Nigerians can now get birth and death certificates online
NPC launches a nationwide digital platform for civil registration, ending manual certificates and linking records to the national ID system.
Starting 1 July 2026, Nigerians can obtain birth and death certificates entirely online, as the National Population Commission (NPC) ends all manual registration and moves to a new digital platform.
NPC Chairman Dr Aminu Yusuf formally announced the launch of the Electronic Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (E-CRVS) system at a press briefing in Abuja. "It is my distinct honour and privilege, on behalf of the National Population Commission, to formally announce the full commencement of the digital registration of births and deaths on the VitalReg platform under the Electronic Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (E-CRVS) system," Yusuf said, according to Punch.
"Effective 1st July 2026, this transformative initiative is now operational across the thirty-six states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory," he added. The digital platform, accessible via the NPC website, is now the only approved channel for registrations nationwide.
The shift marks the end of paper-based certificates. An NPC federal commissioner warned in a Vanguard report that any official issuing manual certificates after the digital rollout will face disciplinary action, including suspension or dismissal. Certificates produced outside the new system will no longer be recognised.
The VitalReg self-service portal lets parents register a child's birth and obtain a certificate online. Applications are authenticated within 72 hours. The platform also supports birth attestation for adults without a prior certificate, foreign birth notifications for children born abroad to Nigerian parents, and death registration. An NPC official explained in a televised briefing, "This is purely an online registration process. People can do this at the comfort of their homes, including people abroad. You can do the registration and get everything, including the certificate, online."
To use the system, citizens create a digital account linked to their National Identification Number (NIN), complete facial verification, and access a dashboard to request services, according to the NPC's FAQs. Registration for children under five is free. For children aged five and older, the fee is ₦2,000, payable online through a secure gateway, as detailed on the birth registration self-service portal. Citizens who prefer in-person help can still visit any NPC registration centre nationwide.
NPC says the new database is designed to interface with other government agencies, including the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Nigeria Immigration Service, and the Federal Road Safety Corps. This integration is meant to make birth records easily verifiable for passports, driver's licences, and opening bank accounts. The National Orientation Agency has been promoting the shift under the hashtag #VitalReg, positioning the platform as part of Nigeria's broader digital public infrastructure.
