Change of a child's name in Tanzania.

Section 14 of the Births and Deaths Registration Act [Cap. 108 R.E 2002] as amended by Act No.11 of 2019 provides that;-

"Where the birth of any child has been registered before it has received a name, or the name by which it was registered is altered, the parent or guardian of such child may, within two years of the registration on payment of the prescribed fee and on providing such evidence as the district registrar may think necessary, register the name that has been given to the child".

The prescribed procedure of changing the child’s name is clearly stated within the provision above. Parent(s) or guardian(s) of a child, may change the name of a child through an application to the district registrar of births and deaths.  The application should be made before the child attains 18 years old and an application must be attached to receipts which proves payment of application fees.

Parent’s or guardian’s affidavit stating reasons on why they wish to change a child name is mandatory together with other common identities such as National IDs etc.