THE
JAMAICAN BIRTH certificate is now printed on security paper, which can
only be obtained from the Registrar General's Department (RGD), the
only organisation in the island responsible for issuing birth, death,
adoption and marriage certificates. To obtain a copy, persons need to
apply to the Registrar General's Department.
The
first step in obtaining a certified copy or a replacement of a birth
certificate is to complete a birth
application form. This is available free of cost at any of the seven
RGD regional offices in Mandeville, St. Ann's Bay, Montego Bay, Port
Antonio, Savanna-la-Mar, Santa Cruz and Trevennion Park Road or the
RGD's head office in Twickenham Park, St. Catherine. Online
applications are also available for a fee. The online application forms
can be accessed by clicking the appropriate link in the box to the
right. The application forms and the fees are submitted and payable
directly to the Registrar General's Department.
IMPORTANT
NOTES
The
form requires that you indicate the number of copies that you wish to
obtain. You will also need to include your full and correct name on the
form as well as the full and correct name of your parents. Please note
that if your parents are married you also need to place your mother's
maiden name along with her married name.
The
date, place and district of birth are three important pieces of
information that the form requires. Please ensure that this information
is correct because incorrect information may result in delays in
satisfying your application.
The
birth entry number or the birth registration number is also important.
The birth entry number is that number on the top, right hand corner of
the birth certificate and on the certificate of registry (the pink
slip). The entry number usually starts with two or more letters for
instance DA 105. The D in this number refers to the parish where the
birth took place while the A represents the main town where the birth
occurred, number 105 is the sequence of births registered in that
particular parish.
The
entry number helps the RGD in locating your record quickly. All
applications to the RGD must have the correct entry number. If you
submit the incorrect entry number this could cause delays.
If
you have misplaced your pink slip or your old birth certificate and you
have no recollection of your entry number do not panic. You can
apply
to the RGD for a search of the entry number. The search is first done
electronically; if the electronic search is unsuccessful, a form search
is then recommended. A form search is a manual search conducted by
trained RGD personnel.
Once
you have received the entry number you can now focus on completing the
latter section of the form which requests information such as the name
of the applicant (person applying for the certificate), the full and
correct address of the applicant, a working telephone number and an
email address. Please note that the RGD does not accept P.O box
addresses as certificates are delivered to home addresses.
