What Is NABC (Non-Availability of Birth Certificate) and How NRIs Can Get One?

A Non-Availability of Birth Certificate (NABC) is an official government document stating that, after due search of the records, no birth registration exists for a particular person on a particular date at a particular place. It is issued either by the local Indian Municipal Corporation (or Registrar of Births and Deaths) or by an Indian Embassy/Consulate abroad. NABC is the legally recognised substitute for a birth certificate when no birth registration exists.

An NABC alone is not sufficient — it must be supported by secondary evidence of birth such as a school leaving certificate, matriculation certificate, passport copy and a notarised affidavit from parents or close relatives confirming the date and place of birth.

For NRIs, NABC can be issued by two types of authorities:

1. The Indian Embassy or Consulate in your country of residence (e.g., Embassy of India in Washington DC, High Commission of India in London, Consulate General of India in Dubai). This is the most common route for NRIs who do not need a record search in India.
2. The Indian Municipal Corporation / Registrar of Births and Deaths at the location of birth (e.g., MCD Delhi, BMC Mumbai, BBMP Bengaluru, or a Panchayat). This requires an actual record search at the issuing authority, with a formal certificate of non-availability issued thereafter.

The choice between the two depends on what the receiving authority abroad accepts. USCIS, IRCC and UK Home Office typically prefer the Embassy NABC because it carries Government of India backing. Some authorities specifically require the local Municipal NABC because it confirms the actual register was searched.

A typical NABC contains:

• Name of the applicant
• Date of birth (as claimed by the applicant)
• Place of birth (as claimed)
• Names of parents
• A formal statement that the records of the Registrar of Births and Deaths at the said place have been searched for the relevant period, and no entry corresponding to this birth has been found
• Date of issue
• Seal and signature of the issuing officer (Embassy official or Municipal Registrar)

The NABC is typically issued on government letterhead. The Embassy NABC is on Embassy of India letterhead; the Municipal NABC is on Municipal Corporation letterhead.

The general process for obtaining an Embassy-issued NABC is:

1. Visit the Indian Embassy website in your country (e.g., indianembassyusa.gov.in, hcilondon.gov.in, cgidubai.gov.in)
2. Download the NABC application form — usually available on the consular services page
3. Attach supporting documents: notarised passport copy, school leaving certificate, matriculation certificate, parents' affidavit, address proof
4. Get the application notarised in your country
5. Submit to the Embassy in person or by post
6. Pay the consular fee (varies by country, typically USD 25-75)
7. Collect or receive by post — typical TAT is 1-4 weeks

The Embassy NABC is generally accepted by USCIS, IRCC, UK Home Office and other major immigration authorities, particularly when combined with supporting documents.

NABC is required by NRIs in the following situations:

• Birth was never registered — common for people born in rural India, especially before 2000
• Birth record cannot be located — registers lost, damaged, destroyed in fire/flood, or simply unavailable at the issuing authority
• Born before 1969 — when birth registration was not compulsory under central law
• Born at home without official reporting — common in earlier decades, especially in villages
• Born during partition or major historical disruption — records lost in 1947 partition, 1971 Bangladesh war, or natural disasters
• USCIS, IRCC or other authority requires it — even if you have a school leaving certificate, the authority may demand NABC explicitly

Yes. The Embassy NABC, combined with secondary evidence, is accepted for:

• US green card (I-485): USCIS accepts NABC under 8 CFR 103.2(b)(2) when a birth certificate is unavailable. Must be accompanied by two affidavits and school records.
• Canadian PR (Express Entry, family sponsorship): IRCC accepts NABC with supporting documents.
• UK Settlement (ILR, family visa): UK Home Office accepts NABC, typically with school records and an explanation letter.
• OCI card: Indian government accepts NABC with secondary evidence.
• Indian passport: RPO offices accept NABC for first-time passport in case birth certificate is unavailable.
• Australian PR & citizenship: Department of Home Affairs accepts NABC with supporting documents.

An NABC alone is rarely sufficient. Typical accepted supporting documents include:

• School leaving certificate (SSC / 10th board certificate) — strongest secondary evidence of date and place of birth
• Matriculation certificate
• Passport copy — particularly if the date of birth is recorded
• Aadhaar card
• Notarised affidavits from both parents stating the date and place of birth (if parents are alive)
• Affidavits from elder siblings or close relatives if parents have passed away
• Voter ID
• Driving licence with date of birth

USCIS specifically requires two affidavits from persons (relatives or friends) who can attest to the place and date of birth and who have personal knowledge of the event.

India For NRI is India's #1 expert service for obtaining Indian birth certificates — trusted by 10,000+ NRIs across 50+ countries for apostille, NABC, name correction, and all birth certificate needs