Within how many days should a birth be reported in Tamil Nadu?

The Tamil Nadu Civil Registration System states that a birth occurring at home should be reported to the Registrar of the jurisdiction within 21 days.

Can delayed births be registered?

Yes. Section 13 of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 provides procedures for delayed registration, with different requirements depending on whether the information is given within 30 days, after 30 days but within one year, or after one year.

Tamil Nadu Birth Registration: Rules, Process & Certificate

Last updated: 29 August 2026

Current process: Birth registration is based on the place where the birth occurred. Institutional births are reported by the hospital or other institution. For a birth occurring at home, the occurrence should be reported to the Registrar having jurisdiction over that area within 21 days.

Birth registration in Tamil Nadu is governed by the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, as amended by the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act, 2023. Tamil Nadu notified the Tamil Nadu Registration of Births and Deaths Rules, 2025 through G.O.Ms.No.351, Health and Family Welfare (AB2), dated 31 July 2025.

Hospital / institutional birth The hospital, health centre, maternity home, nursing home or similar institution is responsible for reporting the birth to the Registrar.

Birth at home The occurrence should be reported to the Registrar of the jurisdiction within 21 days.

Place of registration Births are registered through the Registrar appointed for the local area in which the event occurred.

Certificate download Tamil Nadu CRS states that certificates for births registered from 1 January 2018 can be downloaded from its public portal.

How Birth Registration Works in Tamil Nadu

1. Birth in a Hospital or Other Institution

If the child is born in a hospital, health centre, maternity home, nursing home or similar institution, the institution is responsible for reporting the birth to the Registrar under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act. Parents should ensure that the names and other particulars given to the institution are accurate and later verify the registered entry and certificate.

2. Birth at Home

Where a birth occurs at home, the occurrence should be informed to the Registrar having jurisdiction over the place of birth within 21 days. Registration is based on the place where the event occurred, not merely on the family's permanent residence.

3. Find the Correct Registrar

Registrars are appointed for local registration areas under Section 7 of the Act. Tamil Nadu's CRS identifies the local registration machinery as including Corporations, Municipalities, Town Panchayats, Village Panchayats, Government institutions and other designated registration units.

Local area / institution	Registrar indicated by Tamil Nadu CRS
Corporation	Sanitary Inspector
Municipality / Township	Sanitary Inspector
Town Panchayat	Executive Officer / Sanitary Inspector
Village Panchayat	Village Administrative Officer
Primary Health Centre / Government Institution	Multi Purpose Health Supervisor (Male) / Health Inspector

Birth Report Information

The official Tamil Nadu CRS provides a Birth Report form for supplying the information required for registration. Depending on the event and current prescribed form, the information commonly includes:

date of birth;
sex of the child;
name of the child, if already named;
name of the mother and father;
parents' address at the time of birth;
permanent address of the parents;
place of birth, including hospital/institution or home address;
informant's particulars; and
statistical particulars required under the prescribed reporting form.

Child not yet named? The birth can still be registered. Section 14 of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act provides for subsequent registration of the child's name in the prescribed manner.

Delayed Birth Registration

Registration should be completed within the prescribed reporting period. If the information is given late, Section 13 of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act provides different procedures depending on the length of the delay.

Delay	Statutory position
After the normal reporting period but within 30 days	The event may be registered on payment of the prescribed late fee.
After 30 days but within one year	Written permission of the District Registrar or other prescribed authority is required, together with the prescribed fee and self-attested document in the prescribed form and manner.
After one year	Registration requires an order of the District Magistrate, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, or an Executive Magistrate authorised by the District Magistrate having jurisdiction over the place where the birth occurred, after verification and payment of the prescribed fee.

Important: Do not rely on old instructions that direct citizens to submit a birth-registration application through a discontinued Town Panchayat website. Use the current Civil Registration System and the competent local Registrar for the place of occurrence.

Birth Certificate After Registration

Under Section 12 of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, after registration is completed, the Registrar is required to provide the registration certificate free of charge, electronically or otherwise, within the statutory period. Tamil Nadu's CRS public portal also permits download of available certificates for births registered from 1 January 2018.

For records prior to 1 January 2018, the Tamil Nadu CRS advises citizens to approach the respective local body if the certificate is not available through the public portal.

Search / Download Tamil Nadu Birth Certificate

Birth Certificate as Proof of Date and Place of Birth

The 2023 amendment to the Registration of Births and Deaths Act provides that, for a person born on or after 1 October 2023, the certificate issued under the Act is to be used to prove date and place of birth for specified purposes including admission to educational institutions, driving licence, preparation of electoral rolls, marriage registration, specified government/public employment, passport and Aadhaar.

Correction of a Birth Entry

Section 15 of the Act provides for correction or cancellation of an entry in the register where the applicable legal conditions are satisfied. The Tamil Nadu CRS FAQ states that the concerned Registrar is empowered to make corrections after being satisfied with the supporting documents. Applicants should therefore approach the Registrar responsible for the particular registration record.

Official Government Links

Frequently Asked Questions

Can parents register a hospital birth themselves online?

For a birth occurring in a hospital, health centre, maternity home, nursing home or similar institution, the official Tamil Nadu CRS states that the institution is responsible for informing the event to the Registrar. Parents should provide correct particulars and verify the resulting registration and certificate.

How quickly should a home birth be reported?

The Tamil Nadu CRS states that a birth occurring at home should be informed to the Registrar of the jurisdiction within 21 days.

Can a birth be registered after one year?

Yes, but Section 13 requires an order from the competent Magistrate specified in the Act, verification of the event and payment of the prescribed fee.

Can a Tamil Nadu birth certificate be downloaded online?

Yes. The Tamil Nadu CRS states that certificates for births registered from 1 January 2018 are available for public download. For earlier records, the respective local body may need to be approached.

What law currently governs birth registration in Tamil Nadu?

The governing Central enactment is the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, as amended in 2023. Tamil Nadu notified the Tamil Nadu Registration of Births and Deaths Rules, 2025 on 31 July 2025.

This page is intended as a general public-information guide. The Registrar or other competent authority may require documents or verification depending on the facts of a particular registration or delayed-registration request.