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

Welcoming a new baby is a joyful milestone, and in Saudi Arabia the first official step after the birth is registering it and obtaining a birth certificate. The process is largely electronic, but the exact path differs for Saudi citizens and resident (expat) parents. In this Saudi Living guide, we walk you through each stage clearly — from the hospital notification to receiving the certificate at your home address — along with the deadlines and fines you need to keep in mind.

It Starts at the Hospital

Every birth at a licensed hospital triggers an electronic birth notification. The hospital sends this notification directly to the Ministry of Health and Civil Affairs systems, and it is the essential document on which the birth certificate is based.

Before you leave the hospital, make sure the details recorded for the newborn — name, date of birth, gender, and parents' information — are accurate. If anything is wrong, resolve it with the hospital first, because any registration you attempt afterwards will simply reflect whatever the hospital submitted.

For Saudi Citizens: Registering Through Absher

Saudi parents can complete the registration themselves through أبشر without visiting an office. The steps are straightforward:

• Log in to your أبشر Individuals account.
• Go to My Services → Civil Affairs → Register Newborn.
• Enter the newborn's details exactly as displayed from the hospital notification.
• If the data shown is incorrect, stop and ask the hospital to correct it before continuing.

Once registration is successful, the system automatically creates the newborn's civil-record entry and updates the Saudi family record (the family card). You can then request delivery of the birth certificate and the updated family record to your registered national address through the Wasel delivery service.

For Resident (Expat) Parents

For resident parents, the birth certificate is issued through Civil Affairs based on the hospital birth notification and the parents' valid iqamas. Availability of newborn registration directly within أبشر is inconsistent in official guidance, so residents should rely on Civil Affairs or whichever electronic resident service is shown in their أبشر account at the time.

Keep in mind the following requirements for residents:

• Both parents must hold valid identification, and resident parents must have legally valid iqamas.
• The hospital birth notification must already be in the system.
• Always confirm the exact current steps on the official Saudi portals before starting.

Deadlines and Fines

Timing matters. You should register the birth within 30 days of the date of birth to avoid a delay fine.

• Registering late results in a fine of SAR 50 for each year of delay after the applicable deadline.
• Any Civil Affairs fine must be paid before the service can be completed.

Registering early not only avoids fines but also speeds up every later step that depends on the birth certificate.

Delivery Fees and Refunds

When you request delivery of the certificate, the exact fee is displayed on-screen in أبشر and must be paid electronically. There is no fixed published amount, so the figure you see during the request is the one that applies. If, for any reason, the certificate is not printed, the delivery fee you paid can be refunded within 30 days of the request.

Note also that the birth certificate has no stated routine expiry period — it remains a valid official civil-status document for future use.

What Comes Next (Separate Procedures)

Registering the birth and getting the certificate is only the first step. Several other tasks are handled separately and are not part of birth registration itself, including:

• Adding the child to a resident parent's iqama.
• Issuing the child's passport.
• Arranging health insurance for the child.
• Any dependent-related payments.

Plan these as follow-up steps once you have the birth certificate in hand. For the latest fees, exact steps, and service availability, always confirm on the relevant official Saudi government portal before you begin.

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