Birth Registration
A current birth registration can be done for children born in a medical institution within one year from the date of birth.
a (i) Children born in hospital
Where parents are legally married, and were married before the child was born the following documents are required:
- Mother and father’s national identity cards
- Birth confirmation record from the hospital or clinic
- Marriage certificate
- Only one of the parents can register the child but must bring the national identity card for the other spouse.
- Where one or both parents are deceased relevant death certificates are required.
Surviving spouse or relatives can register the child as the case may be where parents are not legally married the following documents are required:
- Mother and father’s identity cards
- A birth confirmation record from hospital or clinic
- Both parents must be present to sign a declaration of paternity
- Where one or both parents are deceased relevant death certificates are required.
- Surviving spouse or relatives can register the child, as the case may be. The surviving spouse should sign the declaration of paternity
- Single mothers are free to register their children under their maiden name, if the biological father refuses to acknowledge paternity or his whereabouts are unknown.
a (ii) Children born out of hospital
Where parents are legally married, the following documents are required:
- Mother and fathers national identity cards
- A marriage certificate
- A baptismal certificate or
- One witness with a national identity card, preferably a midwife. In the case of a child born on a farm, a witness or a letter from the farmer, confirming the birth of that child at the respective farm.
- Either parent can register the child but must bring national identity card for the other spouse.
- Where one or both parents are deceased relevant death certificates are required.
Surviving spouse or relatives can register the child, as the case may be where the parents are not legally married, the following documents are required:-
- Mother and father’s national identity cards.
- A baptismal certificate or
- One witness with a national identity card, preferably a midwife. In the case of a child born on a farm, a witness or a letter (declaration form supplied by the office) from the farmer.
- Both parents must be present to sign a declaration of paternity
- Where one or both parents are deceased relevant death certificates are required.
Surviving spouse or relatives can register the child as the case may be. The surviving spouse should sign the declaration of paternity. Single mothers are free to register their children under their maiden name, if the biological father refuses to acknowledge paternity or his whereabouts are unknown.
National I.D
Initial registration for citizen
Requirements
Original registration for citizen
- Father’s or guardian’s identity card.
- Passport if acquired.
Initial registration for non-citizen
Requirements
- Passport.
- Residence permit which is six months old.
Processing time
- Synthetic ID is instant within 15 minutes of application.
- Green copy ID waiting 3 days.
Statutory fees for identity documents are as follows:
- For searching records relating to any one year for any document, entry or other record: US$10.
- Fingerprint clearance: US$1.
- Urgent fingerprint clearance: US$5.
- Initial registration of persons who are above the age of 18: US$2.
- Replacement of lost document issued in terms of section 7(1) of the Act (green/pink copy): US$2.
- Urgent replacement of document referred to in (5) above: US$2.
- Replacement of lost or defaced metal identity document: US$10.
- Urgent replacement of document referred to in (7) above: US$10.
Passports
- Passport (Diplomatic, Service and Ordinary passport).
- Temporary Travel Documents (TTDs).
Requirements:
- All applications to be submitted and passports to be collected in person.
- Original documents and photocopies of the following to be produced:
- Long birth certificate.
- National Identity Card.
- Marriage Certificate/National Identity Card in married name/divorce order.
- Two color photographs (size 3.5 x 4.5cm).
- Citizenship certificate (for citizen by registration).
- Old passport/ Temporary Travel Document if any.
- For lost or stolen passport attach the police report.
Original documents will be returned to the owner while photocopies will be attached to the application.
The father/mother or other legal guardian of children under 18 years must sign section 5 of the passport application form. Legal guardian’s “Documentary proof “ should be in a form of court order from the High Court or community in the case of divorced parents.
- Take note that loss of a passport should be immediately reported to the nearest police and passport office.
- Statutory fees paid on application:
- Ordinary passport – US$50.
- Executive passport (1 day) – US$315.
- Urgent passport (3 working days) – US$250.
- Temporary Travel Document – US$35.
- Passport Application forms (P1 form) – US$3.
- Ordinary passport old type – US$50.
- Search fee – US$5.
- Temporary Travel Document Form – US$3.
Marriage Certificate
Issuance of duplicate marriage certificates. This is for replacement of lost or torn marriage certificates.
Requirements
- Full names of the parties
- Full date of marriage
- Type of Marriage
- Statutory fee of US$5 per copy.
Processing Time
One day.
Correction of errors or substance on marriage certificates
Requirements
- Original marriage certificate.
- Birth certificate and a photocopy thereof.
- Proof that an error was made.
- Notarial deed where a person has made a complete change of name.
- Statutory fee of US$5 for normal application and US$10 for urgent application.
- Provide proof of urgency for urgent applications.
Processing time
Urgent application – 1 day
Normal Application – 1 week
Authentication of marriage record
This is confirmation of any filed marriage record by the Registrar of Marriages.
Requirements
- Full date of marriage.
- Full names of parties.
- Type of marriage.
- Statutory fee of US$15 – Normal.
- Statutory fee of US$25 – Urgent.
Processing time
Normal – One month.
Urgent – 2 weeks.
Death certificate
Death registrations are made through the Home Affairs Offices in each town or city in Zimbabwe. However, all records are kept at the Home Affairs main office in Harare.
Hospitals issue death records after each postmortem, which are used to file for death certificates at the local Home Affairs office. The initial documents, obtained within 6 weeks from date of issuance are free.
Statutory fee for:
- Normal processing: US$5.
- Urgent processing: US$10.
Requirements
- The death entry number for the deceased.
- If the deceased was married a marriage certificate should be produced and the surviving spouse must apply for the certificate.
- If the couple was customarily married or cohabiting the spouse must call at the office with relatives of the deceased.
Minimum processing time
Normal death certificate – 5 working days.
Urgent death certificates – 24 hours.
Driver’s License
Driver’s licenses are issued by the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe.
IDP may be purchased from AAZ
The Vehicle Inspection Depot (VID) issues out a Zimbabwean learner’s driver’s license popularly known as the Provisional. The learner then goes with this license to a driving school, where after his/her lessons, he/she will go back to VID for road test at the VID. Only after all these stages have been undergone can one obtain a driver’s license.
