Fees for Late Registration of Birth in the Philippines: Costs and Requirements

This article explains when a birth is “late,” who files, where to file, the documentary requirements for various situations, how the process works (including the 10-day posting), and what fees and incidental costs to expect. It also flags pitfalls (e.g., duplicate registration vs. correction of entries) and special cases (out-of-town filing, home births, adults registering their own birth, foundlings, and children born to unmarried parents). Philippine legal basis includes the Civil Registry Law (Rep. Act No. 3753) and implementing civil registration rules and circulars of the Civil Registrar General (PSA).

1) When is a birth considered “late”?

Timely registration: within 30 days from the date of birth.
Late (delayed) registration: filed after 30 days. Once late, additional affidavits and supporting proof of facts of birth are generally required, and your application is posted by the local civil registry for public view before approval.

2) Who may file

If the child is a minor: any of the parents; in their absence, the guardian, nearest relative, or the attendant at birth (physician/midwife/hilot).
If already of age: the person themself may file (“adult late registration”).
Foundlings: the finder, barangay official, DSWD social worker, or an authorized guardian.

3) Where to file

Local Civil Registry Office (LCRO) of the place of birth (default).
Out-of-Town Registration (OTR): If you no longer live where you were born, you may file at the LCRO of current residence. That LCRO will endorse the record to the LCRO of the place of birth for registration and assignment of the registry number.
If born abroad: First secure the record from the Philippine Foreign Service Post that took the report of birth, or pursue consular late registration if none exists; for migrants who have returned, coordinate with DFA/PSA for the proper route.

4) Core forms you will encounter

Certificate of Live Birth (COLB) – Municipal Form No. 102 (the main birth record)
Affidavit for Delayed (Late) Registration – explains why the 30-day period lapsed
Affidavit of Two Disinterested Persons – corroborates facts of birth when primary records are lacking
Affidavit/Certification by the Birth Attendant – for home births or when hospital records are unavailable
Acknowledgment and AUSF (Affidavit to Use the Surname of the Father) – if the child is born to unmarried parents and the father acknowledges paternity (RA 9255 and its IRR)
Endorsement for Out-of-Town Registration – if filing outside the place of birth

5) Documentary requirements (by scenario)

Important: LCROs follow national rules, but specific checklists can vary by city/municipality. Bring originals and photocopies.

A) Child born in a hospital/lying-in, late filing by parents/guardian

Accomplished COLB (hospital typically supplies data)
Hospital/lying-in certification or record of birth; attendant’s signature
Parents’ IDs (and marriage certificate if married)
Affidavit for Delayed Registration stating cause of delay
PSA Negative Certification (proof there is no existing birth record) when required by the LCRO
Barangay Certification of residency (commonly required)

B) Home birth (midwife/hilot/relative), late filing

Accomplished COLB
Affidavit of the birth attendant (midwife/hilot/relative)
If no professional attendant: Affidavit of Two Disinterested Persons who have personal knowledge of the birth
Mother’s prenatal/medical records (if any), or immunization/health center card
Parent’s IDs; marriage certificate if applicable
Affidavit for Delayed Registration
PSA Negative Certification and Barangay Certification (often required)

C) Adult late registration (you are registering your own birth)

Accomplished COLB (adult supplies information)
Earliest and best evidence of identity and birth facts (submit several):
- Baptismal or church record
- Form 137/school records, earliest enrollment record
- Voter’s record, GSIS/SSS, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG, PhilID/PhilSys, passport, NBI clearance
- Employment or medical records
Affidavit for Delayed Registration
PSA Negative Certification; Barangay Certification of residency

D) Child of unmarried parents; father acknowledges paternity (use of father’s surname)

Items in (A) or (B), plus Acknowledgment and AUSF by the father (with valid ID)
If the father cannot personally acknowledge at filing, follow the AUSF rules on notarized instruments and presence/consent of the mother/child’s guardian as applicable

E) Parents married after the child’s birth (“legitimation” issues)

Register the birth facts first (late registration route)
If later availing legitimation by subsequent marriage (Civil Code provisions), that is a separate process after the birth is on file

F) Foundling

Foundling Certificate (LCRO form) in lieu of COLB
Police/Barangay blotter or report of finding; DSWD documentation if under care
Medical certificate estimating age, if needed
Affidavit of the finder; Affidavit for Delayed Registration

6) Process and timelines

File the application with the complete set of documents at the appropriate LCRO.
Assessment and payment of fees (see Section 7).
Ten-day posting on the LCRO bulletin board is typical for late registrations. During this time the public may raise objections.
Examination and approval by the Local Civil Registrar.
Encoding and transmission to the PSA Civil Registry System (CRS).
Availability of PSA copy: After endorsement to PSA, you may request a PSA-issued certificate once the record is in the CRS. (Local copies from the LCRO are not the same as PSA-printed Security Paper copies.)

Processing time depends on document completeness, posting, endorsement schedules, and PSA encoding queues.

7) Fees and expected costs

There is no single nationwide price for late registration at the LCRO. Local fees are set by city/municipal ordinance and can differ widely. Below are typical cost components to help you budget. Figures are indicative ranges only; actual amounts depend on your LGU, the manner of ordering certificates (walk-in vs. delivery), and whether you need notarization.

A) Government/LCRO charges (payable at city/municipal treasurer or LCRO cashier)

Late registration/filing fee (base fee): commonly a few hundred pesos
Surcharge/penalty for delay (if imposed by local ordinance): nominal to a few hundred pesos
Certification/administrative fees (e.g., certified photocopies, local certification): small fees per page/doc
Posting fee (if itemized by some LGUs): minimal

B) Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) charges

PSA Birth Certificate (SECPA), per copy: depends on walk-in vs. online delivery; budget ₱150–₱400+ per copy
PSA Negative Certification (“no record on file”), if required: typically similar to a certificate fee
Courier (if you choose delivery): add courier charges

(PSA adjusts fees from time to time; bring extra in case of updated rates.)

C) Notarization and documentary stamp tax (DST)

Notarial fees for affidavits (Delayed Registration; Disinterested Persons; Attendant’s Affidavit; AUSF if done as a separate instrument): ~₱150–₱500+ per document depending on locale
DST on affidavits: nominal fixed amount per document (collected by the notary if applicable)

D) Other incidental costs

Barangay Certification: often ₱50–₱150
Hospital/clinic certifications or record retrieval: variable
ID photos/photocopying: minimal
Transportation/opportunity costs

E) Fee waivers and special programs

Indigent applicants, IP communities, and beneficiaries of mobile civil registration or PhilSys-linked birth registration assistance programs may qualify for reduced or waived fees at the LGU/PSA level, subject to program availability and eligibility screening. Ask your LCRO or social welfare office about ongoing drives.

8) Naming, legitimacy, and surname rules you may trigger

Married parents: child generally carries the father’s surname.
Unmarried parents: child’s surname follows the mother’s by default; use AUSF for the father’s surname if the father acknowledges paternity under RA 9255 (with form requirements).
Corrections vs. new registration: If a PSA record already exists but with errors (spelling, first name, day/month of birth or sex), use the administrative correction routes (RA 9048 as amended by RA 10172), not another (duplicate) late registration.

9) Common pitfalls (and how to avoid them)

Skipping the PSA search: If you ever held a PSA copy before (even if erroneous), do not file a new late registration—go through the correction process instead.
Insufficient evidence for adult filings: Submit multiple, early-dated records (church/school) to anchor identity, date, and place of birth.
Wrong venue: Use place-of-birth LCRO or the OTR channel; otherwise, expect delays.
Incomplete affidavits: LCROs can administer oaths for some forms; if you go to a notary, ensure IDs and DST are in order.
Surname/acknowledgment missteps: If using the father’s surname for a child of unmarried parents, comply strictly with AUSF rules to avoid future passport/ID issues.
Expecting instant PSA availability: The PSA copy is only issuable after LCRO registration and transmission; plan timelines accordingly (posting + endorsement + PSA encoding).

10) Special cases

Out-of-Town Registration: The LCRO of residence checks your documents, collects fees, and endorses to the place of birth; allow extra time for inter-office endorsement.
Foundlings/abandoned children: Expect DSWD involvement, medical age estimation, and specialized forms; later adoption does not replace the need for a birth record.
Religious minorities/indigenous communities: NCIP/NCMF and community records may support proof of birth facts; coordinate with your LCRO for acceptable evidence.
Children born overseas to Filipino parent(s): If the birth was never reported to a Philippine consulate, consult DFA/PSA on consular late reporting or appropriate domestic remedies.

11) Practical step-by-step checklist

Confirm venue: LCRO of place of birth (or LCRO of current residence for OTR).
Collect evidence: hospital/lying-in record or, for home births/adults, two disinterested persons’ affidavits plus early-dated records (church/school).
Secure negative search (if your LCRO requires it): PSA Negative Certification.
Prepare affidavits: Delayed Registration, Attendant’s Affidavit, AUSF (if using father’s surname for a non-marital child), Two Disinterested Persons.
File at LCRO: submit forms, present IDs, pay local fees.
Posting: observe the 10-day posting period (if your LCRO applies it).
Approval & encoding: LCRO approves and transmits to PSA.
Request PSA copy: once encoded and available, apply for a PSA Birth Certificate (SECPA).

12) Budgeting examples (illustrative only)

Minor, hospital birth, same city: LCRO fees (hundreds), barangay cert (≈₱50–₱150), possible notarization (₱150–₱500), PSA copy (₱150–₱400+ per copy).
Adult late registration, home birth, out-of-town: LCRO fees (hundreds + possible OTR item), two affidavits notarized, barangay cert, PSA negative cert, multiple PSA copies, transportation—overall low thousands depending on locale and number of documents.

13) Frequently asked questions

Q: Do I need a lawyer? A: Usually no. LCRO staff guide you through standard forms. Lawyers are useful for complex situations (e.g., contested facts, adoption/legitimation strategy, or surname disputes).

Q: What if my parents married after I was born—should I wait and legitimize first? A: Register the birth first through late registration. Legitimation (if applicable) comes later and builds on a valid birth record.

Q: Can I change details (e.g., wrong spelling) during late registration? A: The late registration must reflect true facts with evidence. If a PSA record already exists but has errors, use RA 9048/10172 procedures instead.

Q: How many PSA copies should I get? A: Keep at least 2–3 on hand for school, passport, or benefits; you can order more later.

14) Quick reference (what to bring)

Valid IDs of informant/parents/adult registrant
COLB + hospital/lying-in record or affidavits (attendant; two disinterested persons)
PSA Negative Certification (if required)
Barangay Certification
Marriage certificate (if parents are married) / AUSF (if using father’s surname for a non-marital child)
Fees for LCRO, PSA, notarization/DST, and incidentals

Final notes

Fees change by ordinance and PSA schedule; bring extra and verify amounts at your LCRO cashier and PSA counter when you file.
Keep copies of all affidavits and receipts; they are frequently asked for when tracking the PSA encoding or requesting additional copies later.
If told your record already exists at PSA (even with errors), do not file a new late registration—pursue the administrative correction process to avoid duplicate records.