For a newborn, act quickly. You must notify the birth within one month to the Registrar of the district where the child was born [Births and Deaths Registration Act, Cap. 51]. You can do this through the health facility where the birth took place, the district civil-registration office (DNRPC), or your local council. Collect the original Record of Birth (the under-five clinic card or hospital record) and photocopies of both parents' National Registration Cards (NRCs).
Complete the required forms. Fill out Form VIII (Notice of Birth). If the birth did not happen at a health facility, you will also need to complete Form IX (Independent Witness). Submit these forms along with the documents above to your district DNRPC office or civil-registration office. Your first birth certificate is free of charge.
Collect your certificate. Once processed, collect the birth certificate from the same office where you submitted the forms. If you miss the one-month deadline, the process becomes late registration, which requires a family member who knows the child's birth history to swear a General Affidavit before a Commissioner for Oaths, together with a hospital record or baptismal certificate, and submit it to the Registrar-General in Lusaka.
Where to go: Visit your district DNRPC or civil-registration office. The central office is the Registrar-General in Lusaka. You can find information and updates on ZamPortal (the official government portal). For current fees on replacement or lost certificates, confirm the amounts on the official portal.