Registering a Child's Birth in Saudi Arabia Guide

Oct 22, 2026•4 min read

Welcoming a new baby is a joyful moment, and in Saudi Arabia one of the first official steps afterward is registering the birth. The good news is that most of the process is digital and can be completed from home through Absher once the hospital has done its part. This Saudi Living guide walks you through how birth registration works, the deadlines you must respect, what documents you receive, and a few practical points that often trip up new parents.

Before You Start: The Hospital Reports First

You cannot register a newborn until the hospital where the baby was delivered has electronically reported the birth to the Ministry of Health system. This medical delivery notification is the foundation of the whole process, and the Civil Affairs registration will not go through without it.

Before completing any registration, you should also clear any outstanding Civil Affairs fines on your record, as unpaid penalties can block the service.

Deadlines You Must Know

Timelines differ depending on your status, so mark these carefully:

Saudi citizens: You can register a newborn whose birth date is no more than 360 days before the registration date. A late-registration fine may apply if you register more than 30 days after the birth.
Residents: You must register the newborn within 30 days of birth.

One important note: eligibility details for residents are described inconsistently across official channels. The government service description covers both citizens and residents, while an Absher FAQ states the electronic service is for Saudi citizens only. If you are a resident, confirm the current path on the official Absher portal before relying on a single route.

How to Register Through Absher

The registration is done inside your Absher account, and the service is only available while you are physically inside Saudi Arabia. Follow these steps:

Log in to Absher and go to My Services → Civil Affairs → Register Newborn.
Review the newborn's displayed details carefully.
If any detail is incorrect, do not proceed — the correction must be made through the hospital first, after which the updated information flows back into the system.
Select your registered national address for document delivery.
Review the delivery charges shown on screen, then pay electronically.
Save the reference number generated after payment — you'll need it to track your request.

What You Receive

The outcome of a successful registration depends on your status:

Citizens: an updated family record (family card) plus the newborn's birth certificate.
Residents: the newborn's birth certificate.

These documents are not collected in person. They are printed and delivered to the national address registered in your Absher profile through the postal delivery service, so make sure your address details are accurate and up to date before you submit.

Fees and Refunds

Delivery fees apply to the document shipment. There is no fixed amount published in the official service details; the exact delivery charge appears during your Absher request, so review it before paying. If you need to cancel and the birth certificate has not yet been printed, the delivery fees may be refundable within 30 days of the request.

Beyond delivery, remember that a late-registration fine can apply to citizens who register after the 30-day window, so acting early saves both money and stress.

Practical Tips for New Parents

Confirm with the hospital that the electronic birth notification has been submitted before you log in to Absher — this is the most common reason registrations fail.
Double-check the baby's details on screen against the hospital paperwork; fixing errors later is more complicated.
Keep the reference number somewhere safe until the documents arrive.
Verify that your registered national address is current so delivery isn't delayed or returned.
Settle any outstanding Civil Affairs fines in advance.

For the latest requirements, eligibility, and exact fees, always confirm directly on the official Absher portal, as procedures and amounts can be updated over time.

Stay updated with the latest news, events, sports updates, business insights, real estate and lifestyle stories on Saudi Living — the leading online platform for residents, expats, and visitors in Saudi Arabia.

Follow Saudi Living for daily updates: