For expats living in Saudi Arabia, welcoming a new baby is a joyful occasion—but it also comes with important legal procedures. If you're an Iqama holder and have a newborn child in KSA, it's critical to understand the official steps to register your baby, avoid penalties, and ensure legal residency for your child.
This complete guide explains how to register a newborn in Saudi Arabia for expats, including timelines, required documents, fees, and solutions if delays occur.
After your child is born in Saudi Arabia, your first step is to obtain a birth notification from the hospital.
Take the notification to the Ahwal Madani (Civil Affairs Office) to get the official birth certificate.
Documents Needed:
Pro tip: Make an appointment through the Absher platform before visiting Civil Affairs.
Before your baby can be added to your Iqama, they must have a valid passport.
Visit your home country’s embassy or consulate in KSA and provide:
Note: This step is often a bottleneck—if passport processing is delayed, notify Jawazat immediately with proof to avoid late registration fines.
Saudi Arabia imposes a monthly dependent fee on expat families. As of 2025, the dependent levy for each child is SAR 400/month, paid in advance.
Use Absher or your bank’s SADAD system to make the payment.
Once you have the passport and proof of levy payment, head to the Jawazat (General Directorate of Passports) to officially register the child and obtain their Iqama (residency permit).
Required Documents:
Deadline: You must complete the Iqama registration within 90 days of birth. Failing to do so may result in fines or issues with residency status.
This is common, especially in cases of embassy closures, conflict in the home country, or processing backlogs.
What to do:
Situation | Action |
---|---|
Baby born outside Saudi Arabia | Apply for a dependent entry visa, then follow Iqama registration steps after arrival. |
You already paid the Levy Fee, but the baby doesn’t have a passport yet | Keep your receipt and report the issue to Jawazat with embassy documentation. |
Step | What You Need |
---|---|
Birth Certificate | Civil Affairs, with hospital notification |
Passport | From home country embassy |
Dependent Levy Fee | SAR 400/month |
Iqama Registration | Documents + visit to Jawazat within 90 days |
Easy to start,
intuitive to use