Birth Registration
Every baby born in South Africa above the age of 28 weeks gestation, weighing more than 800 g and that showed any signs of life at birth, has to be registered at the Department of Home Affairs. This is an activity for the dads (if possible), because registration can be done while mom and your newborn are still in hospital. Within 25 days of your baby's birth, you have to register her. It is important to register your baby as soon a possible, since registration with the medical aid can only be done once you have a birth certificate as proof of birth. The process is very simple. When you arrive at the offices of Home Affairs, you fill out a form for birth registration. These forms contain information such as the parents' details and identity numbers. There is no cost to register a baby.
Download the BI-154 form from the Department of Home Affairs website.
An alternative option offered by some hospitals is that you can register your baby at the hospital at a minimal cost and then you will receive the birth certificate by mail.
Private Service Providers (Little Steps only provides the links and does not support or suggest any of the services):
Bunny Hop frustration free registration (KZN and Pretoria only);
Regi-Serve Registration Services Pretoria only. Contact the service providers from their website.
Medical Aid Registration
It is the parents' responsibility to register the baby on the medical aid as soon as possible (within 3-7 days from the date of birth). WHAT TO DO?
- Notify your medical aid of your baby's condition.
- Order a provisional birth certificate on the instruction form, which you must submit to your medical aid.
- Inform them that you will call them with your baby's ID number, as soon as you receive the birth certificate.
Your baby will receive a "Road to Health" card in the hospital at birth. This card contains information about the baby's birth and immunisations. It is important that you receive this card on discharge and keep it safe; for no children are allowed into public schools without this prove of immunisations.
