A birth certificate in Mumbai is issued by the Department of Public Health, Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) or the BMC falling in the respective ward where the birth took place. Birth certificates are among the most frequently requested documents for immigration purposes, acquiring foreign citizenship, applying for OCI, school admission, passport applications, Aadhaar and visa processing, which is why many families ask how to get a digital birth certificate without repeated visits to the ward office. The process is faster when the birth is already registered, however, if the birth is not registered, or when the record is old, missing or registered late, the process becomes difficult and lengthy. For a wider picture, see our guide to birth certificates and NABC in India.
Malik Law Offices India assists families, including NRIs based abroad, who want to understand the digital birth certificate online process, the documents required, how to check that a certificate is genuine and what to do when a record cannot be found. It covers Mumbai and, briefly, the rest of Maharashtra.
What Is a Digital Birth Certificate and Why It Matters
A birth certificate with a QR is issued by the registrar with a QR code, so its authenticity can be verified online.
A digital birth certificate in India is issued under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969. The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act, 2023, in force since 1 October 2023, provides for digital registration and electronic delivery of certificates.
|
Form of certificate |
What it is |
Can it be verified online? |
|
Digitally signed certificate |
Electronic certificate with the registrar's digital signature and a QR code or barcode |
Yes |
|
Computer-generated certificate |
Certificate printed or saved from the registrar's software |
Only if it carries a digital signature or QR code |
|
Scan or photocopy |
Image of a paper certificate |
No |
A computer generated birth certificate is produced from the registrar's software. It becomes a digital birth certificate only when it also carries the registrar's digital signature and/or a QR code or barcode that can be verified online. A computer-generated printout without these may be accepted at a counter but can fail online verification.
Step-by-Step Process: How to Get a Birth Certificate in Mumbai (Digitally verifiable with QR)
1. Confirm that the birth is registered. If, however, you are not certain that the birth is registered, a search of birth records must be conducted.
2. If the birth took place at a hospital, ask the hospital for the registration number or acknowledgement.
3. The child's name, date and place of birth, sex, parents' names, hospital name and registration number must be kept handy and provided.
4. Search the record on the MCGM portal. This is the official route for a Mumbai municipal birth certificate online. If the record is not found, apply for a birth certificate in Mumbai at the MCGM ward office or Civic Facility Centre.
5. Once the registrar approves the record, a birth certificate digitally verifiable with QR code can be obtained.
A digital birth certificate can only be issued by the appropriate authority. The same rule answers can I make birth certificate online, can we make birth certificate online, how to create birth certificate online and how to make birth certificate online.
For lost or duplicate certificates, see [Internal link: MLOI blog on birth certificate in Mumbai / Maharashtra].
Documents Required for a Birth Certificate in Mumbai
Generally required documents for applying for a birth certificate are as below-
Documents usually asked for:
• Filled in Application form with the correct details
• Hospital birth report or discharge record
• Identification documents of both parents such as Passport, AADHAR card, Voter ID card, PAN card etc.
• Identification documents of the applicant such as Passport, AADHAR card, Voter ID card, PAN card etc.
• High School Certificate/School Leaving Certificate
Converting an Old Birth Certificate to Digital and Late Registration
In order to change an old handwritten birth certificate to a birth certificate which is digitally verifiable:
1. Fill an application and search the birth records
2. If the records are traced along with the registration number, date of birth and parents' names, ask the MCGM ward registrar to issue a certificate from the digital system.
3. If no entry exists, register the birth late, as explained below.
Digitalization of birth certificate records is ongoing. The 2023 amendment requires states to register births on the national Civil Registration System (CRS) portal, so new records are available in a standard digital form.
If the birth was never registered, it can still be registered late. Birth registration in Maharashtra follows Section 13 of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969.
|
Time since birth |
What is required |
|
Within 21 days |
Registration without a late fee |
|
22 to 30 days |
Registration on payment of a late fee |
|
31 days to one year |
Written permission of the prescribed authority, an affidavit and a late fee |
|
More than one year |
An order from a first-class magistrate after verification, and a fee |
If the birth records are not traceable at the first instance, generally a Non-Availability Certificate is issued first. The said Non-Availability Certificate is then used to support delayed registration.
For lost, damaged or duplicate certificates, see [Internal link: MLOI blog on birth certificate in Mumbai / Maharashtra].
Getting a Copy Online Without Visiting an Office
Yes, you can get a birth certificate in Mumbai without visiting an office if the birth is registered and the record is available. A physical application can be submitted on behalf of the applicant along with the supporting documents. If any objections are received or any clarifications are required, the
Common Questions About Getting a Birth Certificate Online
Can I get a birth certificate online? Yes. A birth record can be searched online on the issuing authority's portal with the registration number or birth details.
How to get my birth certificate online without the registration number? A birth certificate can be extracted online with the child's date of birth, parents' names and hospital name. However, finding results may be difficult.
How to get your birth certificate online from abroad? A registered record can be searched online based on the registration details. However, it is generally recommended to make an application physically for old records. If the applicant is not available in India, an application can be made by someone on his/her behalf.
How to take out birth certificate online? The records can be searched online and once the records are traced, a certificate can be issued.
How to get the original birth certificate online? The certificate issued by the registrar is the original. The digitally signed version from the official portal is issued by the registrar itself, though some offices may ask for a physical or attested or apostilled copy.
How to get a birth certificate in India outside Mumbai? The process depends on the state and the local body. Many states register births on the national CRS portal, while others run their own systems.
Is a Digital Birth Certificate Valid? How to Check the QR Code
Yes. A digital birth certificate issued by the registrar is valid proof of birth.
The QR code when scanned takes the user to the official website of the issuing authority so the records, details and genuineness of the birth certificate issued can be ascertained. The user can cross check the details with the physical certificate and the details must match. If there is a mismatch in the details or the registration number, then the veracity of the certificate can be questioned.
A birth certificate QR code should open the issuing authority's official page. The barcode on a birth certificate serves the same purpose. A birth certificate barcode is read with a barcode scanner instead of a phone camera. To check a certificate:
1. Scan the QR code that appears on the birth certificate with a phone camera or a scanner.
2. Confirm that the page belongs to the issuing authority.
3. Compare the name, date of birth and registration number on the page with the certificate.
Applying for a Birth Certificate Online in Maharashtra Outside Mumbai
For births outside Mumbai, apply through the state's online services, such as the Aaple Sarkar portal, or through the national CRS portal, depending on where the birth was registered. Births within Greater Mumbai are handled by MCGM.
Birth and death registration in Maharashtra follows the 1969 Act and the Maharashtra Registration of Births and Deaths Rules, 1976. In Marathi and Hindi the certificate is called janam praman patra or janam dakhla. To apply for a birth certificate in Maharashtra outside Mumbai:
1. Identify the municipal corporation, municipal council or gram panchayat where the birth was registered.
2. Check whether it offers birth certificate online Maharashtra services.
3. Apply through its online service or, for births registered on the CRS portal, through that portal.
4. Keep the application number and registration number for tracking.
Searches such as how to get birth certificate online in Maharashtra and birth certificate online apply Maharashtra follow the same route. People who search for janam praman patra Maharashtra, janam praman patra online Maharashtra or janam dakhla online Maharashtra are looking for the same certificate. If you are applying in Delhi instead, see How to Apply for a Birth Certificate Online in Delhi.
When Do You Need Legal Help With a Birth Certificate?
Most individuals can apply for a birth certificate without assistance of a lawyer directly through the MCGM portal. Some prefer a birth certificate agent in Mumbai or lawyers who are aware about the immigration law requirements, when they live abroad, when an old record cannot be traced or when the birth was registered late.
Further, assistance is usually required to coordinate with the authority and clear any objections or additional documentary requirement, especially when the applicant lives overseas and is not available in India for making physical visits.
If you take help from a lawyer or service provider, it is important to note the following-
• The birth certificate can be issued only by the MCGM/BMC or the competent registrar and not any private service agency.
• The birth certificate issued from Mumbai must have a QR code to verify its contents.
• Never pay for a certificate that is provided without a registration record/number.
Need Legal Assistance With a Birth Certificate?
Malik Law Offices India is a law firm and is not connected with MCGM or any government body. If your birth certificate matter needs legal advice, Discuss Your Legal Matter with us.
