There are 2 types of certificates when a child is born, a registration of birth (these are no longer issued after October 2018) and a birth certificate, which is totally a different thing. A birth certificate (once called a long certificate) is all that is issued now since October 2018. This is because it provide fuller details. If your child is 16 now he could have just been issued with a registration of birth, when he was registered. Registration has to take place within 42 days of birth. Hope you manage to find the answer to your question.