Birth Certificate Number Kenya: What It Is and Exactly Where to Find It
If a form is asking for your birth certificate number — whether it’s a passport application, SHA dependant registration, or school enrollment — there’s one specific place to look on your certificate, and it is not the number on the top right. Here’s the full picture.
The two numbers on a Kenya birth certificate
There are two distinct numbers printed on a Kenya birth certificate, and mixing them up is one of the most common reasons passport applications get flagged. Here is what each one is:
The Kenya Consulate in Los Angeles explicitly warns passport applicants: “the number on the top right corner is the Serial Number and not the Birth Entry Number.” Enter the Entry No. from the top left when any form asks for your birth certificate number.
Every field on a Kenya birth certificate
The fields below are drawn from the official Civil Registration Services birth register (Form B4) and the eCitizen Civil Registration system — both published by the Department of Civil Registration Services under the Births and Deaths Registration Act, Cap 149.
| Field | What it records |
|---|---|
| Entry No. Birth Certificate Number | The unique registration identifier for this birth. Alphanumeric, assigned by the registrar. This is the number all government forms ask for. |
| District of birth | The district in which the birth occurred and was registered. |
| Province of birth | The province — aligned to the pre-2013 administrative structure still used in civil registration records. |
| Notification No. | The reference number from the birth notification (Form B1) that preceded this certificate application. |
| Exact place of birth | Hospital name, home address, or facility where the birth occurred. |
| Name of child | The full name as registered. |
| Sex | Male or female as recorded at registration. |
| Date of birth | The child’s date of birth. |
| Name and surname of father | Father’s full name. May be blank on certificates where the father is not named — see our guide on birth certificates without a father’s name. |
| Name and maiden name of mother | Mother’s full name including her maiden name as it appeared on her ID at registration. |
| Description of informant | Who reported the birth — usually the hospital, a parent, a traditional birth attendant, or the area chief. |
| Name of registering officer | The civil registrar who processed and approved the registration. |
| Date of registration | The date the birth was officially entered into the civil register — not the date of birth. |
Newer certificates issued through the digital CRVSS system may also carry a Maisha Namba (UPI) — see the section below on what that is.
How the birth certificate number is actually created
Your Entry Number is not generated by filling a form online. It is assigned by a civil registrar when a birth is formally entered into the register — a process that starts, in most cases, with a birth notification from the hospital.
Birth notification (Form B1) is issued
When a child is born in hospital, the facility fills and stamps a Birth Notification Form (Form B1). For home births, the area chief or a Community Health Volunteer facilitates this. The notification is not the certificate — it is the document that makes the application possible.
Application submitted on eCitizen
A parent logs into crs.ecitizen.go.ke, selects “Apply for a Birth Certificate” under Civil Registration Services, and uploads the Form B1 reference number, parents’ IDs, and the clinic card (ANC/mother-baby booklet). Payment — currently KES 200 for a newborn’s certificate — is made by mobile money.
Registrar assigns the Entry Number
The Civil Registration office processes the application, enters the birth into the register, and assigns the unique Entry Number. Processing takes two weeks to a month depending on location.
Certificate is ready to download or collect
As of June 2026, parents can download their ready certificate directly from the eCitizen platform. The Entry Number printed on that certificate is your birth certificate number — permanent for life.
Where you’ll be asked for your birth certificate number
The Entry Number is the piece of information that connects your birth record to every major government system. Here is where you’ll need it:
Passport application
The eCitizen passport form has a dedicated field for “Birth Entry Number.” Enter the Entry No. from the top left — the Kenya Consulate flags this as the single most common input error on passport applications.
SHA dependant registration
Adding a child under 18 as a dependant on your SHA household profile requires their birth certificate number or birth notification reference number — not a National ID (children under 18 don’t have one).
School enrollment
Primary and secondary schools request the birth certificate number at enrollment to verify age and identity before a National ID is available.
National ID application
At 18, your birth certificate number is part of the identity verification chain used when applying for your first National ID.
eCitizen verification
To verify a birth certificate’s authenticity, you submit the Entry Number, full name, and date of birth to the Civil Registration Department.
Replacement applications
If you lose your certificate and apply for a certified copy, quoting the original Entry Number speeds up the search at the Civil Registration office significantly.
Maisha Namba — the new UPI on newer certificates
Under the Births and Deaths Registration (Amendment) Rules 2024, the Department of Civil Registration Services now assigns a Unique Personal Identifier (UPI) — also called Maisha Namba — to each person at the point of birth registration. The registrar assigns this number alongside the Entry Number, and it travels with the person for life, including through death registration.
Maisha Namba is separate from the Entry Number. It is a lifelong digital identity anchor designed to integrate Kenya’s civil registration, national ID, and government services systems. If your certificate was issued through the new digital CRVSS system, both the Entry Number and the UPI may appear on it. For any form currently in use, the Entry Number is still what is asked for — the UPI ecosystem is still being rolled out across government portals.
Can’t find your birth certificate number?
If you no longer have the physical certificate, you cannot retrieve the Entry Number online directly. Your options are:
- Apply for a certified copy (replacement) on eCitizen under Civil Registration Services — the replacement carries the same Entry Number as the original.
- Visit your nearest Huduma Centre or the Civil Registration office where the birth was originally registered, with parents’ IDs and proof of identity.
- For births in Nairobi, the Registrar of Births is at ACK Garden House, Bishop’s Road. For all other counties, approach the Registrar of Births at Hass Plaza, 4th Floor, Lower Hill Road, Nairobi.
See our full guide on replacing a lost birth certificate on eCitizen for the exact steps, documents, and fee breakdown.
Related guides
Need Help Finding or Using Your Certificate Number?
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WhatsApp Us NowFrequently asked questions
What is the birth certificate number in Kenya?
It is the Entry Number — an alphanumeric code marked against “Entry No.” on the first row and first column of your certificate’s details table, at the top left, above your date of birth.
Is the birth certificate number the same as the entry number?
Yes — completely. The terms “birth certificate number,” “birth certificate no.,” “birth entry number,” and “entry number” all refer to exactly the same thing. Whenever a form asks for any of these, it wants the Entry No. from the top left of your certificate.
What is the number on the top right of my birth certificate?
That is the serial number of the printed certificate — used internally by the Civil Registration Department. It is not your birth certificate number and is not accepted by passport, SHA, or school enrollment forms.
Where exactly do I enter the birth certificate number on eCitizen?
When applying for a passport or verifying your certificate on eCitizen, enter the Entry Number from the top left of your birth certificate, above your date of birth. Do not enter the number from the top right corner.
Can I get my birth certificate number without the physical certificate?
Not directly online. If your certificate is lost, apply for a certified copy on eCitizen or at a Huduma Centre. The Entry Number on the replacement is the same as the original — your number never changes.
What is a Maisha Namba and is it the same as a birth certificate number?
No. Maisha Namba (UPI — Unique Personal Identifier) is a new lifelong digital identity number introduced under the 2024 amendments to the Births and Deaths Registration Act. It is assigned at the same time as birth registration but is separate from the Entry Number on the physical certificate.
