relevant documents in PDF format submitted. The form contains two options, whether one is applying for a new certificate or a replacement.

Proceed to choose new birth certificate and approve that the child was born in a health facility. If you had applied earlier online, you can be allowed to amend the child’s name, to remove spelling mistakes or add an extra name, but only for children below 2 years.

For new applications, one has to decline the amendment option and acknowledge that the child is under 18 years then proceed to fill County of Birth, Hospital of Birth and Birth Notification Number. A scanned PDF copy of the Birth Notification will be also be attached.

A screengrab of Current Birth Certificate Form/FILE

Three names of the child plus gender will be filled. The name and ID number of both parents, together with scanned copies of the IDs will be uploaded unless one is a single parent.

A pickup location for the certificate will then be chosen from options included. For Nairobi, one can pick from Huduma Makadara, ACK Bishop House, Huduma Centres in GPO, City Square, Makadara, Eastleigh and Kibera. One will be notified via SMS when the certificate is ready for pick up.

Payment

Options range from Mpesa to Debit/Credit/Prepaid Card, Airtel Money and Pesalink.

For Mpesa:

Go to M-PESA on your phone
Select Pay Bill option
Enter Business no. 206206
Enter Account no. YWDOPMJ
Enter the Amount. KES 180
Enter your M-PESA PIN and Send
You will receive a confirmation SMS from M-PESA

A screengrab of Current Birth Certificate form with the option for amendment/FILE

Airtel Money:

Go to Airtel Money on your phone
Select Pay Bill option
Select Other
Enter Business Name. 206206
Enter the Amount Ksh. KES 180
Enter your Airtel Money PIN and Send
Enter Account no. YWDOPMJ
You will receive a confirmation SMS from Airtel Money

For replacement of a Birth Certificate:

The same procedure applies but one will only attach a scanned copy of the original birth certificate

2. Adult Current Birth Certificate

This application is for births which were registered within 6 months either by a Chief or in the hospital.

A screengrab of Adult Current Birth Certificate form/FILE

Requirements

Scanned copy of the birth notification
Scanned copy of the parents’ ID

Charges: Ksh 180

The same procedure for applying the Child Current Birth Certificate is followed.

Late Registration Certificates

This application must be done after getting approval form at the Civil Registration Services on ACK Bishop’s Gate Offices which will be scanned and attached online.

This application is for births that were registered after 6 months either by a Chief or in the hospital. It should be submitted in the parent/guardian account for applicants below 18 years.