BIRTH AND DEATH REGISTRATION PROCEDURES

A child who is not registered at birth is in danger of being shut out of society – denied the right to an official identity, a recognized name and nationality.  Registration of births and deaths was introduced in Liberia in the 1930s, but became legal through the enactment of the “Birth and Death Registration Act of 1971”, which made registration of births and deaths compulsory for all citizens. The system for recording births and deaths was set up primarily at hospitals. Births outside the hospital were recorded based on assumptions and description of historic events at the time. The system of birth registration was centralized from 1991 up to 2011, before decentralizing to all counties of Liberia in 2012. The highly centralized system in the past made it difficult for poor and rural dwellers to access birth registration, thereby placing Liberia amongst the countries with the lowest birth registration coverage in the world.

 Ministry of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics is responsible to:

  • Effectively and efficiently register and certificate all births and deaths at the central registry.
  • Ensure that birth and death registration applicant’s certificates are processed, produced and received within the stipulated time frame.
  • Develop and ensure the use of standard and official birth and death registration forms and certificates
  • Ensure that birth and death registration offices are equipped for permanent and safe preservation of all birth and death records received or made.

WHO IS ENTITLED TO BIRTH REGISTRATION AND CERTIFICATION?

Every child born in Liberia is entitled to birth registration and certification, regardless parents nationality and social -economic status.
 
The ministry of Health – Bureau of Vital and Statistics (BVS) is the only institution of government charged with the responsibility by Law to register and issue the following:
  1. Birth Certificate
  2. Death Certificate
  3. Authentication and Attestation letters for (Birth and Death Certificates)
Procedures/Steps in obtaining Birth and Death Certificates:
  1. Obtain and fill out the Application Form from the BVS office on the Bypass
  2. Complete a short interview process with the BVS staff/interviewer
  3. Pickup date will be announced after the short interview for both Birth and Death Certificates.
The following documents are required:
 
FOR BIRTH CERTIFICATE:
  1. Application Form (download from here)
  2. One passport size photo (white background) of Child or Applicant, this does not however apply to newborn, infant and children below five years of age.
  3. One passport size any background for parent, guardian or family member that will or can attest for the applicant.
  4. Valid Identification Card (where applicable)
  5. Any other document as required by regulation or law.
FOR DEATH CERTIFICATE
  1. Application Form (download from here)
  2. Original copy of Medical Certificate or Cause of Death (MCCOD) signed by Medical Doctor
  3. Original Coroner Medical report (Situational/Optional)
  4. One passport photo of Informant/relatives of deceased, valid Identification Card, etc.
  5. Any other document as required by regulation or Law

Note: The relatives (Father, Mother, Husband, Wife, Uncle Sister, Brother, Aunt and etc) of the deceased present at the time of death will be required to produce evidence of death as determined by section 5.5 of the policy. 

FEES PAYMENT METHODS OR MODE
  • Birth Certificate = LRD 500.00                                          * LRA Payment or
  • Death Certificate = LRD 500.00                                         * Mobile Money (Orange or Lonestar)
  • Letter of Authentication/Attestation = LRD 1,000.00
  • Reprint = LRD 2,000.00 
EXEMPTION/NO PAYMENT FEES
All children below 12 years are exempted from any payment fees and are processed free of charge, this can be done at (hospitals, health centers and clinics) across the fifteen counties.
 
  • Download the Abridge Version Of MOH Service Delivery Charter from here
  • Download MOH Service Delivery Charter 2025 from here
  • Download Birth And Death Registration Policy from here

BIRTH AND DEATH REGISTRATION PROCEDURES

A child who is not registered at birth is in danger of being shut out of society – denied the right to an official identity, a recognized name and nationality.  Registration of births and deaths was introduced in Liberia in the 1930s, but became legal through the enactment of the “Birth and Death Registration Act of 1971”, which made registration of births and deaths compulsory for all citizens. The system for recording births and deaths was set up primarily at hospitals. Births outside the hospital were recorded based on assumptions and description of historic events at the time. The system of birth registration was centralized from 1991 up to 2011, before decentralizing to all counties of Liberia in 2012. The highly centralized system in the past made it difficult for poor and rural dwellers to access birth registration, thereby placing Liberia amongst the countries with the lowest birth registration coverage in the world.

 Ministry of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics is responsible to:

  • Effectively and efficiently register and certificate all births and deaths at the central registry.
  • Ensure that birth and death registration applicant’s certificates are processed, produced and received within the stipulated time frame.
  • Develop and ensure the use of standard and official birth and death registration forms and certificates
  • Ensure that birth and death registration offices are equipped for permanent and safe preservation of all birth and death records received or made.

WHO IS ENTITLED TO BIRTH REGISTRATION AND CERTIFICATION?

Every child born in Liberia is entitled to birth registration and certification, regardless parents nationality and social -economic status.
 
The ministry of Health – Bureau of Vital and Statistics (BVS) is the only institution of government charged with the responsibility by Law to register and issue the following:
  1. Birth Certificate
  2. Death Certificate
  3. Authentication and Attestation letters for (Birth and Death Certificates)
Procedures/Steps in obtaining Birth and Death Certificates:
  1. Obtain and fill out the Application Form from the BVS office on the Bypass
  2. Complete a short interview process with the BVS staff/interviewer
  3. Pickup date will be announced after the short interview for both Birth and Death Certificates.
The following documents are required:
 
FOR BIRTH CERTIFICATE:
  1. Application Form (download from here)
  2. One passport size photo (white background) of Child or Applicant, this does not however apply to newborn, infant and children below five years of age.
  3. One passport size any background for parent, guardian or family member that will or can attest for the applicant.
  4. Valid Identification Card (where applicable)
  5. Any other document as required by regulation or law.
FOR DEATH CERTIFICATE
  1. Application Form (download from here)
  2. Original copy of Medical Certificate or Cause of Death (MCCOD) signed by Medical Doctor
  3. Original Coroner Medical report (Situational/Optional)
  4. One passport photo of Informant/relatives of deceased, valid Identification Card, etc.
  5. Any other document as required by regulation or Law

Note: The relatives (Father, Mother, Husband, Wife, Uncle Sister, Brother, Aunt and etc) of the deceased present at the time of death will be required to produce evidence of death as determined by section 5.5 of the policy. 

FEES PAYMENT METHODS OR MODE
  • Birth Certificate = LRD 500.00                                          * LRA Payment or
  • Death Certificate = LRD 500.00                                         * Mobile Money (Orange or Lonestar)
  • Letter of Authentication/Attestation = LRD 1,000.00
  • Reprint = LRD 2,000.00
EXEMPTION/NO PAYMENT FEES
All children below 12 years are exempted from any payment fees and are processed free of charge, this can be done at (hospitals, health centers and clinics) across the fifteen counties.
 
  • Download the Abridge Version Of MOH Service Delivery Charter from here
  • Download MOH Service Delivery Charter 2025 from here
  • Download Birth And Death Registration Policy from here