An unabridged birth certificate is a full version of your South African birth record and includes details about both parents. You may need one when applying for a visa, immigration, citizenship or a passport, particularly if you are using your documents overseas. If you need help getting your certificate, Certificates RSA can assist with the application process.
Unlike an abridged birth certificate, an unabridged certificate provides additional information recorded on the birth registration. You may be asked for one when an embassy, immigration department or other authority needs more detailed information about you or your parents.
If you need an unabridged birth certificate, the first step is to make sure you are applying for the correct document for your situation. This is especially important if the certificate is going to be used outside South Africa, as different countries and authorities may have their own requirements.
You can apply through the South African Department of Home Affairs, either in South Africa or, in certain circumstances, through a South African embassy or consulate if you live abroad. If you would rather have someone handle the process for you, Certificates RSA can assist with the application and follow up on its progress. Processing can take longer when older records need to be located or additional verification is required.
The information needed can vary depending on your circumstances, but you will generally need the applicant's full name, date and place of birth, South African ID number and details of their parents. Additional documents may be required depending on the application.
If the certificate is needed urgently for an overseas application, build in time for processing and any further steps, such as apostille or document authentication.
You typically need an unabridged birth certificate urgently when:
If you have a deadline and need your certificate sooner, we also offer expedited processing options.
Applying for an unabridged birth certificate can be frustrating, especially when you are dealing with an overseas application or a deadline. Certificates RSA takes care of the application process on your behalf. We submit the application to the Department of Home Affairs in Pretoria and keep track of its progress.
Our standard processing option is suitable if you are not working against a tight deadline. If you need your certificate sooner, we also offer priority and expedited processing options. Processing times can vary depending on the application and whether additional verification or older records are involved, so government processing times cannot be guaranteed.
Once your application has been submitted, the Department of Home Affairs processes the request and issues the certificate. Processing times can vary, particularly if older records need to be checked or additional verification is required. Certificates RSA keeps track of your application and follows up where necessary, so you don't have to keep wondering what is happening.
If you are using your certificate overseas, we can also assist with the next steps, including apostille or authentication, depending on the requirements of the country where your document will be used.
The main difference is the amount of information each certificate contains. An abridged birth certificate provides basic details about the person, while an unabridged birth certificate contains additional information about the parents. If you are applying for a visa, immigration, citizenship or another overseas process, check the requirements carefully to make sure you request the correct certificate.
Not sure which one you need? Our guide to abridged, unabridged and vault birth certificates explains the differences and when each type may be required.
Some unabridged birth certificate applications take longer because the required birth records are not immediately available. For older records, we may need to wait for documents to be retrieved from archives, which can add significant time to the application. Incorrect information, such as an incorrect ID number, can also cause delays and may require the application to be corrected or additional checks to be carried out.
We check the information provided before submitting the application and keep track of its progress, but some delays are outside our control and depend on how quickly the relevant records can be located and processed.
If you need an unabridged birth certificate and you're not sure where to start, we're here to help. CertificatesRSA can assist with the application process, keep track of your application and guide you through what is needed. If you've lost your South African birth certificate and need a replacement, you can also read our guide on replacing a lost birth certificate. Get in touch with Certificates RSA, tell us what you need the certificate for and we'll help you choose the right processing option for your situation.
Please note that from time to time the CRC and HA experiences backlogs and turnaround times listed on our website cannot be guaranteed. Loadshedding is putting a lot of pressure on the system and affecting applications and turnaround times. Kindly take this into consideration when making travelling plans or have deadlines.
