How to get a birth certificate

What you need

• An Irembo account (or go to an Irembo agent)
• National ID number (over 16) or the child's Citizen Application Number (under 16)
• A phone number and/or email

Steps

1. Log in at irembo.gov.rw → Family → Birth Services → Birth Certificate.
2. Choose whether it's for yourself or a child, then click Apply.
3. Enter the ID or Citizen Application Number so the details load.
4. Give the reason for the request, choose the processing office, then click Next.
5. Confirm, add phone/email and submit. You get a billing number starting with 88.
6. Pay Rwf 500 (MTN, Airtel, BK, Visa or MasterCard).
7. When the sector Executive Secretary approves it, you get an SMS/email. Download the e-certificate from Irembo.

Tips

• The certificate has a QR code, so whoever receives it can check it's real.
• If the birth was never registered, first ask for a birth record or late registration at your sector.

Official sources

• Irembo: how to apply for a birth certificate

Last checked: 2 November 2026 against Irembo support pages. If something here is out of date, tell us so we can fix it.