NPC runs two different services for the same basic problem: no birth certificate on record. Which one applies to you comes down to a single question, your age.
The two services, side by side
| Birth registration | Attestation of birth | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it's for | children aged 0 to 17 | adults aged 18 and above |
| NPC asks for | the child's NIN and a parent's attestation number | a NIN and a court sworn affidavit |
| Typical use | A newborn or young child's first record | An adult with no certificate ever issued |
Both sit on the same self-service portal, and both end in a downloadable certificate. What differs is who qualifies, and what NPC asks you to bring.
Birth registration, in short
This route is for children aged 0 to 17. A parent or guardian applies on the child's behalf, and NPC's core ask is the child's NIN and a parent's attestation number.
There's also a real deadline attached to this one. Birth registration deadline in Nigeria covers exactly how soon you're expected to act.
Attestation of birth, in short
This route is for adults aged 18 and above who never had a certificate issued. NPC's requirements here are a NIN and a court sworn affidavit, which includes a step registration doesn't ask for.
NPC attestation of birth for adults covers that court affidavit requirement, along with a fee that needs checking rather than assuming.
The case that confuses people most
An older sibling or relative who was simply never registered as a child is the case that trips people up. It feels like it should be a late birth registration.
It isn't. Once someone is past the registration age range, NPC's route is attestation, not a backdated registration. The certificate that comes out looks similar, but the service and its requirements are different.
How the affidavit fits in
Attestation's court sworn affidavit is closely related to, but not identical to, a standalone declaration of age. Declaration of age affidavit vs NPC attestation unpacks how those two documents work together.
Birth registration carries no equivalent affidavit requirement. A parent's own NIN does the identity work there instead.
That's the real reason attestation feels heavier than registration, even though both end in a similar-looking certificate. One leans on a parent's existing record. The other has to build proof of identity almost from scratch, which is what the court affidavit is for.
Common mistakes
- Trying to register an adult's birth instead of applying for attestation.
- Assuming attestation is quicker because it skips the newborn paperwork, when it actually adds a court step.
- Applying for attestation for a child who is still within the registration age range.
- Treating the two certificates as identical documents rather than outputs of two different services.
- Assuming a fee quoted for one service also applies to the other.
For more comparisons like this one, see our diaspora and life events hub.