Revealed: UAE health ministry makes major changes in birth and death registration services

Dubai: The UAE has implemented a significant change in the birth and death registrations of the residents, Gulf News can reveal.

The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) has ended the services for birth and death registration.

“The services related to birth and death certificates previously provided by MoHAP are now under Emirates Health Services (EHS),” according to the ministry.

The announcement has been made on the ministry’s website which no longer carries the options for the services.

The services are available on the website of EHS, which manages the public healthcare system in the northern emirates (Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah).

In Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the local health authorities, Department of Health (DoH) and Dubai Health Authority (DHA) respectively, oversee these services.

EHS has clarified that certificates issued and attested from DoH, DHA or EHS are equivalent to those attested by MoHAP.

According to the UAE laws, it is mandatory to register the birth of a child in 30 days and the death of a person or a stillborn baby in 72 hours.

With the change in the certificate issuing entity, there are changes in the procedures and service fees as well.

Here is all you need to know.

As per the EHS website, the applicants requesting to issue birth and death certificates from the Public Health Services Department can access the services by signing in with their UAE Pass.

The services are accessible through the Birth and Death Portal and public health centres and government hospitals under EHS, it stated.

EHS also provides additional services such as issuance of a replacement for lost birth or death certificate, issuance of authenticated copies of birth or death certificates and modification of birth certificate details.

This service allows customers to request the issue of an official certificate for a newborn to prove the child's lineage, place and date of birth, nationality and religion. The parents must submit their original documents. Parents of newborns of all nationalities, their representatives, or delegated persons can apply.

Service process

To apply through the website:

·       Send an SMS with the birth notification number and the location of the service provider.

·       Log in with your digital ID.

·       Submit the application via the e-system and pay the fees online.

·       Get the certificate delivered to you or a representative; or visit a public health centre in the same emirate for verification and matching of original documents.

To apply through the Mabrouk Ma Yak Package for Emiratis

·       Submit application through the e-system.

·       Pay the certificate issuance fee. The application will be sent to the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship.

To apply through public health centre or hospital:

·       Submit the application through the e-system and pay the fee.

·       Once the documents and original copies are verified, the birth certificate will be issued.

·       Get the certificate delivered to you or a representative.

Required documents

·       A valid Emirates ID and passport for the mother

·       A valid Emirates ID and passport for the father

·       Birth notification stamped and certified by the hospital where the delivery took place.

·       Electronic civil record.

·       Marriage contract or parentage certificate authenticated by the parents' embassy or a notary public and a copy.

Procedure for issuing birth certificates for a child born outside the UAE (citizens):

·       Return ticket

·       A valid Emirates ID for both parents.

·       A valid passport for both parents.

·       Marriage contract

Additional requirements

·       The presence of the person concerned (or a first degree relative or his representative).

·       For citizens: Original summary of the registration and a copy of them, including the page where the name of the wife is written.

·       For non-citizens: Identity card, passport, proof of residence for parents and a copy thereof.

·       For certificate in English: The system typically issues the certificate in Arabic. Therefore if you wish to request the certificate in English, or to add other copies of the certificate in English or Arabic, you can request that and choose the number of copies in each language before the payment phase.

Other conditions

If a child is born of an inmate of a punitive and correctional institution, the following documents are required:

·       A letter from punitive and correctional establishment.

·       Original birth notification.

·       Mother's passport or a letter from the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs.

·       Record from court stating the names of the mother and child, and the date and place of birth.

·       Completed application form.

If any of these documents are not available, the matter will be referred to the competent committee concerned with the birth registration of newborns through the Department of Social Services, together with the following documents:

·       Report or letter from the Department of Social Services.

·       Identity papers of the mother, if known.

·       Birth notification in case of hospital delivery.

·       Record from the court stating the child’s name.

The service allows customers to request the issue of an official certificate upon the death of a person.

Parents of the deceased or authorised individuals can apply.

The death certificate will state the date, place and cause of death as well as the nationality and religion of the deceased. The original documents of the deceased should be submitted.

Required documents

·       Identity card or passport of the deceased

·       NOC to cite there is no objection to burial from the Ministry of Interior

·       Death report.

Service process

Through the website:

·       To apply for e-services, create an account on EHS website with a username and password.

·       Submit the application with relevant documents and pay the fees.

·       The Public Health Centre in the emirate concerned will verify the attachments.

·       Once verified, an electronic certificate will be issued. To obtain the physical copy, applicant must visit the public health centre in the same emirate.

Through public health centre or hospital:

·       Submit the application through the e-system and pay the fee

·       Once the documents and original copies are verified, the death certificate is issued

·       Once verified, an electronic certificate will be issued. To obtain the physical copy, the applicant must visit the public health centre in the same emirate.

Conditions and requirements

·       Attested death notification.

·       Original documents / copy of the original documents.

·       Name in the police statement must match the name in passport or Emirates ID card.

·       Visit the public health centre in the emirate where the death took place, with the required documents.

·       Death certificate should be attested through the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation as well as the Embassy of the country in which the death certificate will be used.

·       A forensic report indicating the cause of death must be submitted in the case of criminal suspicion or when the cause of death is recorded as unknown in the death report.

·       The death certificate will be presented to the parties or authorised persons concerned, or those specifically stated in a letter from the Consulate, a letter from the deceased's place of work, or a letter from the police.

·       NOC to cite there is no objection to burial from the Ministry Interior.

Service timings:

·       Monday to Thursday from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm

·       Friday 7:30 am to 12:00 pm

Service Fees:

·       For a certificate in Arabic: Dh65

·       For a certificate in English (if requested): Dh65

Service completion duration:

·       One working day for birth certificate

·       Five minutes for death certificate