How to apply birth certificate in Philippines (with steps)

In the Philippines, the birth certificate is issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). It is an essential document required for applying or carrying out most legal procedures within the country, such as applying for a tourist visa, obtaining a passport, getting married, or registering for a valid government ID. The birth certificate will contain relevant details about the person to whom it’s addressed, such as the name, gender, place, date of birth, nationality, and also the name of the parent(s). The information is further stored by the PSA to keep a track of the country’s deaths and births.

But, before you decide to obtain a birth certificate from the PSA, you have to ensure that you keep the following set of information ready – the name of the child, the name of the father, the maiden name of the mother, the date of birth of the child, the place of birth of the child, the address and name of the requesting party, the relationship of the requesting party with the child, the number of copies that are required and the primary reason for obtaining the birth certificate.

Furthermore, the required documents for obtaining a birth certificate include a valid government identification of the applicant; an authorisation letter along with a valid government ID, in case the applicant isn’t the owner of the birth certificate, his/her parent, spouse or legal guardian will do.

Additionally, the fees for obtaining a birth certificate in the Philippines is 365 PHP per copy (online) or 155 PHP (in-person), while delivery to foreign countries costs 20 USD per copy.

Applying For a Birth Certificate via Email or Post

To apply for a birth certificate by post in the Philippines, proceed to follow the below-mentioned steps.

1. Start the application process by requesting a birth certificate either via post or email, by mentioning all the required set of information as mentioned before in this guide.
2. Proceed to include any photocopies (in case of post) or scanned copies (in case of email) of supporting documents with your application.
3. Once done, send the same to [email protected] or [email protected]. You can also send same to the following address: PSA Complex, East Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City – 1101.
4. Once your application is approved, you’ll receive the birth certificate through conventional postal service at your registered address. You’ll have to pay the requisite fees at the time of delivery of your birth certificate.

Applying For a Birth Certificate Online

When applying for a birth certificate online in the Philippines, you can follow the steps.

1. To apply online, you can visit the website of PSA Serbilis or the support page here. 
2.  Start the process by filling up the application form with all the relevant details, known to the best of your knowledge.
3. After providing all the necessary information, you’ll have to provide your delivery address and then proceed to pay for the same online. You can pay using any major credit card or mobile wallet apps.
4. Once the payment process is complete, you’ll be provided with a 10-digit reference number that you can use to check the status online. Note that delivery will take around three to four working days.

Applying For a Birth Certificate In-Person

In case you’re planning to apply for a birth certificate in the Philippines through offline mode, follow the below steps.

1. Firstly, you have to set up an appointment through the PSA Online Appointment System here.
2. Once you’ve obtained your appointment, present your appointment slip in printed or digital form. After validation, obtain your application form and Queue Ticket Number (QTN) and proceed to fill out the same.
3. Present the filled-out form along with the requisite fees, valid IDs, supporting documents and authorisation letter (if any).
4. After successful verification, you’ll receive the birth certificate on spot.