Please note
Belmadeng is an independent study platform and is not affiliated with the National Population Commission (NPC). This is an informational guide — register births or deaths and obtain certificates only through official NPC channels (nationalpopulation.gov.ng and its self-service portals). Timely birth registration is free, and you should use the verifiable digital certificate; beware touts and fake documents. Note: a sworn age declaration is made in a High Court, not by the NPC.
The fees
| Service | Fee |
|---|
| Birth registration — under 5 years | Free |
| Birth registration — age 5 and older | ₦2,000 |
| Adult Attestation of Birth | ₦3,000 |
Fees change — confirm the current amount on the official NPC portal before paying.
Free under 5
Registering a child’s birth is free before age 5 — a strong reason to register newborns early. From age 5 it costs ₦2,000.
Attestation fee
An adult Attestation of Birth costs ₦3,000.
Pay online only
All fees are payable online through the NPC portal. Don’t hand cash to touts — the official fees are modest, and paying more usually means an unofficial markup.
Reprints
Certificates can typically be downloaded once; use the reprint service if you need another copy.
Tips
- Register children before 5 to do it free.
- Pay only online on the official portal.
- Keep your reference number for reprints.
The free in-person route
The most important fee fact: birth registration for children under 5 is free at NPC registration centres, and death registration is free too. So for a young child, the in-person route costs nothing for the registration itself. This matters because it means the base civil-registration service is meant to be accessible — if you're registering a young child, visiting a centre avoids online charges entirely. Keep this free route in mind before assuming you must pay a portal fee.
Online convenience fees
The online self-service route is convenient but typically carries a convenience fee, and here the picture is genuinely mixed and has been publicly contested: different sources and portal flows have shown naira figures (reported in the low thousands for older children and attestation) and, on some flows, dollar-denominated charges — and there has been public criticism about online charges for a service described as free. Because the amounts are volatile and disputed, don't rely on any single figure: confirm the current fee on the official NPC portal at the point of applying, and weigh it against the free/lower-cost in-person option.
Reprints and reissuance
Remember that an approved certificate downloads only once, and additional copies are obtained through the Certificate Reprint module — which may carry its own fee. Converting an old paper certificate to the digital version uses the Certificate Reissuance module. All NPC payments are non-refundable, so verify every detail before paying, and only pay through the official NPC portal/gateway — never hand money to anyone promising to “sort” a certificate off-platform, and report any demand for improper payment.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a birth certificate in Nigeria?
Birth registration is free for children under 5, ₦2,000 for age 5 and older, and an adult attestation of birth is ₦3,000 — all payable online.
Is birth registration free?
Yes, for children under 5; from age 5 it costs ₦2,000.
How much is a birth attestation?
₦3,000, payable online.
Can I pay for a birth certificate with cash?
Fees are payable online through the NPC portal — avoid paying cash to touts.
How much is a reprint of a birth certificate?
Certificates are usually downloadable once; use the NPC reprint service for another copy — confirm the current reprint fee on the portal.
How much does a birth certificate cost in Nigeria?
Birth registration for children under 5 is free at NPC registration centres (and death registration is free). The online self-service route typically carries a convenience fee, but amounts are mixed and have been publicly contested — confirm the current fee on the official NPC portal, and weigh it against the free in-person option.
Is birth registration really free?
For children under 5 at NPC registration centres, yes — and death registration is free too. The base civil-registration service is meant to be accessible. Online self-service carries a convenience fee, so the in-person route is the free one for a young child.
Why are there different birth certificate fees quoted?
Because the online convenience charges are volatile and have been publicly contested — different sources and portal flows have shown both naira figures (low thousands) and dollar-denominated charges. Don't rely on a single figure; confirm the current fee on the official NPC portal at the point of applying.
Is there a fee to reprint a certificate?
Additional copies are obtained through the Certificate Reprint module (since a certificate downloads only once), which may carry its own fee; converting an old paper certificate to digital uses Certificate Reissuance. Confirm current charges on the NPC portal.
Are NPC certificate payments refundable?
No — all NPC payments are non-refundable, so verify every detail before paying. Pay only through the official NPC portal/gateway, never to anyone promising to 'sort' a certificate off-platform, and report any demand for improper payment.