Non-availability of birth certificate (NABC) is a legal proof that can help you to apply for the birth certificate with competent authority in India. It is basically issued in case your birth is unregistered or you have lost your birth proof or it has been drowned and damaged.

Apply Online with Municipal Corporation for Passport

• Get registered with the official website of MC of the state where the applicant was born, like http://edistrict.delhigovt.nic.in/in/en/Public/ApplicationForm.html.
• Registration requires you to have a voter ID card or Adhaar card. Once get registered, login to access the services.
• Download the form given under “Issuance of delayed birth order” as a doc file.
• Fill the form while providing authentic information.
• Scan the supporting documents as given below to upload.
• Pay & submit the completed form.
• Pay online if it seems feasible.
• Save the receipt number, which would be auto generated to look into the status update later.

Visit Municipal Corporation in India-an Offline Method

The person can visit the respective municipal corporation office where you live.
Make a request: The person should make a request to the Health Officer or Registrar at the registration office. The registrar may provide a prescribed printed application form to fill. Alternatively, he/she may issue an affidavit on his/her letterhead.

This replica of Municipal Corporation of Delhi’s affidavit would give you the exact idea of how it looks. Although its format and content may differ in looks yet all affidavits iterate the similar meaning.

Here is the checklist of the documents that you should have to apply for the Non-availability of birth certificate in India: 

1. To be Submitted to Local Competent Authority

• Damaged original birth certificate
• A letter by the ‘Jail Incharge’, if born in the jail
• A letter by the head of the Dharmashala/ Boarding house, if born there years ago
• A letter by the vehicle incharge, if born in the vehicle
• A letter by the headman of the village/incharge of the local police station, if found deserted in a public place
• A letter by the authorized medical officer of the hospital/ nursing home/maternity ward where born
• School records, like school leaving certificate, mark sheets, matriculation certificate, degree certificate, 12thor 10thclass certificate having the name & date of birth of the candidate
• State of federal Census record, like ration card, with the name of the child and parents
• Church record where took baptism within two months of birth. It should state the date of birth, date of religious ceremony and the name of his/her parents.
• Adoption decree, if adopted child & other legal records
• Voter card
• Driving licence
• PAN card
• Passport (current and surrendered)
• An affidavit or a sworn statement of two witnesses (that can be mother and father, relative, friend, neighbour or sibling who would be 10 years old or more at the time of petitioner’s birth)

2. To Be Submitted to The Consulate

Non availability of birth certificate is issued to those citizens of India who have their passport in original and who took birth in India before 2nd June 1969.

• Photocopy & original copy of passport
• Notarized copy of birth proofs (as aforementioned)

You should ensure that notarized copy is legible. The Consulate may ask to see the original for verification. However, the passport should be presented in original.

Visit The Consulate Office-for NRIs

• Unlike taking appointment, directly visit the office in between 9 am and 12 noon.
• Get all supporting documents verified, like birth certificate or death certificate, affidavits, diplomas, educational certificates and marriage certificate.
• Get them apostilled under the “Legalizationof Documents” at http://www.mea.gov.in
  The competent authority reserves right to reject attesting your documents that are not in compliance with the rules.

Fee To Pay

• To Consul-Non-Refundable Fee of $25 + $2 (for Indian Community Welfare Fee)/ attestation
• To Municipal Corporation-as per state government

Delivery Time

In embassy, it can be issued in a day. But, Municipal Corporation may take a week to a month.

FAQs

What is NABC or Non-Availability of Birth Certificate?

The non-availability of birth certificate refers to the legally acceptable proof of birth, issued by the civil body called Municipal Corporation in India.

What is its use?

NABC may be used as an alternative of the birth certificate. The registrar of the municipal corporation issues it for administering the case of unregistered birth.

However, it is valuable if your original birth proof is not there. It may be damaged, torn, drenched or burnt due to some uncertain conditions. In these cases, you can apply for NABC and use it for getting passport, visa or any other facilities of the government.

How do I get my birth certificate if it is not registered?

Unregistered birth is the case when your birth has not been registered with the registrar of the Municipal Corporation, Gram Sabha or any other civic body delegated to look into the birth and death registrations.

However, you have to register the birth within 21 days upon the event, as it’s a free service. Afterwards, you have to pay penalty for late registration.

The procedure remains the same if you apply in one year. You need to fill up the form, mentioning the date, time, place, address and parents name in it. The registrar charges late fee, which varies in every state. Upon that, you get receipt. After one or two weeks, you can get it from there.

After one year, it is way more difficult as you have to get an affidavit. It should be attested by the Grade A Gazette officer. This document should read applicant as a beneficiary and signing affiants as a deponent.  Enclose the primary and secondary evidences of birth.

What are primary evidences?

The primary evidence is the original yet damaged birth certificate.

What are secondary evidences for the NABC?

Secondary proofs are needed if there is no primary proof. Here is the list of all of these:

• Letter issued by the ‘Jail Incharge’, if born in the jail
• Letter issued by the head of the Dharmashala/ Boarding house, if born there
• Letter issued by the vehicle incharge, if born in the vehicle
• Letter issued by the headman of the village/incharge of the local police station, if born in a public place
• Letter issued by the authorized medical officer of the hospital/ nursing home/maternity ward
• School records, like school leaving certificate, mark sheets, matriculation certificate, degree certificate, 12thor 10thclass certificate having the name & date of birth of the petitioner
• State of federal Census record, like ration card, with the name of the child and parents
• Church record where he/she took baptism within two months of birth, stating the date of birth, date of religious ceremony and the name of his/her parents
• Adoption decree, if adopted child & other legal records of judicial proceedings
• Voter card/Driving licence/PAN card
• Passport (current and surrendered)
• Statement of two witnesses (that can be mother and father, relative, friend, neighbor or sibling who would be 10 years old or more at the time of petitioner’s birth)

How do you get birth certificate without proof after many years?

It’s easy. Being in India, you can contact registrar in the Municipal Corporation or gram panchayat. Get an affidavit from the Gazette officer and notarize it. Show up proofs, primary or secondary (evidences) as aforementioned. Fill up the Form-10 for non-availability.

As an NRI, you can appoint an attorney to apply on your behalf. Here, you can also apply with the consulate provided that you have primary or secondary evidences.

What happens if you don’t have a birth certificate for a green card?

If you don’t have it, get NABC from the municipal corporation. An SDM officer or District Magistrate can also sign an affidavit upon verifying the date, place, parents and other details of the person.

This proof is valid. Otherwise, your application for the adjustment of status (form I-485) would be put on hold. You won’t be able to travel abroad for tourism or work.

Is birth certificate required for green card?

Yes, it is required, as the consular processing sticks around it. You have to show up the original proof.

What should I do if I lose my birth certificate in India?

You have an option to apply for NABC from consular office. Or, you can appoint a power of attorney to get it from where you belong to in India. Enclose all necessary documents to support. It will be issued in a few weeks.

You can also apply online from the website of the state’s municipal corporation, enclosing all necessary documents.

Can I get birth certificate from another state India?

No, you cannot do this as it is illegal.