Dubai: Have you just had a baby in the UAE? While the entire child birth experience can be exhausting for parents, it is also essential to ensure that all the paperwork is in place for the new member of the family. So, here is all you need to know about laws, procedures and costs related to applying for a birth certificate, passport and visa for a newborn baby in the UAE.
Health insurance and maternity laws
Even before the delivery, it is important to ensure that your health insurance is in place (it is mandatory to have health insurance for Dubai- and Abu Dhabi-visa holders) as it can significantly reduce childbirth, pre- and post-natal costs.
Also, if you are working, it is important to inform your manager of your pregnancy, as you would need to apply for a maternity leave and ensure proper handover during the leave.
Getting a birth certificate
Residents have a maximum period of 30 days to register their child's birth in the UAE. If the parents are of different nationalities, the child will adopt the nationality of the father. After the baby is born, the hospital will provide a stamped and signed birth notification. Government hospitals will issue birth certificate as a next step.
However, for babies born in private hospitals, parents will need to apply to the Department of Health in Abu Dhabi or the Ministry of Health and Prevention in all other for a birth certificate by presenting the birth notification.
Documents required
Regardless of the emirate where the birth took place, these are the documents you would need to submit:
1. Electronic notification of birth from the hospital at which the child was delivered
2. Original marriage certificate
3. Copies and originals of the parents’ passports
4. Copies and originals of parents’ Emirates IDs
In the case of a birth inside the UAE while the father is outside the country or a non-resident of the UAE, the following additional documents must be submitted:
1. Declaration from the wife stating the continuity of the marriage.
2. Attested copy of the husband’s passport or a letter from the embassy indicating the nationality of the father or a statement from the husband confirming the paternity of the child, attested by his country's embassy and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Abu Dhabi – Department of Health
In Abu Dhabi, you can apply for a birth certificate online by visiting: https://www.tamm.abudhabi/en/aspects-of-life/visaemiratesid/personaldocuments/BirthCertificates/requesttoissueanewbornbirthcertificate
The hospital at which you gave birth can also facilitate the process, as an add-on service.
Cost
Dh50
Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP)
MOHAP issues birth certificates for births registered in Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah.
In order to apply for a birth certificate, you can visit any of the following service centres or apply online. The hospital at which you gave birth can also facilitate the process, as an add-on service.
MOHAP service centre locations:
1. Preventive Medicine Center - Dubai
2. Preventive Medicine Center - Sharjah - Al Ghubaiba
3. Preventive Medicine Center - Sharjah - Al Dhaid
4. Preventive Medicine Center - Sharjah - Khorfakkan
5. Preventive Medicine Center - Sharjah - Dibba Al Hisn
6. Preventive Medicine Center - Sharjah - Kalba
7. Preventive Medicine Center - Ajman
8. Preventive Medicine Center - Umm Al Quwain
9. Preventive Medicine Center - Ras Al Khaimah
10. Preventive Medicine Center - Fujairah
11. Service “1” Center - Emirates Towers
12. Kuwaiti Hospital - Dubai
13. Al Qasimi Hospital for Women and Children - Sharjah
14. Al Dhaid Hospital - Sharjah
15. Khorfakkan Hospital - Sharjah
16. Kalba Hospital - Sharjah
17. Sheikh Khalifa Hospital for Women and Children - Ajman
18. Umm Al Quwain Hospital - UAQ
19. Sheikh Khalifa General Hospital
20. Saqr Hospital - Ras Al Khaimah
21. Abdullah Bin Omran Hospital - Ras Al Khaimah
22. Fujairah Hospital - Fujairah
23. Dibba Hospital - Fujairah
Applying online through MOHAP website
You can also apply for a birth certificate by visiting the following link: https://www.mohap.gov.ae/en/services/issue-a-birth-certificate
Cost
Dh65 for a certificate in Arabic or English.
Getting the birth certificate attested
The birth certificate would then need to be attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. This can be done by applying for the attestation through a typing centre or by visiting a notary public.
Cost: Dh150
Passport, residence visa and Emirates ID for newborn expatriates
UAE residents have 120 days from the birth of their child to arrange the formal documents, which include passports, Emirates ID and visas of their newborn babies. If the residence visa is not finalised within 120 days, then a fee of Dh100 per day would be charged for each day over the 120-day period.
Getting a passport
Once you have the birth certificate attested, you can apply for a passport of your baby. Expatriate residents need to apply to their embassy or consulate in the UAE.
Normally, you would need to provide the following documents:
1. Original and copy of parents’ passport.
2. Newborn’s passport-sized photograph.
3. Attested marriage certificate.
4. Attested birth certificate.
5. Valid Emirates ID of both parents.
Your embassy or consulate may have additional requirements in terms of paperwork, so it is advisable to reach out to your country’s embassy or consulate in the UAE to book an appointment and ensure that all your documents are in place.
Getting Emirates ID and residence visa
Step 1 – Visit an Amer or typing centre
In Dubai, you would need to visit and Amer centre. In other emirates, you can visit a typing centre or apply online through the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship Centre (ICA)
These are the documents you will require:
1. Original attested birth certificate of the child.
2. Copy of your (sponsor’s) and spouse’s passport with valid residence visa stamped.
3. Original Emirates ID of the sponsor.
4. Passport-sized photograph of the newborn baby.
5. A copy of your registered tenancy contract
Once the process is initiated by Amer services, it takes 48 hours to receive an e-visa, which will be sent to your registered email address.
Charges
File opening charges - Dh269
Normal e-visa (when the family is outside the UAE) – Dh500 entry permit.
Entry permit - Dh1,170
Dh670 per person for ‘change of status’.
Step 2 – Emirates ID application
A medical fitness test is not required for newborn children. You would next need to apply for an Emirates ID.
Get an Emirates ID application typed at the Amer Centre to an ICA centre. A list of all the centres is provided here.
Take the following documents with you:
1. Emirates ID application of the newborn child
2. Your original Emirates ID
3. Photograph of your family members
Charges
1. Dh270 for a two year visa
2. Dh370 for three years
Step 3 – Get the health insurance
Health insurance is mandatory in Dubai and family members need to get at least a basic health cover – referred to in Dubai as the Essential Benefits Plan.
Also read
Step 4 – Get the visa stamped
The final step is to get the child’s visa stamped on the passport. For it, you will need to visit the Amer centre or a typing centre with the following documents:
1. Emirates ID application
2. Original passport of the newborn baby
3. Health insurance papers
4. Your (sponsor’s) original Emirates ID
Charges
Regular - Dh460 (You will get the passport with the stamped visa in three to four working days)
Urgent - Dh560 (Same day stamping, but the sponsor will need to go to the Immigration service)
Once an application has been sent for typing, you will receive a call from the authorised courier service – Zajel – for your passport to be collected from you. You will also receive an SMS on your registered mobile number with the Zajel airway bill number.
Once the visa is stamped, the passport will be returned to you through the same courier service.
