Registering a Child's Birth in Saudi Arabia

Welcoming a new baby is a joyful milestone, and one of the first official tasks that follows is registering the birth. In Saudi Arabia, this must be done within 30 days of your child's date of birth, and the good news is that the whole process can now be completed online through أبشر. This سعودي ليفنج guide walks you through what you need, the step-by-step process, and the extra steps that apply to expatriate families.

Who Can Register and the Deadline

The birth registration service is available to parents who are Saudi citizens or residents. Once completed, the service creates the child's civil registry record and automatically updates the family record. The most important thing to remember is the timeline: you have 30 days from the date of birth to register, so it's best to start as soon as you have the required paperwork in hand.

The Key Document: Hospital Birth Notification

Everything begins with the hospital birth notification (Ishaarat Wilaada). This is issued by the hospital, usually within about 24 hours of the birth. If your baby was born at home, you should contact the nearest hospital or health center to obtain an official notification. Without this document, the online registration cannot proceed.

What You'll Need Before You Start

Have the following ready before you begin the online application:

• The hospital birth notification ready to upload.
• The child's full name, plus the exact date and time of birth.
• Both parents' identification details — national ID or iqama numbers and personal information.
• A valid أبشر account for one of the parents.

Step-by-Step: Registering on أبشر

The newborn registration is handled through أبشر (Individuals). The current process is as follows:

• Log in to your أبشر (Individual) account.
• Navigate to My Services → Services → Civil Affairs → Newborn Registration Service / Issue Birth Certificate / Birth Registration.
• Select the newborn or enter the newborn's data.
• Upload/attach the hospital birth report.
• Review all details carefully and confirm the request.
• The system registers the newborn and creates or updates the civil record, and an SMS with the registration details is sent to the parent.

Because the family record updates automatically, you generally won't need a separate visit for standard cases.

Receiving the Birth Certificate

After electronic registration, the physical birth certificate and updated family record are delivered to you through a courier delivery request (Wasel) to the address registered in أبشر. During this step you choose your delivery address and pay the delivery fee online.

It's important to understand that this is a courier delivery fee, not a civil registration fee. The exact amount depends on the delivery option you select and is displayed in أبشر at the delivery request stage, where you settle it electronically. For the current fee, simply review the amount shown during your delivery request.

If You Need an In-Person Appointment

In cases where a Civil Affairs (Ahwal Madani) visit is required, you can book an appointment directly through أبشر:

• Go to Appointments → Civil Affairs → Book New Appointment.
• Choose your region, branch, and preferred date.
• Bring the listed required documents to your appointment.

Extra Steps for Expatriate Families

For expatriate parents, obtaining the Saudi birth certificate from Civil Affairs (whether via أبشر or in person) is only the first stage. The usual next step is to use the Saudi birth certificate together with the parents' passports and iqamas to complete the child's documentation with your home country's embassy or consulate — typically to obtain a passport and citizenship documents — and then to arrange the child's residency (iqama) and any exit/re-entry needs.

Because requirements vary by nationality, always confirm the specific documents your embassy needs, and complete any residency steps for your child through the official Saudi government portals such as مقيم and أبشر.

Quick Tips

• Start the process early — the 30-day window passes quickly with a newborn at home.
• Double-check the spelling of your child's name before confirming, as corrections later can be more involved.
• Keep the SMS confirmation and a digital copy of the birth notification for your records.
• Always verify current steps and fees on the official portal, as services are periodically updated.

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