How to Get a Jamaican Birth, Marriage or Death Certificate (and Fix One That's Wrong)
Most RGD orders go smoothly when you have the right details. Most delays come from a missing entry number, an unknown date or an error on the register. Here is how to order a certified copy, search for a lost record, correct mistakes and order from overseas.
At a glance
- Key detailThe entry number from an old copy
- Where to orderOnline at rgd.gov.jm or at an RGD office
- Copy feeJ$4,000 regular · J$6,000 express
- Processing time7–10 working days, or 3–4 express
- Date unknown?Record search, J$1,000 per decade
- Error on the recordCorrect it before ordering copies
- Adding a father's nameJ$1,500, about 4–6 weeks
- Living overseasOrder online, by post or through someone in Jamaica
Tap any fact to jump to the details.
The prerequisites: what you need
Choose what you need below and tick off each item before you apply.
No entry number? You can still apply, or look it up first. See entry numbers
Everything’s gathered. Check that names and dates match across every document before you apply.
Your ticks are saved on this device only.
Ordering a certified copy
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Check the old copy
If you have one, find the entry number and check every name and date. A new copy repeats whatever is on the register, errors included. See corrections
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Apply online or in person
Order on the RGD website, rgd.gov.jm, or at an RGD office. Online orders for births and deaths ask for the entry number.
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Choose your speed and pay
Pick regular or express processing and pay the RGD fee. See fees & timelines
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Collect or receive it
Collect the certificate, or have it delivered. If you're overseas, allow extra time for international delivery.
Avoid theseMajor rejection traps
Major rejection traps
These are the mistakes that cost people the most time.
Ordering copies of a wrong record
If a name is misspelt or a date is wrong on the register, every new copy will carry the same mistake. Passport, citizenship and immigration offices will reject it. Correct the record first.
Guessing the details
A wrong date, parish or spelling can mean the record is not found. If you're unsure, ask for a record search instead of guessing.
An unwitnessed declaration
Statutory declarations for amendments must be signed before a Justice of the Peace or Notary Public. A declaration signed at home is not accepted.
Reference deskFees & timelines
Fees & timelines
RGD fees are paid to the government and depend on how fast you need the certificate.
- RegularJ$4,0007–10 working days
- ExpressJ$6,0003–4 working days
- Record searchJ$1,000per decade searched
Overseas orders cost about US$45 plus delivery. Adding a father's name is J$1,500 regular or J$3,500 faster. Correction and late registration fees depend on the case. Check the RGD price list before you pay.
Reference deskEntry numbers explained
Entry numbers explained
The entry number is the RGD's reference for a registration. It is the fastest way to find a record.
- Where to find it: on an old certificate. It is usually two letters followed by three or four numbers.
- Births and deaths: online orders ask for the entry number.
- Marriages: you'll need the name of the marriage officer instead.
- No old copy? The RGD website has a request option for finding an entry number, or you can ask for a record search.
Reference deskRecord searches: when the date or parish is unknown
Record searches: when the date or parish is unknown
If you don't know the exact date or parish, the RGD can search the registers for you.
- Give the full name, any other names used, the likely parish and an estimated date range.
- The RGD charges J$1,000 for each decade searched, so a narrower range costs less.
- Parents' names for a birth, or the spouse's name for a marriage, help narrow the search.
Reference deskOrdering from overseas
Ordering from overseas
You don't have to travel to Jamaica. There are three routes:
Order online
Use rgd.gov.jm if you have the entry number, and pay online.
Apply by post
Send a completed application form and payment to the Registrar General's Department, Twickenham Park, St. Catherine, Jamaica.
Ask someone in Jamaica
A family member, friend or agent in Jamaica can apply and collect for you. This is often the fastest and cheapest route.
Using it abroad? Many overseas authorities also require an apostille from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade. Get it done before the certificate leaves Jamaica.
Reference deskCorrections & adding the father's name
Corrections & adding the father's name
Correction of error
For a misspelt name, a wrong date or a wrong sex marker. Bring the original certificate, documents that show the correct details, and a signed declaration.
Adding the father's name
When both parents agree and can sign, it's a straightforward application: the RGD's form, both parents' ID, a copy of the father's birth certificate, and both signatures witnessed by a JP or Notary Public. The RGD fee is J$1,500 (about 4–6 weeks) or J$3,500 (7–10 working days), with one copy of the new certificate included.
Some situations change what's needed:
- The mother has died: the father signs alone and adds proof of her death.
- The mother can't be found: newspaper notices and a recorded declaration come first.
- The father has died: a court order is needed first. That's a lawyer's work.
- The parents married each other after the birth: that's a different application, called re-registration.
These are the cases where people most often get turned back at the counter. Start a request and I'll confirm whether I can help.
Plan for the wait
Corrections are handled case by case and can take weeks or months. Adding a father's name takes about 4–6 weeks at the regular fee once the file is complete, longer when there are extra steps. Start well before you need the new certificate.
Reference deskLate registration of a birth or death
Late registration of a birth or death
If a birth or death was never registered, it has to be registered late before any certificate can be issued.
Late registration of a birth
- An immunisation card or baptismal certificate.
- A letter from the hospital or midwife where the birth took place.
- Declarations from older relatives who remember the birth.
Late registration of a death
The evidence needed depends on when and where the death occurred. Ask the RGD what applies to your case before you gather documents.
Fees, requirements and processing times last checked . Father's name details updated from the RGD's checklist (revised March 2026). The RGD can change them without notice, so confirm before you pay.
Want us to handle it?
We deal with the RGD for you, in Jamaica or from overseas:
- Certified copies: we apply, pay and collect, then deliver in Jamaica or courier it to you. Courier is quoted by your address.
- Record searches: we narrow the date range with you, request the RGD search and order your copy once the record is found.
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