Registration of Births
Why register births?
CRIM is mandated by the CRIM Act to register all births nationally. Any person wishing to Register a new birth must follow the steps for Birth Registration
Steps to Register
Family comes to a Registration Centre
Family must provide proof of birth
Family must complete the Registration of New Birth Form
Registrar completed the Birth registration process
Family provided with the certificate
What do you need to Register?
Registration of Birth
A Registration of Birth Form completed and signed
Evidence of Birth
- Issued by a health care institution, midwife, or registered medical practitioner (Pikinini Helt Buk or Green Book)
- A completed Witnesses Form indicating that two Witnesses can validate this birth. If no medical proof of birth can be provided, two witnesses must be required. The first one is a family member (Sister, Brother, Mom, Dad, Grandparent, Aunt, or Uncle). The second witness must be either the Area Secretary, Area Administrator, Religious Leader, or Chief who knows the person and who has a National Identification Number and contact (email or number)
Photo
Optional Marriage Certificate Number
Why is it important to register your child?
- Provides legal identity needed to register the child for school, bank accounts, or to have access to other government benefits
- Provides Birth Certificate
- Provides Vanuatu ID or E-ID which can be used for identity verification to board planes and boats
- The Government counts you during time of disaster.
- Improves population statistical data
Registration Centre
The first Registration Centre is at the hospital where the child was born. If the family is discharged during a weekend or holiday, they must come to their nearest Registration Centre within 21 days after discharge for on-time registration.
Improvement
Vanuatu has experienced an improvement in birth registration in the last few years:
- registering children through schools as part of their initial enrolment processes
- registering new births at the hospital prior to discharge
- “catch-up days” in remote areas that do not have regular contact with the government. In 2014 birth registration rates for children aged under 1 increased from 35% to 57%. In 2016, it was estimated that around 14% have yet to be registered. In conformity reports by UNICEF that at least 80% of the population have registered their births.
Duplication
CRIM can provide Reprinted Certified Copies of Birth Certificates when properly requested with the necessary forms. The following people can request a Reprint Certified Copy of a Birth Certificate:
- The person the record belongs too
- A parent with a child under 18 years of age
- Any family member or close contact of a person if they provide the Proper Consent Form and have a Vanuatu Identification Number.
Forms and Fees
Forms
Fees
New Registration First Copy
Free for all
Birth Reprint Certified Copy
Children 12 and under and people with special needs (disability and elderly 60+): Free
All people 13-59: 500 vt
Disaster Declared Area by NDMO
Free new white Birth Certificate copy
Birth Certificate Copy with Green or Blue Design
1,000 vt
Birth Certificate Copy with Provincial Flag Design
1,500 vt
Birth Certificate Copy with Flag Design
2,000 vt
Promotion Days for Provincial Flag Design or Flag Design (Provincial days and National events)
Free Flag Design
