Your first unabridged birth certificate is free. The Department of Home Affairs tariff schedule, last updated in July 2025 and still in force in 2026, lists the first issue of an unabridged birth certificate at no charge. The R75 fee that most websites quote is the reproduction fee, which you pay when you need a replacement copy or a certificate reissued from the register.
Quick facts
| Item | 2026 amount |
|---|---|
| First issue of an unabridged birth certificate | Free |
| Reproduction from the register (replacement or additional copy) | R75 |
| Abridged computer printed or handwritten certificate | R20 |
| Amendment to the birth register | R70 |
| Frame of four black and white photos | R40 |
| Application form | DHA-154, also printed as BI-154 |
| Where you apply | Any Department of Home Affairs office, or a South African embassy or consulate |
| Typical processing time | Six to eight weeks |
| Fee schedule authority | Department of Home Affairs tariff schedule |
What most get wrong about the R75
Search for this and almost every result tells you an unabridged birth certificate costs R75. That is not what the official tariff schedule says.
The Home Affairs tariff schedule separates the two situations:
First issue: free. The schedule lists the first issue of an unabridged birth certificate, and the first issue of an abridged death or marriage certificate, as free of charge. Since March 2013 the unabridged version has been the default certificate issued when a birth is registered, so if your birth was registered after that date, you should already have received one at no cost.
Reproduction: R75. The R75 line in the schedule covers the issuing of an abridged birth, death or marriage certificate, a reproduction of the relevant register, a reproduction of supporting documentation attached to that register, and verification of information held in the birth, marriage and death registers.
In practice this is why counter staff charge R75 when you walk in asking for a copy. You are not paying for an unabridged certificate as such. You are paying the reproduction fee, because Home Affairs has to pull and reprint from the register. The distinction matters if you are being quoted a fee for a first issue, because a first issue should not cost you anything.
When you actually pay
You pay the R75 reproduction fee when:
- You lost the original certificate and need a replacement.
- You need an additional copy for a visa, an estate, or a foreign authority.
- Your birth was registered before March 2013 and you hold the older abridged certificate, so you need the full version reproduced from the register.
- A bank, embassy or employer needs the details verified against the register.
You do not pay when:
- The birth is being registered for the first time within 30 days. Registration itself is free, and the certificate issued on registration is free.
- A government department requests a reproduction or verification for official purposes. The schedule marks these as free of charge.
What the certificate contains
An unabridged birth certificate lists the full details of both parents alongside the child’s details. That is the whole point of it. The older abridged version carried only the child’s details and limited parental information, which is why foreign embassies, visa sections and estate attorneys will not accept it.
The unabridged certificate shows:
- The full name, surname, date of birth, place of birth and 13 digit identity number of the person named.
- The mother’s full name, surname, identity number and citizenship status.
- The father’s full name, surname, identity number and citizenship status.
- The date of registration and the registering office.
- The official Home Affairs stamp and reference number.
The form you need
The application form is the DHA-154. Older stock and some offices still print it as the BI-154. They are the same form.
The form asks you to tick whether you want the abridged or the unabridged version. Leaving that blank is the single most common reason applications get pushed back at the counter. If you are unsure which you need, choose the unabridged version. It is accepted everywhere the abridged version is accepted.
Related Home Affairs fees
The birth certificate sits inside a wider civic services tariff schedule. If you are budgeting for a full set of documents, these are the other published amounts:
| Service | 2026 tariff |
|---|---|
| Identity document, first issue | Free |
| Identity document, re-issue | R140 |
| Temporary Identity Certificate | R70 |
| Adult passport | R600 |
| Child passport | R600 |
| Maxi tourist passport, 48 pages | R1 200 |
| Adult passport applied for at a mission or embassy abroad | R1 200 |
| Emergency Travel Certificate | R140 |
| Letter of confirmation of marital status | R50 |
| Change of a minor’s forenames or surname | R70 |
| Application by an adult to assume a different surname | R325 |
| Replacement of a lost, damaged or stolen passport | Double the normal tariff for that document |
The replacement rule carries an exception worth knowing. Where the document was lost, stolen or damaged through no negligence on the part of the holder, only the normal fee is payable.
Document agencies charge far more
Private document services will handle the queueing and submission for you. They quote figures in the thousands, and one agency listed on the first page of search results advertises an unabridged birth certificate at over R2 000.
That is not a Home Affairs fee. It is a service charge for standing in the queue on your behalf, and the underlying application, timeline and outcome are identical. The state fee is R75 for a reproduction, or nothing at all for a first issue. Anything above that is the agent’s margin. Use them if you live abroad or far from an office and the convenience is worth the money to you, but go in knowing what the actual state fee is.
How long it takes
Home Affairs works to a six to eight week turnaround for a standard application submitted at an office inside South Africa. Applications lodged at a South African mission, embassy or consulate abroad are forwarded to Pretoria and take considerably longer.
If your birth was never registered at all, you cannot apply for the certificate until late registration of birth is completed first. That is a separate process with its own documents and a substantially longer wait.
Methodology
Every rand figure on this page is taken from the Department of Home Affairs tariff schedule for civic services, which the department publishes on its official website and last updated in July 2025. Where the schedule distinguishes between a first issue and a reproduction, we have reproduced that distinction rather than collapsing it into a single figure.
Home Affairs adjusts its tariffs by gazette. Fees can change between our review dates, so confirm the current amount at the office where you apply before you pay.
Frequently asked questions
Is an unabridged birth certificate free in South Africa? The first issue is free. The Home Affairs tariff schedule lists the first issue of an unabridged birth certificate at no charge. You pay R75 only when you need a reproduction from the register, which covers replacements and additional copies.
Why does everyone say it costs R75? Because in practice most people applying are asking for a copy, and a copy triggers the R75 reproduction fee. The number is right for that situation. It is wrong as a description of what the certificate itself costs.
What is the difference between abridged and unabridged? The abridged certificate shows limited details. The unabridged certificate shows the full details of both parents. Visa sections, foreign authorities and estate processes require the unabridged version.
Which form do I complete? The DHA-154, sometimes printed as the BI-154. Tick the unabridged box on the form.
Can I apply online? You can start the process and pay through the eHome Affairs portal, but you still have to attend an office in person so that your identity can be verified.
How much does a birth certificate cost for a newborn? Nothing. Registering a birth within 30 days is free, and the certificate issued on registration is free.
Do I need one for a child travelling internationally? Yes. South African children travelling in or out of the country need the unabridged certificate. Airlines and border officials will not accept the abridged version on its own.
Disclaimer
The figures on this page reflect the Department of Home Affairs published tariff schedule at the time of our last review. Government fees are adjusted by gazette and can change without notice. This article is general information about published government fees and is not legal or financial advice. Confirm the current amount with Home Affairs before making any payment.
