A Nigerian birth certificate is issued by the National Population Commission (NPC), and it is the document almost everything else depends on — school enrolment, a passport, a NIN for a child, and later an inheritance or a visa. Yet the process trips up a lot of parents: the difference between an attestation and a full certificate, where registration happens, and how long it really takes. This guide explains the NPC process for 2026 end to end, and the checklist below tells you exactly what to bring.
Attestation vs birth certificate
These are not the same document, and confusing them causes real delays:
- Attestation of birth is often issued for children and in situations where a full certificate was never obtained. It records the birth but is not the same as the NPC certificate.
- Birth certificate is the official NPC document. This is what schools, the Immigration Service and most institutions ultimately want.
If you were only ever given an attestation, you may still need to obtain the full certificate for official purposes.
How NPC birth registration works
Registration is handled through NPC registration centres, with online booking increasingly used to reserve your slot before you attend. The core flow is:
- Register the birth with the child details, place and date of birth, and parents information.
- Book your appointment at an NPC centre, online where available, to avoid turning up to a full day.
- Attend for capture where your details are verified and recorded.
- Collect the certificate once it is produced, or arrange delivery.
What you need to register
Tick each item as you gather it. The bar shows how ready you are.
How long does it take?
Processing time varies by centre and by how complete your paperwork is. A clean application with everything in the checklist above moves faster than one missing a parent detail or the notification of birth. The single biggest cause of a long wait is an incomplete file that has to be sent back. Book ahead, bring everything, and you remove most of the delay in your control.
Common questions
Is birth registration free? Registration of a child birth is intended to be accessible, but obtaining and collecting the full certificate, and any late-registration steps, can involve costs and time. Check current NPC terms.
Can I register an older child or adult? Yes. Late registration is common and simply requires evidence of the birth alongside the standard details.
Do I need the hospital record? It helps a great deal. Where there was no hospital delivery, an attestation or affidavit supporting the birth takes its place.
Let RenewPapers handle the birth certificate
From first registration to the certified certificate in your hand, we manage the NPC process end to end — booking, the capture appointment, follow-up, and collection or delivery. You tell us the child details once; we do the queuing.
Keep reading
- Birth certificate home, VIP and premium service
- Track, collect or get your birth certificate delivered
RenewPapers is an independent document-handling service. We are not the National Population Commission. Registration rules, fees and processing times are set by the NPC and can change; we help you complete the process correctly under the current rules.
Frequently asked questions
How do I apply for a birth certificate in Nigeria?
My birth certificate has an error / wrong details
Who can help me process a birth certificate?
Do you cover Lagos, Abuja and other cities — or Nigerians abroad?
Registered the birth? What comes next
Handpicked next steps for this — we can handle any of them for you.