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.

Step-by-Step: What to Do After a Baby is Born in Saudi Arabia

1. Get a Birth Certificate from Civil Affairs

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:

1. Hospital birth notification
2. Copies of both parents’ Iqamas and passports
3. Marriage certificate (translated and attested if needed)

Pro tip: Make an appointment through the Absher platform before visiting Civil Affairs.

2. Apply for the Newborn’s Passport

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:

1. The Saudi-issued birth certificate
2. Parent identification (passports/Iqamas)
3. Passport photos of the newborn

Note: This step is often a bottleneck—if passport processing is delayed, notify Jawazat immediately with proof to avoid late registration fines.

3. Pay the Dependent Levy Fee

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.

4. Apply for the Baby’s Iqama

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:

1. Child’s passport
2. Saudi birth certificate
3. Levy payment receipt
4. Father’s and mother’s Iqamas and passports
5. Two recent passport-sized photos of the child

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.

Common Problems and Solutions

What if my child’s passport is delayed?

This is common, especially in cases of embassy closures, conflict in the home country, or processing backlogs.

What to do:

1. Get an official letter from your embassy explaining the delay.
2. Visit Jawazat and request an extension or file a notification of delay.
3. Keep all payment records and correspondence.

Bonus Tips for Expats in Saudi Arabia

Summary: Newborn Iqama Registration Checklist