How to Apply for Birth, Death, Marriage and Divorce Certificates Online

The Registration, Insolvency and Trusteeship Agency (RITA) lets you apply for civil registration services online. Birth and death certificates are handled on the e-RITA Portal, while marriage and divorce services use RITA's Marriage and Divorce system. This guide explains the documents, fees and steps for each service, based on RITA's official websites.

• Birth and death certificates: erita.rita.go.tz
• Marriage and divorce services: mdms.rita.go.tz (also through www.rita.go.tz)
• Payment: GePG Control Number via M-Pesa, Tigo Pesa, Airtel Money, HaloPesa, NMB or CRDB
• RITA contacts: +255 22 2924180 / 181, 0800 110 055, info@rita.go.tz

Birth and Death Certificate Services and Fees (e-RITA)

• Birth certificate (new registration, verification, duplicates or correction): TZS 7,000 to 20,000. Documents: clinic card or birth notification, parents' IDs and proof of birth.
• Death certificate (registration, certified copies or verification): TZS 7,000 to 20,000. Documents: burial permit or hospital notification, and the deceased's and applicant's IDs.
• Certificate verification: TZS 6,000 for birth and death certificates. You need the certificate number or application code, the applicant's name and the year of the event.
• Duplicate certificate (lost or damaged): TZS 7,000. You need the original certificate number or application record and the applicant's NIDA ID.
• Certificate correction (names, dates or other details): TZS 13,000. You need a copy of the certificate with the error and proof of the correct details, such as an affidavit or hospital letter.
• Track application status: free.

How to Apply for a Birth Certificate Online

1. Go to erita.rita.go.tz and click Register Account to create an account, or Sign In if you already have one.
2. Open Birth Certificate Services and choose the application type (for example New, or Old to New).
3. Fill in the details and upload the required documents.
4. Submit. The portal generates a 12-digit GePG Control Number.
5. Pay using mobile money (M-Pesa, Tigo Pesa, Airtel Money, HaloPesa) or at NMB or CRDB bank.
6. Track your application. You will receive an SMS and portal notification when the certificate is approved and ready for collection at your district office or for download.

According to RITA, complete applications are usually processed within 1 to 3 working days after payment is verified.

How to Apply for a Death Certificate Online

1. Sign in to e-RITA and open Death Certificate Services.
2. Choose the service: register a death, request a certified copy, or verify a death record.
3. Upload the burial permit or hospital notification and the IDs of the deceased and the applicant.
4. Submit, pay with the GePG Control Number and track your application.

Lost Certificate or Wrong Details?

• Lost certificate: choose Duplicate Certificate, enter your previous certificate number or application details, upload a police loss report and/or a copy of the certificate, then submit.
• Wrong details: choose Certificate Correction, attach a scanned copy of the certificate with the error and official proof (such as a hospital birth notification or government ID), and submit for verification by the Registrar.

How to Get a Marriage Certificate

Under the Law of Marriage Act (Cap. 29), the person who conducts the marriage (a District Commissioner or District Administrative Secretary for civil marriages, or a licensed religious leader) must register it and give the couple a marriage certificate immediately after the wedding. Wedding photos are not proof of marriage; the marriage certificate is.

RITA also offers these marriage services online through its Marriage and Divorce system:

• Registration of marriages conducted outside Tanzania (you need the marriage certificate certified by the relevant embassy, the couple's passports and passport photos, plus a certified English translation if the certificate is in another language)
• Certificate of no impediment (to marry abroad)
• Notice of intention to marry, special licences and permits
• Licences for officiants to conduct marriages

How to Apply for a Divorce Certificate

Only a court can dissolve a marriage in Tanzania. After the court grants the divorce, RITA issues a divorce certificate on application.

Documents required:

• The court judgment dissolving or annulling the marriage
• The divorce decree
• The marriage certificate

Steps:

1. Go to www.rita.go.tz, choose Marriage and Divorce services and click to open the system.
2. Register (first-time users) or log in with your email and password.
3. Open the Divorce window and attach the required documents.
4. You will be notified in your account whether the application is accepted.
5. Pay the fee of TSh 40,000, and the divorce certificate will be issued.

Note: the divorce judgment must come from a competent court, and there must be no appeal pending or the appeal period must have expired. Foreign divorce judgments can also be registered in Tanzania.

Important Tips

• You need an active email address to register on the RITA systems.
• Keep your application code and GePG Control Number until you receive your certificate.
• If your payment does not show within 30 minutes, check with Track Status or contact RITA with your receipt.
• Apply only through official RITA websites and pay only with the GePG Control Number.

Official Sources

This guide is based on the e-RITA Portal and RITA's Marriage and Divorce (Ndoa na Talaka) page. Fees and procedures may change, so confirm on the official websites before applying.