What Documents May Be Needed for SHA Registration?
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Quick answer
For yourself, SHA registration typically needs a valid ID, your contact details and employment information, with a profile photo sometimes requested. Registering a spouse or child usually needs supporting documents like a marriage or birth certificate. Requirements can vary, so current official guidance should always be confirmed.
Key things to know
- A valid ID is the core document for standard registration.
- Spouses and children usually need a marriage or birth certificate alongside their own details.
- A profile photo may be requested as part of the process.
- People without a valid ID are registered differently, through the Unidentified Person category.
What this means
Documents in SHA registration serve to confirm who's being registered and, where relevant, their relationship to the household. Different categories of people — the main member, a spouse, a child, or someone without standard ID — have different supporting documents attached to them.
Registering yourself
For a standard registration, you'll generally need a valid ID, your contact information, and details about your employment status. A profile photo is sometimes part of the process as well. These details are what link your record to you specifically and help determine things like your premium category.
Adding a spouse or child as a dependant
When adding a spouse, documentation such as a marriage certificate may be requested alongside the spouse's own ID. When adding a child, a birth certificate or birth notification is the usual supporting document, along with basic details like full name, date of birth and relationship to the main member.
For a newborn, registration is generally handled close to birth notification rather than being delayed, so the required document is often the birth notification itself rather than a full birth certificate.
When someone doesn't have a valid ID
Not everyone has a standard identification document at the time of registration. In these situations, SHA has an Unidentified Person category that uses other supporting information instead of a standard ID — this applies to groups such as people without documentation, foreign nationals in certain circumstances, or others the Regulations recognise.
If you're not sure what's required for your case
Because requirements can vary depending on your specific situation — especially for dependants, people without ID, or less common household arrangements — it's worth confirming current official guidance rather than assuming based on someone else's experience. SHA Desk can help you understand what applies to your situation.
Why you may be seeing it
- You're registering for the first time and want to know what to prepare
- You're adding a spouse or child and unsure what document is needed
- You or a family member doesn't have a standard ID
- A registration attempt was rejected and you suspect a missing document
Common situations
Common scenario
Registering a newborn
A parent registering a new baby close to birth may only need the birth notification rather than waiting for a full birth certificate, since registration is meant to happen soon after birth.
Common scenario
Adding a spouse without a marriage certificate on hand
Someone wanting to add a spouse as a dependant but unable to locate the marriage certificate immediately may need to resolve that documentation gap before the addition can go through.
What information may matter
- Who exactly is being registered — yourself, a spouse, or a child
- Whether the relevant supporting documents are available and valid
- Whether anyone involved lacks a standard ID
What you can check
- Confirm which document applies to the specific person being registered.
- Check that names and dates on supporting documents match other records.
- If a document is missing, consider how it might be obtained or replaced.
- Confirm current official guidance if your situation is unusual.
Common mistakes
- Assuming the same documents apply to every household member.
- Delaying newborn registration while waiting for a full birth certificate instead of using the birth notification.
- Not accounting for a spouse or child's documents when only preparing your own.
When assistance may be useful
Unsure exactly what documents your situation needs? SHA Desk can help you understand what applies before you start, including for dependants or situations without standard ID.
WhatsApp SHA DeskCommon questions
Do I need a profile photo to register?
A profile photo may be requested as part of registration, though exact steps can vary by channel.
What document do I need for a newborn?
Generally a birth notification document close to birth, since registration is meant to happen soon after.
What if I don't have a valid ID at all?
You may be registered under the Unidentified Person category using other supporting information instead.
Can I register a spouse without their ID?
The spouse's own ID along with proof of marriage is generally part of adding them as a dependant.
Official sources & references
Official procedures, requirements and benefits are set by the relevant authorities and can change.
By SHA Desk · Managed by Cyber Kenya
Published 7 October 2026. SHA Desk is an independent assistance service — not SHA, the Digital Health Agency or a government office. About SHA Desk