Birth Certificate in Dubai (2026): How New Parents Get a Newborn's Birth Certificate from DHA, Then the Passport, Residence Visa and Emirates ID Within 120 Days

A birth certificate in Dubai is the first document your newborn needs, and in 2026 it is fully online: the hospital sends the birth notification to the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), you apply on the DHA website with UAE Pass, pay AED 70 and usually receive the certificate within one working day. Register the birth within 30 days. After that, the clock that matters is 120 days: by then the baby needs a passport, a residence visa and an Emirates ID. This guide walks new parents through each step in order — documents, fees, attestation, translation, the newborn passport, the visa and the most common delays.

🗓️ What do new parents in Dubai need to do after the birth, and when?

Everything follows one order, because each document needs the one before it. The birth certificate is needed for the passport, and the passport is needed for the residence visa:

🏥 Who issues birth certificates in Dubai?

The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) issues the birth certificate for every baby born in Dubai, in a government or a private hospital. The hospital does not hand you the certificate itself: it issues a stamped birth notification and submits it to DHA through an electronic system, and you complete the application online.

What if my baby was born in another emirate?

The issuer depends on where the baby was born, not where your visa is from. In Abu Dhabi it is the Department of Health; in Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah it is the Emirates Health Services (EHS), which also issues certificates online. The rest of this guide — passport, visa, Emirates ID — is the same.

Is a baby born in Dubai a UAE citizen?

No. Birth in the UAE does not give citizenship. The child takes the parents' nationality, and when the parents have different nationalities the child follows the father's, as stated on u.ae. That is why the next steps are the home-country passport and a UAE residence visa.

📂 What documents do I need for a birth certificate in Dubai?

Do the parents' names need to match exactly?

Yes. The names on the birth certificate are taken from the parents' passports and the marriage certificate. Spelling differences between documents can block the passport or the visa later, so check them before you submit and ask the hospital to correct the notification if anything is wrong.

💻 How do I apply for a birth certificate online in Dubai? Step by step

Can I apply without UAE Pass?

The DHA service uses UAE Pass. Create an account first with your Emirates ID, or let us apply for you. DHA toll-free: 800 342.

💰 How much does a birth certificate cost in Dubai?

AED 70 for a new DHA birth certificate applied for online. A printed copy by courier may add a delivery charge, and the passport, visa and Emirates ID have their own government fees. The amount shown in each system when you pay is the final reference.

Are there other costs for a newborn?

🔏 Does a Dubai birth certificate need attestation or translation?

When is MOFA attestation needed?

For the UAE residence visa, the DHA certificate is used as issued. For use outside the UAE — your embassy, a home-country birth registration, a future school abroad — the certificate is attested by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). The DHA stamp counts as the health ministry stamp, so there is no separate MOHAP step. Read our birth certificate attestation guide or see our attestation service.

Do I need a translation?

Choose the language your embassy accepts. An English certificate is accepted by most embassies as it is. An Arabic certificate usually needs a legal translation for the embassy or your home country.

🛂 How do I get a passport for my newborn in Dubai?

The passport comes from your own country, through its embassy in Abu Dhabi or consulate in Dubai — not from a UAE authority. Each country sets its own list, but most ask for:

Book the embassy appointment as soon as you have the certificate: the visa needs the passport.

🪪 How do I apply for my newborn's residence visa and Emirates ID?

The sponsoring parent applies to GDRFA Dubai for a Dubai visa or to ICP for a visa from another emirate — online, at an Amer centre or through us. The residence and the Emirates ID are applied for together in one application. See our newborn visa service.

What documents are needed for the newborn visa?

Who can sponsor the baby?

The father or the mother. The sponsor needs a salary of AED 4,000, or AED 3,000 plus accommodation written in the MOHRE salary certificate — see our minimum salary guide. A newborn does not need a visa medical test; that is only for family members aged 18 and over.

What happens after day 120?

A daily fine is added to the baby's file for every day after day 120, and the baby cannot leave the UAE until the fine is paid and the status is settled. The amount shown in the GDRFA or ICP system is final. If you are close to the deadline, message us — the application can often still be filed in time once the passport is ready.

🔄 What changed? Old rules vs 2026

🌍 What if my baby was born outside the UAE?

Then there is no DHA certificate. The foreign birth certificate must be attested in the home country, by the UAE embassy there and by MOFA in the UAE, and translated into Arabic where needed. The sponsor then applies for an entry permit for the child — see our family entry permit guide and the son visa or daughter visa guides.

🚫 What are the most common delays with a newborn's documents?

🤝 Newborn document services by FamilyVisa.ae

FamilyVisa.ae handles the newborn paperwork for you, online:

📝 Quick recap

• The hospital sends the birth notification; you apply online to DHA with UAE Pass — AED 70, about 1 working day.
• Register the birth within 30 days. Documents: hospital notification, both parents' passports or Emirates IDs, attested marriage certificate.
• Choose an English certificate if your embassy accepts it; get MOFA attestation for use abroad.
• Then: passport from your embassy, health insurance, and the residence visa and Emirates ID in one application through GDRFA or ICP.
• Finish everything within 120 days of birth — after that a daily fine applies and the baby cannot leave until it is settled.

🔗 Related guides

• Newborn visa service in Dubai
• Birth certificate attestation for UAE visas
• Son visa in Dubai
• Daughter visa in Dubai
• Marriage certificate attestation
• How to apply for a UAE family visa
• Emirates ID services

❓ Frequently asked questions

1. How do I get a birth certificate in Dubai for my newborn?

The hospital sends the birth notification to the Dubai Health Authority (DHA). One parent then applies online on the DHA website with UAE Pass, uploads the documents and pays AED 70. The certificate is usually issued within one working day and sent by email or SMS.

2. How much does a birth certificate cost in Dubai?

AED 70 for a new DHA birth certificate applied for online. A printed copy delivered by courier may cost extra; the amount shown when you pay is final.

3. How long does it take to get a birth certificate in Dubai?

Usually about one working day after the application and payment, once the hospital has verified the birth notification.

4. What is the deadline to register a birth in Dubai?

Expatriate parents should register the birth within 30 days of the delivery.

5. What documents are needed for a Dubai birth certificate?

The hospital birth notification, both parents' passports or Emirates IDs, and the marriage certificate. A marriage certificate issued outside the UAE must be attested (home country, UAE embassy, MOFA) and translated into Arabic where needed.

6. Can I get the birth certificate in English?

Yes. DHA issues the birth certificate in Arabic or English, and Urdu has also been offered. Choose the language your embassy and home country accept.

7. Does a Dubai birth certificate need MOFA attestation?

For use outside the UAE, yes: the DHA certificate is attested by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). The DHA stamp counts as the health ministry stamp, so no separate MOHAP step is needed. For the UAE residence visa itself, the DHA certificate is used as issued.

8. What comes after the birth certificate?

The baby's passport from your home country's embassy or consulate, then the residence visa and Emirates ID through GDRFA (Dubai visas) or ICP (other emirates).

9. How many days do I have to get my newborn's residence visa?

120 days from the date of birth. The passport, residence visa and Emirates ID should all be finished within that time.

10. What happens if I miss the 120-day deadline?

A daily fine is added to the baby's file for every day after day 120, and the baby cannot leave the UAE until the fine is paid and the status is settled. The amount shown in the GDRFA or ICP system is final.

11. Does a newborn need a medical test for the UAE visa?

No. The visa medical test is only for family members aged 18 and over.

12. Is health insurance needed for a newborn visa in Dubai?

Yes. Dubai requires health insurance for every resident, so the baby needs a policy before the residence visa is issued.

13. Can the mother sponsor the newborn?

Yes. A mother who meets the family visa rules can sponsor her children, including a newborn. The sponsor needs a salary of AED 4,000, or AED 3,000 plus accommodation written in the MOHRE salary certificate.

14. Do I need a tenancy contract for my baby's visa in Dubai?

In Dubai, a tenancy contract is not needed for a wife or children. In the other emirates, a tenancy contract is required.

15. Is the Emirates ID issued separately for a newborn?

No. The residence and Emirates ID are applied for together in one application, and the card is delivered after the residence is approved.

16. How do I get a replacement or extra copy of a Dubai birth certificate?

Apply online on the DHA website with UAE Pass. A replacement needs both parents' passports or Emirates IDs and a police report if no copy of the original exists; an extra copy needs a copy of the original certificate.

17. Can unmarried parents get a birth certificate in Dubai?

The application asks for a marriage certificate or an official document proving the child's lineage. Cases without a marriage certificate are handled case by case; ask us before the birth if this applies to you.

18. Is a baby born in Dubai a UAE citizen?

No. Birth in the UAE does not give UAE citizenship. The child takes the parents' nationality; when the parents have different nationalities, the child follows the father's nationality.

19. My baby was born outside the UAE. How do I get the visa?

The foreign birth certificate must be attested in the home country, by the UAE embassy there and by MOFA in the UAE, and translated into Arabic where needed. The sponsor then applies for an entry permit or a change of status for the child.

20. Can FamilyVisa.ae handle my newborn's documents?

Yes. We can handle the birth certificate application, the MOFA attestation, the residence visa and Emirates ID. Message us on WhatsApp with the baby's date of birth.

Last reviewed 15 October 2026. Rules and fees are set by the Dubai Health Authority, GDRFA Dubai, ICP and MOFA and can change; the fees quoted are the amounts FamilyVisa.ae pays on 15 October 2026, and the amount shown in the GDRFA or ICP system when you apply is the final reference. Every application is decided by the immigration authorities. This guide is general information, not legal advice. Main official sources: u.ae — birth certificate and residence visa for newborn expatriates, Dubai Health Authority — birth certificate service, ICP — residence services. FamilyVisa.ae is operated by 800 DOCS LLC SOC, a DET-licensed private visa services company in Dubai — not a government office.