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

Welcoming a new baby is one of life's biggest moments, and in Saudi Arabia the paperwork that follows is refreshingly straightforward for most families. Thanks to electronic services, the birth of a child is often registered automatically once an accredited hospital submits the birth notification, and parents can then confirm the registration and request the official documents from home. In this guide, Saudi Living walks you through exactly how newborn registration works for both Saudi citizens and residents, what documents you'll receive, and the timelines and fees you should keep in mind.

Who can register a newborn electronically

The electronic pathway is available to two groups:

• Saudi citizens can register their newborns directly through Absher and receive the full set of civil-status documents.
• Residents can use the electronic service for a newborn whose birth details were entered by an accredited Saudi hospital.

The entire process depends on one key step: the hospital where your child was born must be accredited by the Ministry of Health and must enter the birth data into the system. Once that happens, the birth notification is transmitted electronically to the Ministry of Interior and the newborn is recorded in the civil registry.

How automatic registration works

When your baby is born at an accredited hospital, the hospital's birth notification travels electronically to the Ministry of Interior. This is the foundation of the whole process, and it means you usually don't need to visit a government branch in person. Your role is to confirm the details and request delivery of the documents through Absher.

Step-by-step: registering through Absher

Once the hospital has entered your newborn's information, follow these steps in the Absher Individuals platform:

• Log in to your Absher account.
• Go to Civil Affairs Services and select Register Newborn.
• Select the newborn and carefully verify the displayed details.
• Confirm the registration.
• Choose the registered national address for delivery.
• Review the delivery-fee details shown on screen.
• Pay the delivery fee and submit the request.
• Save the generated reference number for follow-up.

Take a moment to double-check the spelling of names and other details before confirming, since corrections later can require additional steps.

What documents you receive

The documents you get depend on your status:

• Saudi citizens: the birth certificate and an updated family record.
• Residents: the birth certificate.

Delivery is made to your registered national address through the Wasel delivery service, which is why choosing the correct address during the request matters.

Fees, timelines, and refunds

There is a delivery fee associated with sending the documents to your address. The official service information does not publish a fixed amount in Saudi Riyal — the exact figure appears in Absher before you pay, so always review it on screen. No separate electronic birth-registration fee is stated beyond the delivery cost.

Keep these timelines in mind:

• Late registration: For Saudi citizens, a fine may apply if the registration is completed more than 30 days after the birth date, so it's best to act promptly.
• Refunds: The delivery fee may be refundable if the birth certificate has not yet been printed and you submit the refund request within 30 days of submitting the original request.

A Saudi birth certificate does not carry a stated expiry date. It remains an official civil-status record unless it is corrected or replaced.

What if the electronic data isn't available

If the birth data was not entered electronically — for example because the birth did not occur at an accredited hospital — you may need to complete the procedure through a Civil Affairs branch. An electronic service was introduced in 2026 for issuing birth certificates that were not registered electronically, which can simplify these cases. If you're unsure which path applies to you, confirm the current requirements on the official Saudi government portals before visiting a branch.

Quick tips for a smooth process

• Confirm before you leave the hospital that your baby's birth notification has been entered into the system.
• Make sure your national address is registered and up to date so delivery isn't delayed.
• Register within 30 days if you are a Saudi citizen to avoid a possible fine.
• Keep your reference number safe in case you need to follow up or request a refund.
• Always confirm the current fee inside Absher before paying.

With the hospital's electronic notification in place and your details verified in Absher, registering your child's birth is usually a quick, mostly digital process — leaving you free to focus on the more important task of settling in with your new arrival.

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