Registering a Child's Birth in Saudi Arabia Guide

Oct 27, 2026•4 min read

Welcoming a new baby is a joyful milestone, and in Saudi Arabia the official registration of the birth is a straightforward digital process once you know the steps. At سعودي ليفنج, we've put together this practical guide to help both citizens and residents understand how the birth notification moves from the hospital to Civil Affairs, how to complete the registration through أبشر, and the deadlines you need to watch so you avoid any delay fines.

How the Process Starts at the Hospital

The registration chain begins where your baby is born. The hospital is responsible for entering the birth notification into the Ministry of Health system. This notification is then integrated into Civil Affairs records, which is what makes the baby visible in the government system when you later complete the registration.

Because of this, you cannot register the newborn electronically until the birth notification already appears in the Ministry of Health system. If you try too early, the baby may not yet be available to select, so it's worth confirming the notification has been issued before you log in.

Who Can Register and the Time Limits

Deadlines differ depending on your status, so pay close attention:

Citizens: Registration is permitted when the birth date is no more than 360 days before the registration request.
Residents: Registration is permitted when the birth date is no more than 30 days before the request.
A delay fine applies when registration is completed more than 30 days after the birth.

One important point on eligibility: the official service page states the service is available for both citizens and residents, but an أبشر FAQ indicates the electronic service is for Saudi citizens only. Because of this difference, residents should verify their eligibility directly in أبشر or with Civil Affairs before proceeding, rather than assuming the online route is open to them.

Step-by-Step: Registering Through أبشر

Once the birth notification is in the system, the registration itself is done online. You'll need an activated أبشر Individuals account. Follow these steps:

Log in to أبشر Individuals and go to Civil Affairs Services → Register Newborn.
Select the newborn from the available records.
Review the displayed details carefully to make sure everything is correct.
Confirm the registration.
Choose the registered national address for document delivery.
Pay the document-delivery charges to complete the request.

After successful payment, أبشر generates a reference number and saves your request. You'll then receive an SMS containing the newborn's registration details.

What You Receive

The documents you get depend on your status:

Citizens: a birth certificate and an updated family record.
Residents: a birth certificate.

Delivery is handled through Saudi Post, so you must have a valid national address covered by the postal service. The documents are delivered to the registered address after the request is completed.

Fees, Fines, and Refunds

Delivery fees must be paid as part of the process. The official material does not publish an exact ريال سعودي amount, so check the current fee shown in أبشر at the time of your request. The same applies to the delay fine for late registration — the exact figure isn't stated, so confirm it through the official portal.

A couple of practical notes:

Any outstanding Civil Affairs fines must be paid before the registration can be completed.
Delivery fees may be refunded within 30 days of the request if the birth certificate has not yet been printed.

Getting Help

If you run into trouble or need to clarify your eligibility, Civil Affairs support is available during working hours, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., on 911. For anything involving exact fees, validity periods, or eligibility details, always confirm directly through أبشر or with Civil Affairs, as published amounts can change over time.

By making sure the hospital has issued the birth notification, logging in to أبشر within the allowed timeframe, and keeping your national address up to date, you can register your newborn smoothly and receive the official documents without unnecessary delays.

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