In the Philippines, a birth certificate is the foundational document of a person’s identity. It is required for school enrollment, passport applications, marriage licenses, and employment. Under Commonwealth Act No. 3753 (the Civil Registry Law), births must be registered within thirty (30) days of occurrence.

When this window is missed, the process transitions from a routine administrative task to Delayed Registration. This procedure is governed by the rules set forth by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and the Office of the Civil Registrar General.

I. Determining the Venue of Filing

The application must be filed at the Local Civil Registry Office (LCRO) of the city or municipality where the birth occurred.

If born abroad: The registration must be filed through the Philippine Embassy or Consulate with jurisdiction over the place of birth.
If the person has moved: You cannot file for registration in your current city of residence if you were born elsewhere; you must coordinate with the LCRO of your birthplace.

II. Basic Documentary Requirements

The requirements vary slightly depending on whether the child is less than seven years old or an adult, and whether the parents were married at the time of birth.

1. Mandatory Documents for All Applicants:

Affidavit of Delayed Registration: This is usually found on the back of the Certificate of Live Birth (COLB). It must be signed by the father, mother, or the person himself (if of age), and notarized.
Negative Certification of Birth: A document issued by the PSA confirming that there is no record of the birth in their national database.
Certificate of Live Birth (PSA Form No. 102): Accomplished correctly and completely in four copies.

2. Supporting Documents (At least two of the following):

To prove the identity and the facts of birth, the applicant must present documents showing the date and place of birth, and parentage:

Baptismal Certificate
School Records (Form 137 or Transcript of Records)
Medical/Hospital Records
Income Tax Return of the parent/s
Insurance Policy
Voter's Registration Record
Barangay Certification

3. For Illegitimate Children:

If the child was born out of wedlock and the father wishes to be acknowledged:

Affidavit of Admission of Paternity (AAP): If the father did not sign the birth certificate.
Affidavit to Use the Surname of the Father (AUSF): Under Republic Act No. 9255, if the child wishes to use the father's surname.

III. The Step-by-Step Process

Step 1: Secure a Negative Certification

Visit any PSA outlet or request online to obtain a Negative Result. This serves as legal proof that the birth has not yet been registered.

Step 2: Visit the LCRO

Go to the Local Civil Registry Office where the birth occurred. Request the necessary forms for delayed registration. The staff will usually conduct a preliminary interview to check if you have the required supporting documents.

Step 3: Accomplish the Certificate of Live Birth

Fill out the PSA Form 102. Ensure all details (spelling, dates, and locations) are accurate, as errors at this stage are difficult and expensive to correct later through judicial or administrative proceedings.

Step 4: Notarization

The Affidavit of Delayed Registration on the back of the form must be notarized. This affidavit explains the reason for the delay (e.g., "lack of awareness of the requirement," "born at home with a traditional midwife").

Step 5: The 10-Day Posting Period

Unlike timely registration, delayed registration is not instant. Upon submission, the LCRO is required by law to post a notice of the pending registration on a bulletin board in a conspicuous place for ten (10) consecutive days. This allows any interested party to contest the registration if they believe the information is fraudulent.

Step 6: Approval and Transmission

If no opposition is filed after ten days, the City or Municipal Civil Registrar will approve the registration. The record will be entered into the local civil registry books.

Step 7: PSA Authentication

The LCRO will then endorse the record to the PSA in Manila for "loading" into the national database. It usually takes 2 to 4 months before the record is available for request on PSA-security paper (SECPA).

IV. Fees and Costs

While the act of registration itself involves minimal filing fees, applicants should budget for:

PSA Negative Certification fee.
Notarial fees for the affidavits.
Local government administrative fees (which vary by municipality).
Cost of obtaining certified true copies of supporting documents (Baptismal, School records, etc.).

V. Important Considerations

Legitimacy Status: If parents were married at the time of birth, the child is legitimate. The Marriage Certificate of the parents must be presented.
Fraudulent Entries: Providing false information in a birth certificate is a criminal offense under the Revised Penal Code (Falsification of Public Documents).
Foundlings: If the parents are unknown, the process follows the rules for "Foundlings," which requires a social worker’s report and coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).