Almost everywhere you go, someone always asks for a PSA birth certificate.

Have you got hired? HR will request your birth certificate.

Are you applying for the civil service exam? You need one in case none of your valid IDs shows your date of birth.

And don’t get me started with government-issued documents like the Philippine passport and driver’s license that all require a birth certificate to prove your identity.

It is, therefore, inevitable to find yourself applying for a birth certificate occasionally.

Fortunately, getting this primary document has never been easier.

You can do the traditional walk-in application at designated offices or eliminate all the hassles by ordering online.

This definitive guide presents different ways to get your PSA birth certificate fast, whether in the Philippines or anywhere in the world.

At a Glance: Three Ways to Get PSA Birth Certificate

What Is a Birth Certificate?

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), a birth certificate is a “vital record that establishes the birth of a child“³.

It enables you to prove your identity, place of origin, and nationality.

A birth certificate contains the following:

• The time, date, and place of your birth;
• Your complete name;
• Sex/gender;
• Nationality;
• Your parents’ names.

Shortly after a baby’s birth, the doctor files the report of birth to the local civil registrar (LCR). The birth certificate is then issued to and stored by the LCR. All records of birth certificates are archived at the Philippine Statistics Authority or PSA (formerly National Statistics Office or NSO).

When you say “birth certificate,” it refers either to the original document or to the certified true copy of the original.

The birth certificate has no expiration date. However, PSA occasionally changes the Security Paper where civil registry documents are printed to prevent the proliferation of fake birth certificates.

As a result, some government agencies or public institutions require applicants only to present recent or new authenticated birth certificates. These include:

• Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA);
• Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR);
• Department of Education (DepEd);
• Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO);
• Social Security System (SSS);
• Private/public schools;
• Embassy.

A birth certificate is crucial for getting a new job, applying for government-issued IDs, proving your nationality, or verifying whether you’re a legitimate child.

Who Is Authorized To Request for and Receive PSA Birth Certificate?

You are authorized by law⁴ to apply for and receive a birth certificate from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) if you’re one of the following:

• The owner of the birth certificate;
• His/her spouse;
• His/her parent;
• His/her child (of legal age);
• His/her guardian appointed by the court or the person exercising substitute parental authority under Article 216 of the Family Code of the Philippines (if the document owner is a minor).

Suppose the owner of the birth certificate is still a minor. In that case, the parents or the guardian are the only ones allowed to receive or authorize the birth certificate’s delivery. The one who will receive the birth certificate is required to present a valid ID. If this receiving party is the minor’s guardian, a valid ID plus proof or declaration of guardianship must be presented.

Basic Requirements for the Issuance of PSA Birth Certificate

1. Valid ID

Whether you’re requesting a PSA Birth Certificate online or by walking in at the nearest SM Business Center, you won’t be able to receive it without presenting a valid ID. According to the most recent memorandum⁵ from the Philippine Statistics Authority, here’s a list of valid IDs accepted by their office:

• Philippine Passport issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA);
• Driver’s License issued by the Land Transportation Office (LTO);
• Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) ID;
• Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) ID;
• Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) Unified Multi-Purpose ID/eCard;
• Social Security System (SSS) Unified Multi-Purpose ID;
• Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG) Transaction/Loyalty Card;
• Voter’s ID issued by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC);
• Postal ID issued by Philippine Postal Corporation (PhilPost);
• Senior Citizen’s ID Card issued by the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) and/or local government units (LGUs);
• Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) ID issued by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE);
• Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) ID;
• Seaman’s/Seawoman’s Book issued by the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA);
• Diplomat/Consular ID issued by the Philippine Embassy;
• National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Clearance;
• Philippine National Police (PNP) ID/Police Clearance;
• Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Certification/Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) ID;
• Barangay ID/Certification with picture and signature;
• Person with Disability (PWD) ID issued by the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) or its regional counterpart, Office of the Mayor, Office of the Barangay Captain, DSWD Office, and other participating organizations with Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of Health (DOH);
• IDs issued by National Government Offices (e.g., Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Justice (DOJ), including Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCCs);
• IDs issued by the Offices of the Local Chief Executives (Governor, Vice-Governor, Mayor, and Vice Mayor);
• Tax Identification Card (TIN) with picture and signature issued by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR);
• School/Student ID for currently-enrolled students 18 years old and above, issued by reputable schools/colleges/universities recognized by the Department of Education (DepEd) or Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) signed by the principal or head of the academic institution;
• Company IDs issued by private entities or institutions registered with, supervised, or regulated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), or Insurance Commission (IC);
• For foreign nationals, a passport issued by foreign governments AND any of the following: (a) Alien Certification of Registration (ACR I-card); (b) Immigrant Certificate of Registration; (c) Special Resident Retiree Visa issued by the Bureau of Immigration through the Philippine Retirement Authority.

If you’re the document owner claiming your PSA Birth Certificate: Bring your valid ID’s original copy and photocopy (front and back). Present the original ID and submit the photocopy.

If you’re an authorized representative requesting the PSA Birth Certificate on behalf of the document owner: In addition to the original and photocopy of the document owner’s valid ID, you must also bring the original and photocopy (front and back) of your valid ID. Present the original and submit the photocopy.

2. Authorization Letter or Special Power of Attorney (SPA)

This requirement only applies if the document owner cannot claim the PSA Birth Certificate personally.

The authorized representative must present and submit the original copy of the Authorization Letter or Special Power of Attorney, the content of which must comply with the following guidelines⁶:

• It must state the specific purpose of the document (in this case, to secure a copy of the PSA Birth Certificate). A general statement as to the purpose won’t be accepted.
• It must indicate the specific type of document (i.e., PSA Birth Certificate), the number of copies, and the specific details of the document to be requested.
• If submitting an authorization letter, it must be handwritten or computerized/printed on a clean sheet of paper and should bear the fresh signature of the document owner. Authorization letters sent through e-mail or instant messaging apps won’t be accepted.
• If submitting a Special Power of Attorney (SPA), it must be notarized, and its purpose should have not yet been served or has not yet reached its expiry (Article 1919 of the Civil Code of the Philippines).

How To Get PSA Birth Certificate Online via PSA Serbilis

PSASerbilis is an online portal where you can order a birth certificate and deliver it to the Philippines or anywhere in the world. Here’s how to obtain your birth certificate through this website:

1. Access the PSASerbilis website

From the homepage, select Birth Certificate.

Tick the checkboxes to agree with the terms and conditions and data privacy notice. Click the Next button.

Next, respond to the questions about whether there’s any correction in the birth certificate you are applying for and if you have already obtained a PSA Birth Certificate. Click Next.

2. Continue with your registration by filling out the Request Details form

Enter the following details in the form:

• Number of copies to be requested (minimum of 1, maximum of 12)
• Name of the birth certificate owner (last name, first name, middle name)
• Place of birth (i.e., province, city/municipality)
• Date of birth 
• Sex
• Father’s complete name (last name, first name, middle initial)
• Mother’s complete maiden name (last name, first name, middle initial)
• Relationship to the owner of the birth certificate (i.e., self, mother, father, etc.)

Afterward, you will choose whether this certificate will be delivered to an embassy. If yes, you have to select from the dropdown list provided which of the following embassies it will be delivered to:

• US Embassy in Manila
• UKVI, British Embassy Manila
• Consulate General of Spain Manila 

You also have to select the purpose of your request using the dropdown menu. 

When done filling out the form, click Next.

Notes:

• If you’re a married woman, only use your maiden name
• When writing names, please don’t use characters other than letters, numbers, hyphens, single quotes, and ñ/Ñ
• If you have a name suffix like “Jr,” “Sr,” or “III,” put it in the First Name field. Don’t put a period after the name suffix, or else you’ll encounter an error
• When writing male name suffixes, use Roman numerals instead of spelled-out numbers (e.g., instead of “THIRD,” use “III”)
• For those with surnames starting with “De,” “De La,” “Del,” or “De Los,” enter these in the Last Name field. Only use “De La” or “De Los” (with space) instead of “Dela” or “Delos.”

3. Enter the requester’s details and delivery information

These include the following:

a. Requester’s details

• Requester’s name (last name, first name, middle initial);
• Telephone/Mobile Number
• Email address

b. Delivery address 

• Address (country, province, city/municipality
• ZIP/Postal code 

When done, click Next.

A box will then appear on the screen asking you to confirm whether the information you’ve just provided is correct. The delivery schedule is from 8 AM to 5 PM on weekdays. 

If you’re sure about their accuracy, click Confirm.

Afterward, PSASerbilis will present a summary of your online application.

You may also request another PSA-issued document by clicking the Add New Request button. Otherwise, click Next to proceed.

4. View the Acknowledgement Page and print two copies of it

You must present a hard copy of this page when you pay for your request in a PSA-designated bank. Meanwhile, the other one serves as your copy. 

You will also receive a soft copy of the acknowledgment page via email. 

To print copies of this page, click the Print button. If you’re done, click Proceed to Payment. 

5. Pay for the Birth Certificate Request fee offline or online

A single copy of the Birth Certificate costs:

• ₱330 if it is delivered to the Philippines
• USD 20.30 if it will be delivered abroad

Here are the available payment channels:

a. Offline payment channels

For local delivery: 

• Bayad Centers and Bayad Partners (e.g., Robinsons Department Stores, Ministop, LBC, 2GO, etc.)
• Bayad Online or Bayad App (Biller: PSA Serbilis)
• Paymaya App (Biller: PSA Serbilis)

For foreign countries:

• BDO Remit Subsidiary Offices and Remittance Partners (those that offer Kabayan Bills Bayad).

b. Online payment channels

• Debit/Credit/Prepaid Card (e.g., Visa, Mastercard, American Express, etc.)
• GCash (for birth certificates that will be delivered in the Philippines only)

Accredited Banking Payment channels:

• BDO Unibank
• Unionbank

6. Wait for delivery

How quickly the birth certificate will be delivered to you depends on your delivery address:

• Metro Manila: 3-5 working days after payment
• Other cities/provinces in the Philippines: 4-9 working days after payment
• Other countries: 6-8 weeks after payment

If you want to expedite the process and get the birth certificate delivered within 1 to 2 days after payment, I suggest the following:

• If you’re in the Philippines, apply in person at the nearest PSA CRS outlet
• If abroad, you can avail of e-Census Special Courier Service

The delivery schedule is from 8 A.M. to 5 P.M., Monday to Friday (except holidays). 

How To Get PSA Birth Certificate at PSA CRS Outlet

Obtaining your PSA Birth Certificate at the nearest PSA CRS (Civil Registration System) Outlet in your town or city is the cheapest option recommended for those on a budget.

The downside is all applicants must secure an appointment online as the PSA offices process requests on a first-come, first-serve basis. Also, minors cannot book an appointment; their legal guardians must secure their slots online.

Before we proceed with the online appointment, ensure you have all requirements ready (see the previous section for the complete list of essential requirements).

Assuming you already have the basic requirements, follow the steps below to secure an appointment with your preferred PSA CRS Outlet.

1. Go to the official PSA website and select the CRS Appointment System.
2. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and tick the box that says “I Agree.” Read the reminders in the dialog box and then click Next.
3. Select the region and specific place where your preferred PSA CRS Outlet is located. If you’re in NCR and the birth certificate you’re requesting underwent Court Decrees and Legal Instruments for the first time, you must book an appointment at East Avenue. Click Next.
4. Fill out the online form with your name, email address, and mobile number. The name should match the exact name displayed on the valid ID you’ll bring on the day of your appointment. Tick the box to agree to have your personal information collected but only to book an appointment. Click Next.
5. The PSA CRS Online Appointment System will send a notification via email containing the six-digit one-time password (OTP) or verification code. Copy this OTP and paste it onto the current page. Click Verify to move on to the next step.
6. Select the certificate type (i.e., “Certificate of Live Birth”) from the drop-down list provided. Next, select your relationship with the document owner. If you’re requesting your PSA Birth Certificate, select “Self” from the choices; otherwise, select your relationship with the owner and then indicate his/her name. Click Next.
7. Choose your preferred date and time of appointment. Click a specific date on the calendar for the appointment date. As for the time, the specific schedules and the number of available slots for each schedule are displayed, so you can choose whatever time you’re most comfortable with. Afterward, click Next.
8. Review the summary of your appointment details. Note that the appointment is non-transferable. Ensure that the details are correct and that your name perfectly matches the one in your valid ID. If everything is good to go, click Confirm.
9. Check your email for the Appointment Slip. Save this document (PDF file) on your device and print the entire form, including the QR code.
10. Proceed to your chosen PSA CRS Outlet on the day and time of your appointment. Don’t forget to bring the original and photocopy of your valid ID and other needed documents (if you’re applying as an authorized representative). Ensure you arrive several minutes ahead of your schedule and have your pen. Due to the online appointment, obtaining your PSA Birth Certificate through this method has significantly become faster. At best, a PSA Birth Certificate, which costs ₱155 as of this writing, can now be issued in about an hour⁷.

How To Get PSA Birth Certificate via Walk-In at SM Business Center

Walk-in applications are welcome at various SM Business Centers nationwide.

A 2010 tie-up between SM and NSO has enabled the SM Business Center, usually located within SM Department Stores, to process and release civil registry documents like birth, death, and marriage certificates, among others.

SM Business Center is also known for its other services like foreign exchange, bills payment, BDO Remit, and SSS and Pag-IBIG contributions processing.

The advantage of choosing SM Business Center to get your birth certificate is its accessibility. Almost every town and city in the country has its own SM mall.

PSA Birth Certificate Walk-in Application Guide (SM Business Center)

Birth certificates processed at SM Business Centers may take days to release.

If you’re not in a hurry, you can get your birth certificate from SM Business Center by following the steps below:

1. Go to the nearest SM mall and look for the SM Business Center. It’s usually located inside SM Hypermarket or SM Department Store. If you need assistance, you can ask any security guard or SM staff for directions. Or, you can check out this SM store directory to confirm whether the SM mall you’ll be visiting has its own SM Business Center.
2. Line up in front of the section that processes civil registry documents. Present one valid ID (see the previous section for the complete list of acceptable IDs).
3. Get the birth certificate application form and fill it out. Make sure all the information is complete and accurate. You may also be asked to fill out a smaller form asking for the number of copies you need and the owner’s personal information. This will serve as SM’s copy of your request.
4. Submit the accomplished form and pay ₱180 to the cashier. After payment, you’ll be issued the Official Receipt and a claim stub indicating when you can receive the requested document. Birth certificates may take 4 to 6 days to be processed and released at SM Business Centers.
5. Return to SM Business Center to claim the birth certificate. Present your valid ID, the receipt, and the claim stub given to you. If you’re not available to personally claim it, your representative must provide his/her valid ID, your valid ID, and your authorization letter with your signature.

Tips & Warnings

1. The PSA doesn’t have copies of birth certificates of people born before 1945

If you’re requesting the birth certificate of someone born before 1945, the PSA will only issue you a Negative Results Certification, which means no birth record can be found in their archives.

The only documents that can be retrieved from the electronic and paper archives of the civil registry records are the births, marriages, and deaths that have been reported from 1945 to the present and from 1951 onwards for events reported in Manila.

After securing the Negative Results Certification from PSA, you are left with three options to obtain the birth certificate of someone born before 1945:

• Proceed to the local civil registrar with jurisdiction over the person’s place of birth to check if they have a copy of the birth records in their archives. There’s a very slim chance that they have managed to keep a copy of a very old birth record, but if they have, follow the procedure for the Endorsement (see FAQ section).
• If neither the PSA nor the local civil registrar can retrieve any birth record, then inquire at the local civil registrar if you can get a birth certificate through filing a late or delayed birth registration.
• If a late birth registration is impossible, you can also try your luck at the National Archives of the Philippines. Once there’s a copy of the birth certificate found in their archives, this copy will undergo the process of Reconstruction, after which the final copy of the birth certificate will be sent to the PSA for encoding. The National Archives is on the 1st & 6th Floor, PPL Building, 1000, U.N. Avenue, corner, 1007 San Marcelino St, Manila, 1007 Metro Manila.

2. You may file for “advance endorsement” if you want to get a copy of your newly born child’s birth certificate

Birth certificates of babies born recently can’t be processed immediately because the new birth records usually go through a “posting period” first.

In this posting period, the birth records are received from the local civil registrar, verified, and then converted into a digital format by the PSA. How long the process will take depends on the records at the PSA and where the birth occurred.

If you want to request your baby’s birth certificate through the standard procedure, do it after the following “posting period”:

• 2 to 4 months after birth if the birth occurred within Metro Manila.
• At least 6 months after birth, if the birth occurred in the province/outside Metro Manila.

Meanwhile, suppose you can’t wait for this posting period and need to obtain your newly born child’s birth certificate as soon as possible. In that case, you may file for “advance endorsement” at the local civil registrar (LCR) of the city/municipality where your child was born.

Although it comes with a fee, the advance endorsement enables the LCR to endorse a copy of the birth certificate to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) ahead of the regular submission schedule of birth records.

3. Filipinos born abroad can also get a PSA birth certificate

Even Filipinos who were born abroad can also get a copy of their birth certificates from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), provided that a Report of Birth was filed by the parent/s at the Philippine Consulate in the child’s country of birth within one year from the date of birth. 

After the birth registration at the Philippine Consulate, the child’s birth record is transmitted to the Consular Records Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) – Manila.

All the civil registry documents, including birth records, are forwarded to the PSA, usually every quarter. You can only request the PSA birth certificate at least two months after the PSA receives the birth record from DFA.

If you’re requesting a birth certificate owned by you or anyone born abroad, you will need to obtain the following information from DFA Manila’s Consular Records Division:

• Reference number
• Dispatch number
• Dispatch date
• Transmittal date

Send the above information to [email protected] so the PSA can search and retrieve your birth records beforehand.

4. DFA still accepts the NSO Birth Certificate for passport application

Check the updated list of requirements for the Philippine passport application. It includes an original Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Authenticated Birth Certificate on Security Paper (SECPA).

But according to DFA’s FAQ page, NSO birth certificates are still valid and accepted for Philippine passport applications.

In other words, you don’t need to request a new PSA copy if you already have the older NSO copy, provided that the latter is still in good condition and doesn’t have tampered entries.

However, birth certificates are only required for new passport applications and other purposes listed here.

On the other hand, those who are applying for Philippine passport renewal don’t need to bring a PSA birth certificate.

5. There’s a difference between a Birth Certificate and a Certificate of Live Birth (COLB)

The Certificate of Live Birth is the first unofficial document proving you were medically alive when your mother gave birth.

The Certificate of Live Birth Form is for data entry purposes only. After the parent fills out this form, the hospital administrator sends the birth records to the local civil registrar within 30 days after birth.

The local civil registrar will forward this to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) for verification and encoding. After a few months, the baby’s official Birth Certificate can now be requested.

Unlike the Certificate of Live Birth, the official Birth Certificate is printed on security paper (SECPA), has a registration number to be retrieved quickly, and comes with the official PSA seal for authenticity.

6. In case of dual birth certificate or double registration, the first one to be registered will be recognized as the official birth certificate

Double registration or having two birth certificates under one’s name is prohibited in the Philippines.

However, there are instances when double registration happens unintentionally.

Some Filipinos file a late birth registration, not knowing they’re already registered. Others make the mistake of applying for a second birth certificate to replace the first one containing errors/misspellings/wrong info, unaware there’s a separate procedure for birth certificate correction.

Whatever the case, the first birth certificate will always prevail as the official document, regardless if it contains errors or not⁸. If it does contain errors, file the appropriate birth certificate correction.

As for the second birth certificate, it is considered invalid. It should be subsequently canceled by filing a Petition for Cancellation of Entry before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) with jurisdiction over the civil registrar where the birth certificate was created/registered (Section 1, Rule 108, Revised Rules of Court).

After the petition is filed, the court will order when and where the hearing will occur. The court will also order the notices to be given to people named and involved in the petition. This order will be published once a week for three consecutive weeks in a major newspaper.

How long the cancellation proceeding will last depends on the availability of the judge hearing the petition, the number of cases of the court where the petition will be raffled, and a host of other factors.

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1. Senate of the Philippines. (2022). Permanent Validity of the Certificates of Live Birth, Death, and Marriage Act. Retrieved from http://legacy.senate.gov.ph/press_release/2022/0802_revilla1.asp
2. Recto, R. (2021). Birth certificates are forever. Retrieved 12 February 2022, from https://news.abs-cbn.com/blogs/opinions/12/16/21/birth-certificates-are-forever
3. Birth Certificate. (2012). Retrieved 16 July 2020, from https://psa.gov.ph/civilregistration/birth-certificate
4. Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Presidential Decree No. 603 or The Child and Youth Welfare Code (1974).
5. Memorandum Circular No. 2019-16A: Amendment of Memorandum Circular No. 2019-16 re: Strict Implementation of the Presentation of Valid Identification (ID) Cards/Identity Documents in the Issuance of Civil Registry Documents/Certifications from the PSA dated 11 June 2019. (2021, July 1). Retrieved from https://psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/MC%20NO.%202019-16A_0.pdf
6. Memorandum Circular No. 2019-15: Guidelines on the Issuance of the Civil Registry Documents (CRDs)/Certifications, including Authentication. (2019, June 11). Retrieved from https://psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/MC%20NO.%202019-15.pdf
7. Candido, S. (2023). Retrieved from https://pia.gov.ph/news/2023/04/22/psa-opens-advanced-crs-outlet-in-borongan-city
8. Acosta, P. (2015). In cases of dual registration, first birth certificate takes precedence. Retrieved 16 July 2020, from https://www.manilatimes.net/2015/07/13/legal-advice/dearpao/in-cases-of-dual-registration-first-birth-certificate-takes-precedence/200061/