Somalia
A well developed and functioning civil registration system ensures the registration of all vital events including births, marriages and deaths and issues relevant certificates as proof of such registration. Civil registration promotes efficient government planning, effective use of resources and aid, and more accurate monitoring of progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Birth Registration
| Legal framework for birth registration | The Child Act (2010)
Civil Registry Act (2011, article 20) |
| Official authorities in charge of registering births | Civil Registration Authority, Ministry of the Interior
Department of Statistics’ Birth and Death Register, Ministry of Health Central Bureau of Statistics |
| Organizational structure | Decentralized |
| Is there a legal obligation to register the birth of a child? | Yes |
| Is an official birth certificate issued as a result of birth registration? | Yes, and issued immediately if requested in the first year because it is free. |
| Legal informant to register a birth | Health institution, Midwife, Mother or father of the child |
| Time allowed for registration | Within 15–30 days of birth |
| Fee for birth registration | No |
| Can the fee be increased or waived? | N/A |
| Fee for birth certificate | No |
| Penalty for late registration | No; Children up to 15 years can be registered at local Civil Registry Offices. Registration of children older than 15 are referred with a letter from the Civil Registry to the Medical Commission Functioning for age estimation.
However, birth certificates requested after the first year of birth involve nominal fees. |
| Other official fees involved in the birth registration process | No |
| Requirements or fees specific to children who are eligible for citizenship but were born outside the country | No |
| Requirements or fees specific to children whose parents are foreign nationals | No |
| Requirements for birth registration | Information to register |
| Information collected | Regarding the child: Name, Sex of child, Time and date of birth,
Regarding the mother of the child: Full name, Occupation, Place of residence Regarding the father of the child: Full name, Occupation, Place of residence, Religion Regarding the declarant: Full name |
| Processing | Manually (on paper), Electronically |
| Place of registration | Local registration offices, Place of birth;
Health institutions in which the birth occurred and health authorities supporting a birth send a copy of the birth notification form to the registrar. |
| A birth certificate is required for: | Identification, Citizenship, Education, Health care, Legal protection (from early marriage, child labour, premature enlistment in armed forces, prosecution as an adult) |
| Process for establishing vital statistics on births | – |
Data sources: Information on civil registration systems was compiled over a period from December 2016 to November 2017 using the existing relevant legal frameworks and in consultation with CRVS experts, officials within the relevant national institutions, and UNICEF country offices. All reasonable precautions have been taken by UNICEF to verify this country profile; updates will be made to reflect changes in policy and implementation and/or new information.
Marriage Registration
| Legal framework for marriage registration | Muslim Personal Law Act (1991) |
| Official authorities in charge of registering a marriage | Ministry of Justice
Traditional Courts |
| Organizational structure | Decentralized |
| Legal age for marriage | There is no minimum age of marriage in Sudan. |
| Is there a legal obligation to register marriages? | Yes |
| Is an official marriage certificate issued as a result of marriage registration? | Yes |
| Legal informant to register a marriage | Church officials authorized to perform marriage ceremonies, Spouses |
| Time allowed for registration | – |
| Fee for marriage registration | No |
| Can the fee be increased or waived? | No |
| Fee for marriage certificate | No |
| Penalty for late registration | No |
| Other official fees involved in the marriage registration process | No |
| Additional registration requirements or fees if one spouse was born outside the country or has dual citizenship | None |
| Requirements for marriage registration | Spouses must meet the legal requirement for age of marriage. |
| Information collected | – |
| Processing | Manually (on paper), Electronically |
| Place of registration | Church where marriage occurred, Civil court |
| A marriage certificate is required for: | Inheritance of property, Legal consequences |
| Process for establishing vital statistics on marriage | – |
Data sources: Information on civil registration systems was compiled over a period from December 2016 to November 2017 using the existing relevant legal frameworks and in consultation with CRVS experts, officials within the relevant national institutions, and UNICEF country offices. All reasonable precautions have been taken by UNICEF to verify this country profile; updates will be made to reflect changes in policy and implementation and/or new information.
Death Registration
| Legal framework for death registration | Civil Registry Act (2011, article 23) |
| Official authorities in charge of registering a death | Civil Registration Authority, Ministry of the Interior
Department of Statistics’ Birth and Death Register, Ministry of Health Central Bureau of Statistics |
| Organizational structure | Decentralized |
| Is there a legal obligation to register deaths? | Yes |
| Is an official death certificate issued as a result of death registration? | Yes |
| Legal informant to register a death | Relatives of the deceased, Health institutions and other health authorities where the death occurred;
If the death is in a hospital, then no witnesses are needed; if at home, then an official letter from the popular committee in that area is required. |
| Time allowed for registration | 7 days from the date of death |
| Fee for death registration | No |
| Can the fee be increased or waived? | Not applicable |
| Fee for death certificate | No |
| Penalty for late registration | No |
| Other official fees involved in the death registration process | None |
| Registration requirements or fees specific for the deaths of people who were residents in the country and also of foreign nationality | None |
| Requirements for death registration | None |
| Information collected | Regarding the deceased: Name, Sex, Date of birth or age
Regarding the death: Pre-existing causes of death, Burial permit in detail, cause of death, date of death, place of death |
| Information collected in case of fetal death | Fetal deaths are registered |
| Processing | Manually (on paper), Electronically |
| Place of registration | Local registration offices
Health institutions in which the death occurred and the relevant health authorities send a copy of the notification of death form to the registrar. |
| A death certificate is required for: | Burial permit, Certification that the death occurred from natural causes |
| Process for establishing vital statistics on deaths | – |
Data sources: Information on civil registration systems was compiled over a period from December 2016 to November 2017 using the existing relevant legal frameworks and in consultation with CRVS experts, officials within the relevant national institutions, and UNICEF country offices. All reasonable precautions have been taken by UNICEF to verify this country profile; updates will be made to reflect changes in policy and implementation and/or new information.