How do I get a birth certificate for a baby born in Bahrain?

A birth in Bahrain must be reported within 15 days. The hospital sends the birth notification, and the Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) issues the certificate.

Bring to the hospital on the day of delivery: both parents' ID cards or passports and your marriage contract. A non-Bahraini couple's contract must be attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Getting the certificate: once the hospital has sent the notification, you get an SMS with the notification number and the baby's ID number. With those you can apply online and pay 1 BD. The certificate is usually issued the same or the next day and delivered by post in 2 working days. Without that notification, or after the 15 days, book a front office appointment in the Mawaeed app; at the office it takes about 2 hours once everything is in order.

Miss the deadline by more than a further 30 days and it becomes a legal affairs case, so do not leave it.

Babies born outside Bahrain to Bahraini parents have 60 days, and the foreign birth certificate must be attested by the Bahraini embassy there and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Steps

  1. Take both parents' IDs and your (attested) marriage contract to the hospital.
  2. Wait for the SMS with the birth notification number and the baby's ID number.
  3. Apply online for the birth certificate and pay 1 BD, within 15 days of the birth.
  4. Collect it or receive it by post; book a Mawaeed appointment if there is no notification or you are late.

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