Registering a Child's Birth in Saudi Arabia: Full Guide

Welcoming a new baby is a joyful moment — and in Saudi Arabia the paperwork behind it has become far simpler than it used to be. Today, most birth registrations are handled electronically, often before parents even leave the hospital. In this Saudi Living guide, we walk you through exactly how the process works for both Saudi citizens and residents, the documents you'll receive, and the extra steps expat families need to complete for their child's residency.

How birth registration works today

Birth registration for a child born in the Kingdom is completed electronically through the أبشر Individuals platform. You'll find the service under My Services → Civil Affairs → Register Newborn. Civil Affairs (Ahwal Madani) modernized this as a proactive digital service in recent years, which means most parents no longer need to visit an office in person except in exceptional or non-standard cases.

If your baby is born in a hospital accredited by the Ministry of Health, the good news is that the newborn is automatically registered in Ministry of Interior records once the hospital enters the data. In that case, parents mainly use أبشر to review the information and arrange delivery of the official documents.

The 15-day window

Official guidance recommends completing the registration within 15 days of birth through أبشر so the birth certificate can be issued without delay. Even when the hospital has already pushed the data automatically, it's wise to log in early to confirm the details are correct and to choose your delivery preferences.

What you receive

The outcome depends on your status:

• Saudi citizens: The service issues the birth certificate electronically and also updates the Family Register.
• Residents (expats): The service issues the Saudi birth certificate only.

Once registration is complete, the system redirects you to your registered national address on أبشر so you can select where the Family Record and/or birth certificate will be delivered. You can also view the document anytime through the dedicated “View Digital Birth Certificate” service card on أبشر, without visiting any office.

Extra steps for expat families

For resident parents, the Saudi birth certificate is the first step, not the last. After obtaining it from Civil Affairs, you'll typically need to:

• Issue the child's home-country passport at your embassy or consulate.
• Register the child at Jawazat to obtain an Iqama (residency permit).

This residency step is generally expected to be completed within 90 days of birth, so it's best not to postpone the passport appointment at your mission. Requirements can vary by nationality, so confirm the exact documents your embassy needs in advance.

Babies born outside Saudi Arabia

If your child is born abroad, the process is different. You'll need to present the foreign birth certificate certified by the Saudi mission abroad and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then register the birth in the Saudi civil registry. Bringing the child into the Kingdom may involve an entry visa fee of SAR 2,000 paid through the national payment system, and the addition of the child to records should be completed within three months of the entry stamp.

Which platform to use — and which to ignore

The core birth registration workflow relies on two things: أبشر and the national address delivery system. Other government platforms you may have heard of are not part of this particular process. Keep it simple and start directly inside أبشر Individuals.

Fees and confirmation

Publicly available service descriptions do not specify a government fee for registering the birth itself. Where fees do apply — such as the entry visa for a child born abroad, or later Iqama-related costs — pay only through the official channels. Because processes and any charges can be updated, always confirm the latest steps and requirements on the official Saudi government portals, primarily أبشر, before you begin.

Quick checklist

• Confirm your baby's details in أبشر within 15 days of birth.
• Make sure your national address is up to date for document delivery.
• Download the digital birth certificate when issued.
• Residents: issue the passport, then register at Jawazat for the Iqama within 90 days.
• Born abroad: certify the foreign certificate through the Saudi mission and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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