Registration of Children

Registering as a citizen of Guyana/Overseas birth only

Advisory for Children born Overseas to Guyanese Parents

Children born to Guyanese parents overseas can now have their Birth registered and be issued with a Guyana Registration Certificate which is used to apply for and obtain a Guyana Passport.

Section 4 (2) sub paragraphs (a) and (b) of the Citizenship Act Chapter 14:01 provides for a person to be registered as a citizen of Guyana if he satisfies the Minister that:

He was born before 25 May 1966 and that his mother was a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies at the time of his birth. The registration of this category of persons is done at the Ministry of Home Affairs, Georgetown Guyana.
Provides for persons born after May 25th, 1966 (after independence) that his mother was a citizen of Guyana at the time of his birth.

Registration of this category of persons is done at the General Registrar Office, GPO Building, Robb Street, Georgetown or at the nearest Guyana Mission Overseas.

It is important to recognize that the Constitution is the superior law and it speak of a citizen of Guyana at the date of his birth, if at that date his father or mother is a citizen of Guyana. The Citizenship Act, however, speaks only to the fact that the mother was a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies at the time of his birth. The Constitution is the supreme law, and the issue of mother and father has to be given more weight than that in the ordinary legislation and there is no restriction to a child born illegitimate.

If you were born Overseas to Guyanese Parent (s) you are encouraged to register your birth at the Guyana Consulate General, Trinidad & Tobago if you intend to apply for a Guyana Passport.

Requirements for Overseas Registration of Births

Documents to be Submitted

Original Birth Certificate of the person being registered. If it is not in the English language, of the person to be registered. Translated documents are required to be certified in the country where it is issued
Proof of Birth of the Guyanese parent, whose name must be recorded on the foreign Birth Certificate. The parent’s name on the Overseas birth certificate must correspond with the one stated on the foreign birth certificate. In the event that it does not, documents such as deed poll (change of name document); affidavit of identity or marriage certificate in the case of married women should be submitted with the application. Additional documents may be required and will be requested if necessary.
Valid photo identification of person effecting the registration. If that person is not the parent, a duly notarized authorization should also be produced.
Payment of TT$200. which can be paid by cash when making the application for the registration of birth.
A written application to the Consulate General (for underage children, an application from BOTH parents) requesting registration together with a copy of the parents’ bio-data page of their passport.

Process

Complete processing of the registration can take up to one (1) month.
On completion of the registration, contact will be made with the applicant
On receipt of the Registration Certificate, a check should be made to ensure that all of information recorded is correct. If any errors are detected, return the Certificate to the Consulate for rectification
A copy of the Registration will be forwarded to the General Registrar Office in Guyana for its records.

Persons born before May 25, 1966

Unfortunately, the Consulate General is unable to accept applications for persons born before May 26, 1966, such persons will need to make an application to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Georgetown Guyana.

With the introduction of the Machine-Readable Passport, an applicant will be required to produce source documents (birth certificate and or certificate of Registration) before a new passport can be issued. Therefore, a person who may have been issued with a passport prior to the introduction of the new system will be required to complete the above process before a new passport is issued.

Note

The child’s foreign birth certificate will not be returned but will be held at the Consulate for its records.

Documents should be submitted with a covering letter requesting that the child be registered as a citizen of Guyana.

On receipt of the Certificate of Registration of Birth, the registrant becomes eligible to apply for a Guyana passport.

Unfortunately, the Consulate General will not be able to accept applications which do not fulfil the above requirements.