Senegal: The procedures for obtaining a birth bulletin and a national identity card
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa |
| Publication Date | 27 February 2007 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | SEN102402.FE |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Senegal: The procedures for obtaining a birth bulletin and a national identity card, 27 February 2007, SEN102402.FE, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/469cd6997.html [accessed 2 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The procedures for obtaining a birth bulletin are described on the Web site of Senegal's Department of Foreign Affairs (ministère des Affaires étrangères):
[translation]
Applying for a birth bulletin [bulletin de naissance]
The birth bulletin is a summary of the long form birth certificate [acte de naissance]. It provides information on the office that registered the certificate, the date and place of the birth, and family information.
Who can apply for a birth bulletin?
- The person concerned or any interested person
- Administrative or legal authorities
When can a birth bulletin application be submitted?
- As soon as the birth is registered, and at any time to complete an administrative file.
What documents are required?
One of the following are required:
- A birth certificate
- An old birth bulletin
- The family booklet
- Part one of the long form birth certificate
- The year and number of the birth registration in the civil status registry
How much does it cost?
The cost of the seal varies depending on location (from 200 CFA Francs [XOF] to XOF 500 [from CAD 0.47 to CAD 1.16 (Canada 23 Feb. 2007a; ibid. 23 Feb. 2007b)] in the communes, and from XOF 75 to XOF 150 [from CAD 0.17 to CAD 0.35 (ibid. 23 Feb. 2007c; ibid. 23 Feb. 2007d)] for rural communities).
How long does it take?
The application will be processed that day.
What if my birth bulletin is lost or stolen?
You must fill out another application.
Where do I submit my application?
To the civil status office where the birth was registered.
NB: For foreign births, contact the Department of Foreign Affairs or the Senegalese embassy in the country of birth.
NB: Persons who live abroad can contact the Senegalese embassy or consulate in the country of residence.
For more information
Contact the National Civil Status Centre (Centre national d'état civil, CNEC) or the departmental tribunal.
Services to contact
- CNEC (Department of the Interior [ministère de l'Intérieur] and local communities)
- Departmental tribunals under the Department of Justice (ministère de la Justice)
- Accounting offices of the Treasury and Government Accounting Branch (direction générale du Trésor et de la Comptabilité publique, DGTCP) (regional treasury offices)
- DGTCP
(Senegal n.d.a)
On 31 August 2005, the Senegalese National Assembly (Assemblée nationale sénégalaise) adopted a bill instituting a digitized Senegalese national identity card (APS 31 Aug. 2005; Le Quotidien 2 Sept. 2005). This bill repealed the 1962 law on the national identity card and introduced a modern tamper-resistant identity card containing biometric data (ibid.; Senegal 31 Aug. 2005). According to the Web site of the Department of Foreign Affairs, the process for obtaining a digitized national identity card is based on Law 2005-28 of 6 September 2005 Instituting the Digitized Senegalese Identity Card (Senegal n.d.b):
[translation]
Requesting a national identity card (digitized)
All Senegalese citizens who are at least 5 years of age can apply for a national identity card. The card is mandatory for all persons aged 15 and older.
This document is proof of identity. It is often required for administrative procedures or commercial transactions. It must also be presented during checks by security forces.
If, during an identity check, a person over 15 years of age cannot present his or her national identity card, that person may be taken to the office of the commissioner for a check.
If a person over 15 years of age does not have a national identity card or has an expired national identity card, that person may be fined [XOF] 6,000 [CAD 13.95 (Canada 23 Feb. 2007e)], or [XOF] 12,000 [CAD 27.90 (ibid. 23 Feb. 2007f)] for a re-offence.
Who can obtain a national identity card?
Any Senegalese citizen at least 5 years of age can apply for a national identity card.
For persons between the ages of 5 and 15, a national identity card is not mandatory. However, a card is required to obtain a passport.
The applicant must appear in person to either apply for or cancel a national identity card.
What documents are required?
- The old national identity card or a short form birth certificate [extrait de naissance] dating back no more than 3 months
- A receipt of [XOF] 1 000 [CAD 2.33 (ibid. 23 Feb. 2007g)]
NB: When the voter lists are being revised, the receipt of [XOF] 1,000 [CAD 2.33 (ibid.)] is not required. Citizens may present an old national identity card if it has been drawn up since 1979 or a short form birth certificate that is no more than a year old.
NB: If the applicant's nationality is in doubt, the applicant must provide a certificate of nationality.
NB: Persons who wear glasses must present a prescription or medical certificate.
How long does it take?
Two weeks (depending on the situation)
How can a national identity card be renewed?
The national identity card is valid for 10 years.
To renew your card, you must present:
- Your old card (digitized)
- A receipt of [XOF] 1,000 [CAD 2.33 (ibid.)]
Lost or stolen national identity cards
You must report a lost or stolen card to the police or the gendarmerie.
In order to get a new identity card, you must present:
- A short form birth certificate no more than three months old
- A certificate of loss
- A receipt of [XOF] 1,000 [CAD 2.33 (ibid.)]
Where do I submit my application?
To the police station, the gendarmerie office or the sub-prefecture where the applicant lives.
When the voter lists are being revised, the application may also be submitted to an administrative commission responsible for registering citizens on the lists. Senegalese citizens who do not have the right to be included in the voter list (minors, soldiers, etc.) must present their application to the police station, the gendarmerie office or the sub-prefecture.
For more information
Contact the File Automation Branch (direction de l'Automatisation des fichiers, DAF).
During the current period of transition, the receipt of [XOF] 1,000 [CAD 2.33 (ibid.)] is not required. Citizens may present an old national identity card if it has been drawn up since 1979 or a short form birth certificate drawn up less than a year ago.
Who to contact
- Police stations (Department of the Interior)
- Domestic gendarmerie offices [Department of the Armed Forces (ministère des Forces armées)]
- DAF (Department of the Interior)
The above procedures can also be found on the general Web site of the government of Senegal (Senegal n.d.c). In addition, old identity cards, which were initially valid until 31 December 2006, will [translation] "definitely" be extended (Sud Quotidien 4 Jan. 2007). No information on the new expiry date for old identity cards could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Agence de presse sénégalaise (APS). 31 August 2005. "La loi instituant la carte nationale d'identité sénégalaise numérisée votée majoritairement par les députés." (Observatoire sur les systèmes d'information, des réseaux et des inforoutes au Sénégal, OSIRIS)
Canada. 23 February 2007a. "Convertisseur de devises – taux du jour."
_____ . 23 February 2007b. "Convertisseur de devises – taux du jour."
_____ . 23 February 2007c. "Convertisseur de devises – taux du jour."
_____ . 23 February 2007d. "Convertisseur de devises – taux du jour."
_____ . 23 February 2007e. "Convertisseur de devises – taux du jour."
_____ . 23 February 2007f. "Convertisseur de devises – taux du jour."
_____ . 23 February 2007g. "Convertisseur de devises – taux du jour."
Le Quotidien. 2 September 2005. Gilles Arsène Tchedji. "Projet de loi instituant la carte d'identité numérisée : La modernité à 13 milliards 800 millions." (Observatoire sur les systèmes d'information, les réseaux et les inforoutes au Sénégal, OSIRIS)
Senegal. 31 August 2005. "Loi instituant la carte nationale d'dentité sénégalaise numérisée." (Global Centre for Information and Communication Technologies)
_____ . N.d.a. Ministère des Affaires étrangères. "Demander un bulletin de naissance."
_____ . N.d.b. Ministère des Affaires étrangères "Demander une carte nationale d'identité (numérisée)."
_____ . N.d.c. "Établissement et renouvellement de carte nationale d'identité."
Sud Quotidien. 4 January 2007. "Cartes nationales d'identité-Prolongation de leur validité." (Seneweb)
Additional Sources Consulted
Internet sites, including: Agence de presse africaine (APA), Droit francophone, SENLEX (Portail du droit sénégalais).
