Benin: Free birth certificates for children under 14 not registered with ANIP

From September 16 to 30, 2026, children under the age of 14 who have never obtained a birth certificate from the National Agency for Identification of Persons (ANIP) can receive one for free. The initiative, announced in Parakou during International Identity Day, is being conducted with the support of UNICEF.

The measure aims to bring civil registration services closer to children who still lack identity documents. The government reminds that decree n°2025-679 of October 29, 2025, allows for exceptional registration of births for children aged 13 and under, particularly upon requisition by the public prosecutor and based on testimony.

This system complements the reform of the one-stop shop for birth registration. In the ten pilot health facilities, the registration rate of declared births increased from approximately 22% in 2025 to over 76% six months after the launch of the system, according to UNICEF and ANIP.

Out of 17,071 children reported in these facilities, more than 13,000 have been successfully registered. The system allows for the assignment of a personal identification number and makes the birth certificate accessible online or at local municipalities.

ANIP also plans to gradually extend the one-stop shops to the rest of the country and to empower district heads before the end of 2026 for births that occur outside health facilities. The stated goal of the authorities and their partners is for every child to have a legal identity by 2028.

The ongoing campaign for free issuance applies to children under 14 who have never obtained a birth certificate from ANIP and will conclude on September 30, 2026.