Birth Certificate

How Does an NRI Get His Birth Certificate Without Traveling to India?

Are you living abroad and still willing to get a birth certificate?

The significance of this document attracts non-residents to apply for it for themselves or their wards. Some legal purposes can be served with it, such as obtaining a passport, visa, citizenship, or civil certificate from India. Overall, this birth proof enables them to come across legal barriers and travel smoothly in India. 

Importance of a Birth Certificate for NRIs

Being an authentic proof of identity, age, and place of origin, a birth certificate can help in verifying and getting these services:

  • Renew a passport.
  • Emigrate and obtain a visa.
  • Open a bank account in India. 
  • Get admission in an international university for education and employment.
  • Inherit property or verify for settling legal disputes in India.

If you have this original proof, the candidate passes through the government’s legal procedures effortlessly. And the scope for delays and legal complications narrows down. To access these facilities remotely, this document emerges in a key role.

A 2022 report by the Ministry of Home Affairs reveals that 84% of births in India are registered in its records because of digitization.   Likewise, the Civil Registration System (CSR) is formed to achieve a 100% birth registration milestone by 2030, which makes it easy for NRIs to access their birth credentials online. Here is how it is accessible.

Steps to Get a Birth Certificate as an NRI without Being in India

Step 1. Identify the Place of Birth

Firstly, recognise the location where you obtain this document from. Instead of applying anywhere, you can raise a request with the Municipal Corporation or gram panchayat in India. If you’re not able to be physically here, apply it through the website shared on the  list

Step 2. Determine the Registration Status

If Registered at Birth: At the time of birth, the process of registering birth is simple and straightforward. Just follow the steps shared online and obtain it from the municipal authority or registrar’s office.

If Not Registered at Birth: If the birth was unregistered, it won’t be easy to successfully register because you may have to attach an affidavit from the SDM office, which is again a lengthy process. Not only this, you should have other supporting documents like your school leaving certificate, passport, and old hospital records to fulfil the verification requirement.  

Step 3. Engage a Local Representative or Authorised Agency

If you cannot come, appoint a local representative who can be your friend or one from your family. This authorisation process typically requires:

a.       A Power of Attorney (PoA) to sign any document on your behalf and get through the verification process.

b.      Get the PoA notarised and attested from the Indian Embassy or Consulate in the country where the applicant resides abroad.  

Online Application Process

This is an alternative method, which allows you to visit websites that offer online services for birth certificates in many Indian states. As an NRI, you can get registered and then log in with the credentials to apply it online. This online process involves these steps:

Step 1. Step 1. Register on the portal (like E-District Portal) with valid credentials like name, passport or phone number (as aforementioned). You may specifically explore state-specific websites like Tamil Nadu Birth Certificate or Delhi Municipal Corporation also.

Step 2. Duly fill out the application form, mentioning details such as date, place of birth, parental details like their names and addresses, and registration number if the birth registration certificate was previously with you and now it’s lost.  

Step 3. Now that you have filled out the application, upload necessary documents, such as scanned copies of passports, affidavits, or hospital records, to support your application.

Step 4. In the last step, the screen will show the application fee to pay online.

Step 5. As the verification is over, the certificate will be sent via mail. Alternatively, your representative or you can collect it personally.

Step 6. Submit Required Documents:

a. Parent’s identity proof if parents apply on the behalf of a minor: Aadhar Card, PAN Card, Voter ID Card, Passport, Ration Card with Photo, Driving License, Any Govt. Recognised Document

b. Applicant’s identity proof if applied by self : Aadhar Card, PAN Card, Voter ID Card, Passport, Ration Card with Photo, School ID, Driving License, Any Govt. Recognised Document

c. Address proof of both parents and applicant: Aadhaar Card, Passport, Bank Passbook, Telephone Bill (Landline or Postpaid), Voter ID card, Ration Card, Electricity Bill, Gas Bill, Driving License, Rent Agreement (Registered), Water Bill, Any Govt. Recognised Document.

d. Date of birth proof of an NRI applicant: Aadhaar Card(Verified DoB), Passport, Nursing Home/Hospital Report/Vaccination Card, Driving License, SSC from recognised board by GoI CMO / Doctor Report, Certificate from School signed by Principal on School Letterhead

e. Proof of the place where birth took place: home address (if it took place at home), hospital papers (if born in a hospital)

f. Affidavit: A notarised document draughted on a non-judicial e-stamp paper (of INR 10) as per the prescribed format in Annexure I.

g. Passport-sized coloured photograph of an applicant: Affix a recent photograph of yours in the downloaded form or scanned copy of this size: 5 cm x 4.5 cm or 2” x 1.75

Guidelines for photographs:

·         Capture a full face, covering the front view with open eyes on a plain white or off-white background; keep expressions spontaneous with a closed mouth.

·         Cover the full head from top hair to shoulder with no shadows on the face; avoid sunglasses or hats.

6. Follow Up with Authorities

After submission, the applicant or the representative should be in touch with the competent authority. If applied online, check the status online to track the update. Some authorities may request additional documents if anything seems suspicious or unclear.

Challenges and Solutions

Challenge 1: Unregistered Births

Some older records, especially in rural India, are not available for being on the paper. And many of the births remain unregistered.

Solution: NRIs can request to check their birth record in the old books of the municipal corporation or Tehsildar. If the record is missing, enclose an affidavit with school certificates or hospital records to support your application for a birth certificate.

Challenge 2: Lack of Knowledge About Procedures

Non-residents sometimes don’t know how to get it registered in India.

Solution: In this case, hiring a professional consultant or getting guidance from Indian embassies can solve this problem.

Challenge 3: Delays in Processing

Many a time, there are some bureaucratic inefficiencies that cause delays.
Solution: With regular follow-ups and hiring a reliable representative, we can expedite the process.

Conclusion

Obtaining a birth certificate without travelling to India is now a feasible and efficient process for NRIs, thanks to digital platforms and professional services. By engaging authorised representatives, leveraging online portals, and ensuring proper documentation, NRIs can overcome the challenges of distance and bureaucratic procedures. Whether for legal, immigration, or personal purposes, a birth certificate is a vital document that can now be accessed from anywhere in the world with the right approach.

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