Registering a Child's Birth in Saudi Arabia Guide

Welcoming a new baby in Saudi Arabia comes with one essential administrative step: registering the birth in the Civil Affairs (Ahwal Al-Madani) records. The good news is that the whole process is now handled electronically through Absher, so most families never need to visit a Civil Affairs branch. This Saudi Living guide walks both Saudi citizens and expat residents through exactly what happens after your child is born, the deadlines you need to meet, and the steps that follow.

How Birth Registration Works Today

When a baby is born in a hospital accredited by the Ministry of Health inside the Kingdom, the newborn's data is transmitted automatically to the Ministry of Interior systems. This means the initial record is created without you having to walk into an office. From there, parents log in to Absher to review, confirm, and finalize the registration and issue the official documents.

The core service is called Register Newborn, available on Absher Individuals for both citizens and residents.

Step-by-Step: Registering on Absher

• Log in to your Absher Individuals account.
• Go to My Services → Civil Affairs → Register Newborn.
• Select the newborn from the list.
• Carefully review and confirm the child's details.
• Complete the request to issue the birth certificate (and, for Saudi citizens, the updated family register) electronically.

Once you submit and confirm the data, the birth certificate is issued electronically. The system updates the newborn's civil registry and, for citizens, adds the child to the family record. For resident families, the newborn is registered with a birth certificate but without a Saudi family register.

The 15-Day Deadline

Birth registration through Absher is required within 15 days of birth. Do not delay this step—it is the foundation for everything that follows, including a child's residency documents. As soon as the data is submitted and confirmed, the electronic birth certificate becomes available.

Getting the Physical Documents

Many families are happy with the digital record alone. Absher offers a digital birth certificate view service, letting you view and use an electronic version without a paper copy.

If you need physical documents, the service lets you request delivery of the printed birth certificate (and family record for citizens) to your national address registered in Wasel. You'll see the delivery fee details to review before confirming payment. Aside from these courier delivery charges, there is no separate government fee listed for registering a birth inside the Kingdom through Absher.

Next Steps for Expat Families

For resident parents, the civil birth registration is only the first stage. To arrange your child's residency, you'll typically need to prepare and use:

• The Saudi birth certificate
• The hospital notification of birth
• Both parents' IDs (Iqama or national ID) and passports
• The marriage certificate

Residency issuance commonly must be completed within 90 days from birth. This is a separate process from the civil birth registration, but it depends on it—so register early to leave yourself enough time. Always confirm current requirements and deadlines on the relevant official portal before you start.

Babies Born Outside Saudi Arabia

If your child is born abroad, the process is different. Adding a dependent or newborn to your records involves paying a SAR 2,000 entry visa fee via SADAD, then completing the addition within three months of the entry stamp. Medical insurance and photos are required as part of this process. The published fee for adding a dependent or newborn from outside the Kingdom is SAR 2,000.

When You Still Need an Appointment

In some cases you may need to record a birth in person. Absher still allows you to book an in-person Civil Affairs appointment through Appointments → Ministry of Civil Affairs → Record Birth Event. Simply select your region and branch, then print the appointment confirmation to bring with you.

For 2024–2026, birth registration and certificate issuance are centered in the Absher and Civil Affairs (Ahwal Al-Madani) systems, making the process faster and largely paperless. Whenever a specific fee or document requirement matters to your situation, confirm the latest details directly on the official Saudi government portals.

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