How to Add Your Birth Certificate to DigiLocker

A birth certificate can be added to DigiLocker in one of two ways, and the method used determines its legal standing. DigiLocker separates documents into “Issued” and “Uploaded” categories. An issued birth certificate is fetched directly from the issuing municipal corporation’s database and carries the same legal validity as the physical original. An uploaded birth certificate is a scanned copy stored for personal reference and does not carry that same validity for institutional verification. DigiLocker fetches whatever the registrar currently holds, so complete any birth certificate name change before adding the certificate.

This distinction determines which method applies to a specific certificate. The steps for each method, and how to tell which one is available, are covered below.

Issued vs. Uploaded: Why This Determines Everything

The Information Technology Act, 2000, Section 3, defines a digital signature created through a private-key and public-key process that confirms both identity and document integrity. Section 5 gives such a signature the same legal standing as a handwritten one. An issued document from DigiLocker carries this cryptographic signature because it is fetched directly from the issuer. An uploaded document is a self-scanned file with no such signature attached.

Not every municipal corporation has integrated its birth-certificate records with DigiLocker as an issuer. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi completed this integration as a specific initiative in collaboration with the National Informatics Centre and the local IT Department.

Before You Start

DigiLocker requires a linked Aadhaar number and imposes storage limits on uploaded files. Every account receives 1 GB of cloud storage. Uploaded files must be in PDF, JPEG, or PNG format and cannot exceed 10 MB each. The National e-Governance Division (NeGD), under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, operates the platform as part of the Digital India programme.

Requirement	Detail
Account prerequisite	Aadhaar-linked mobile number
Storage limit	1 GB per account
Supported file formats	PDF, JPEG, PNG
Maximum file size	10 MB per file
Cost	Free

Option A: Fetching It as an Issued Document

1. Log in to the DigiLocker website or app.
2. Open the “Search Documents” or “Issued Documents” section.
3. Search for “Birth Certificate” and select the relevant issuing authority (for example, the applicant’s municipal corporation).
4. Enter the details requested by that issuer, typically the registration number and date of birth.
5. Submit the request. If the issuer is integrated, the certificate appears immediately in Issued Documents.

If the search returns no result for the applicant’s issuing authority, that authority has not yet integrated birth-certificate records with DigiLocker, and Option B applies instead. It is also worth checking the birth certificate status online first, since only an issued record can be fetched.

Option B: Uploading a Scanned Copy

An uploaded copy is useful for personal reference and quick access. It does not replace the physical original for processes that specifically require a legally verified document, such as certain passport or Aadhaar corrections, unless the requesting institution explicitly accepts uploaded copies.

What to Do If Your City Isn’t Listed as an Issuer

If a search for the issuing authority returns no result, three options remain. First, upload a scanned copy for personal storage using Option B. Second, contact the municipal corporation directly to confirm whether DigiLocker integration is planned. Third, retain the physical certified copy for any process that specifically requires a legally verified document, since an uploaded copy will not substitute for it.

Fixing Common Upload Errors

Problem	Likely cause	Fix
File rejected on upload	Unsupported format or file exceeds 10 MB	Convert to PDF, JPEG, or PNG and compress if needed
Aadhaar OTP fails	Mobile number not linked to Aadhaar	Confirm the linked number with UIDAI before retrying
Document details flagged as mismatched	Name or date of birth differs from Aadhaar records	Correct the Aadhaar record or the source document before resubmitting
Server error during upload	Temporary platform issue	Wait a few minutes, clear the browser cache, or restart the app

Sharing Your Certificate From DigiLocker

A certificate stored in DigiLocker can be shared directly with an institution requesting it, without a physical printout. The account holder selects the document, chooses the share option, and grants consent for the requesting party to access it. Issued documents share with their full legal standing intact; uploaded documents share as a personal copy only.

Frequently Asked Questions

Legal basis and sources

• Information Technology Act, 2000, Sections 3 and 5 (digital signature validity)
• DigiLocker, National e-Governance Division, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology — digilocker.gov.in
• Municipal Corporation of Delhi birth-certificate DigiLocker integration, reported via NIC/IT Department collaboration (2026)