Well, India has over 1.4 million people. Taking care of everyone’s rights is difficult without documentation. This is where having a birth certificate is crucial. But there may be such situations where individuals fail to get it registered. This is the case of an unregistered birth. And at times, this crucial document may be damaged or lost because of theft or natural disasters like floods. The case of losing the original birth certificate will also be treated as an unregistered birth.
Whatever the situation, one must register the birth under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969. This post will help you discover the application process for the non-availability of a birth certificate (NABC), which is an alternative to a birth proof.
What is NABC?
NABC, or non-availability of birth certificate, is an official proof of one’s unregistered birth. It confirms that the person’s birth record is not present or found in government records. If the individual had it but lost it due to any reason, the registrar of the municipal corporation issues an order to find the record. Section 17 of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, states to search, and if it is not found in the government register, an NABC will be issued. It is a substitute for a birth certificate.
NABC Eligibility
The eligibility criteria for this certificate may be different in various states in India. But the following conditions are common:
- Birthplace: The very first eligibility criterion is the birth place. It must be India or any part of this country.
- Absence of Birth Certificate: The next condition is that the applicant must not have any existing birth certificate from this or any other country. India does not recognize dual citizenship. So, he or she must not have any other country’s birth certificate.
- Proof of Residence: The third or last condition is that the applicant’s parents must be from India. This can be stated in utility bills, identification proofs containing the parents’ address, and more.
How to Apply for NABC?
If you are confused and don’t know what to do to get this document, this section is going to help you. Go through it and find out how you can get it.
Step 1. Search
This step is for those who have lost it and have registered their birth before. They must conduct thorough searches at the hospital where they were born. The municipality is the ultimate place where you can make this request. If the search ends with no birth record existing, follow the following steps:.
Step 2. Request from Health Officer or Registrar
You need to visit and contact the health officer in the village or rural areas where municipal corporations are not present, or the registrar of births and deaths in metropolitan cities, to request an NABC.
Step 3. Fill Out Application
The registrar or health office may provide a Form 10 to fill out. This won’t be acceptable unless you have an affidavit on the letterhead of a Gazette officer.
Step 3. Submit Documents
Now, you need to completely fill out the form and enclose all necessary documents for verification.
Step 4. Verification and Issuance
As soon as your application is verified, the concerned authority will issue the NABC. But if it finds anything doubtful, it will reject your application, and you will have to raise a request again.
Now that you are aware of the steps, let’s share the checklist of various documents required for verification.
Required Documents for NABC
When you apply or reapply, ensure that these documents are enclosed with your Form-10.
- Applicant’s Aadhar Card
- Applicant’s Passport
- Applicant’s Voter ID Card
- High School Certificate
- Proof of date of birth (e.g., hospital report, vaccination card, nursing home receipt)
- Parents’ Aadhar Card or Voter ID Card
- Issuing charges for NABC
Processing Fee or Fee Structure
If you timely apply, which is within 21 days of the birth occurrence, you will be charged nothing. Yes, you don’t need to pay anything. But after that duration, be ready to pay a per-day penalty with a minimal processing fee.
The fee structure is different in each state, or village because the union government has provided this authority to the state governments. So, ensure that you have inquired about its fee.
As far as the method is concerned, you can pay through the following options:
- Draft or cash
- Debit or credit card
- Online payment (if applying online)
How to Apply for NABC Online?
The online method is quite different. Applicants, who are mostly non-residents or NRIs, can apply for NABC online. The procedure will differ. Instead of onsite visits, visit the website of the municipal corporation or the respective state government.
Let’s get through the general procedure to apply for a non-availability of birth certificate online.
Step 1. Access Official Website
Explore the official website of the Municipal Corporation (MC) that you belong to. Select the most appropriate from the list of all MCs.
Step 2. Register on the Website
The website will ask for registration to access its services. So, you have to provide any of these for access-Aadhar card, a voter ID card, or other identification to register.
Step 3. Download Application Form
As you register, download the form with the caption ‘Issuance of Delayed Birth Order’ and save it.
Step 4. Fill Out the Form.
Now you have the form. Fill it accurately while inputting genuine details. These details must match the information registered in the supporting documents. So, always cross-verify before submission.
Step 5. Upload Documents
Like the offline method, you have to upload supporting documents with the application. They must be scanned copies. The checklist will be similar to the aforesaid offline method.
Step 6. Complete Payment
Pay the applicable fees online.
Before submission, there will be a last barrier, which is to pay the requisite fee online. The screen will appear to show you how to pay online using your debit card, or UPI method.
Step 7. Submit and Track the Application
As you submit the fee, an auto-generated receipt number will pop up on the screen. So, you need to save it for further reference when you’d like to track the status of your application.
This is how the entire procedure goes on. Furthermore, the detailed procedure can be discussed with a consultant who helps with the documentation.
Crucial Tips for NABC Affidavit
- For an affidavit to be enclosed, you need to get it on stamp paper worth INR 20 or more.
- The affidavit must be drafted under the supervision or guidance of a Gazette officer so that he or she can help if there is any doubt.
- In the affidavit, the signing affiant should be treated as a deponent, who is also the witness of the applicant’s birth.
- The date format will be like this: ‘MM/DD/YYYY.’
- Once the final draft is ready, get the affidavit attested or notarized by the Gazette officer.
Conclusion
If you’re still puzzled and want to know how to get a non-availability of birth certificate, the aforementioned details are going to prove a real help. Both processes, online and offline, are aforesaid. You need to carefully follow all the steps. If there seems to be any confusion, consult with a consultant or solicitor who has been handling these cases.