Registering a Child's Birth in Saudi Arabia Guide

Welcoming a new baby comes with one important administrative task: registering the birth. In Saudi Arabia, every newborn must be entered into the Civil Affairs records, given a civil registry number, and added to the family record. The good news is that the process is now mostly digital and, for babies born inside the Kingdom, free of charge. This سعودي ليفنج guide walks you through exactly what to do, when to do it, and what to expect.

Why Registration Matters

Registering the birth is what legally documents your child in the Kingdom. It creates a civil registry number, updates the family record for citizens, and generates an official birth certificate. Without it, you cannot complete later steps such as adding the child to health insurance, issuing an iqama for expatriate children, enrolling in school, or travelling abroad. Whether you are a Saudi citizen or a resident expatriate, the same core process applies.

Before You Start: The Hospital Birth Notification

After delivery, the hospital issues a birth notification (Ishaarat Wilaada). This document confirms the details of the birth and is the essential starting point for registration. Make sure the baby's data — full name, exact date and time of birth, and the parents' identity numbers — is accurate on this notification before you begin, as this information carries over into the official record.

Registering Through Absher (Step by Step)

The primary official channel is the أبشر platform, under Civil Affairs services, using the Newborn Registration Service. Electronic registration is available to both Saudi citizens and resident expatriates and issues a digital birth certificate directly, without a visit to a Civil Affairs office.

• Log into your أبشر account and open My Services → Civil Affairs → Newborn Registration Service.
• Select the newborn and enter or confirm the required data: the child's name, date and time of birth, and the parents' IDs.
• Review everything carefully, then confirm the request.
• The system automatically creates a civil registry entry and sends an SMS with the registration details.
• Request delivery of the birth certificate — and, for citizens, the updated family record — to your registered national address, then pay the document delivery fee shown on screen.

Deadlines You Should Not Miss

Timing matters. The Civil Affairs system sets clear reporting windows:

• Within 15 days of birth at the Civil Affairs office of the region where the birth occurred.
• Up to 30 days if the birth happened more than 50 km from the nearest Civil Affairs office.
• Within 25 days of arrival if the birth occurred abroad while travelling — reported at a Saudi representative office abroad or, on return, at any Civil Affairs office in the Kingdom.

For online registration via أبشر, newborns should generally be registered within about 30 days of birth. Registering late can trigger additional procedural steps, so it is best to act early.

Who Is Responsible for Reporting

The duty to report a newborn falls first on the father. If the father is unable to report, the responsibility passes to other close male relatives aged 17 and above who live with the mother, in order of priority.

Fees: What You Pay (and What's Free)

• Baby born inside Saudi Arabia: registering the birth and issuing the initial birth certificate through Civil Affairs is free of charge. No SAR fee is taken for the registration itself.
• Baby born outside Saudi Arabia: a fixed fee of SAR 2,000 applies for registering and documenting the external birth and issuing the child's Saudi documents.
• Document delivery: a courier fee applies when you request delivery to your national address. The exact amount is displayed in أبشر at the time of the request and is paid electronically.

After Registration Is Complete

Once the electronic registration succeeds, several things happen automatically:

• The newborn receives a civil registry number.
• The family record is updated to include the child.
• A digital birth certificate becomes available, and your requested documents are delivered to your national address.

Keep the SMS confirmation and your digital documents safe — you will need them for the next steps in your child's paperwork. Because fees and procedures can change, always confirm the latest requirements directly through أبشر or the Civil Affairs services before completing your request.

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