Just given birth in Singapore? Congratulations! Now that your bundle of joy is here, the next step involves a little paperwork. One of which is having to handle ICA birth registration to record your child’s birth and obtain a birth certificate.
To help you sort out your little one’s ICA birth registration, we’ve broken down the frequently asked questions new parents have regarding birth certificates. Read this article to find out where, when and how can you register your child’s birth.
Table of Contents
How To Register a Birth Certificate In Singapore?
Singapore requires that all births be registered within 42 days of the baby’s due date. Every parent is obligated to use LifeSG to record the birth of their kid.
Singapore does not keep records of births that take place abroad. When a kid is born abroad, the parents must notify the foreign authorities in the nation or location of the birth and get the child’s birth certificate.
ICA Birth Registration: Where Can I Register My Child’s Birth In Singapore?
No matter their immigration status or marital status, all new parents must use LifeSG to record their child’s birth online (through the mobile app or www.life.gov.sg). You must log in using your Singpass if your parents are Singapore citizens, permanent residents, or long-term pass (FIN) holders.
The LifeSG app is available for free download on the iOS App Store and Android Google Play Store. If you do not already have a Singpass account, you can sign up on the website.
Note: As of May 29, 2022, birth registration services are no longer offered by maternity hospitals.
ICA Birth Registration: When Do I Register Births?
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You need to register your child’s birth within 14 days from the date of birth. The system considers births registered after 14 days and within 42 days as delayed registrations.
If registration is done after 42 days, you will need to submit a letter of explanation stating the reason for late registration for the Registrar/Registrar General’s approval. Only after approval has been given, the authorities will register the birth and issue the birth certificate. Only the Registry of Births and Deaths can register such cases.
Is There Any Penalty For Registering The Birth After 42 days?
If you don’t give your child’s birth information to the Registrar-General within 42 days of the child’s birth, it will be a violation of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act. You can be subject to a fine or even jail time.
ICA Birth Registration: What Documents Do You Require For Registration?
For the birth registration, you must at least supply the following birth information:
Child’s specifics:
- Name
- Sex*
- Date of birth*
- Time of birth*
- Place of birth*
* If the newborn was delivered in a hospital, the parents do not need to give these details
Specifics of the parent(s):
- Name
- Identity document number
- Date of birth
- Country/Place of birth
- Nationality/Citizenship
- Race
- Dialect group
ICA Birth Registration: What Documents Do Need For Registration?
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- Notification of Live Birth
- Both parents’ identity cards
- Original marriage certificate
- Both parents’ passports, as well as the entry permit and Disembarkation/Embarkation card issued by ICA (for foreigners)
- Letter of authorisation from the parents of the child, if someone else registers the birth on behalf of the parents
- Child’s name
- You can include ethnic characters of the child’s name in Chinese/Jawi/Tamil (optional)
- Parents/informants will need to ensure the accuracy of the ethnic characters
- For Chinese children who have been given a name in full Hanyu Pinyin version, the Chinese characters of their name need to reflect in the birth certificate
The following documents may be requested from parents during the online birth registration:
- A copy of the parents’ local or foreign marriage certificate (if the parents’ Singpass/MyInfo profiles do not contain the marital details).
- The biodata page of the parent’s passport (relevant only if the parent has an immigration or work pass but no Singpass account).
Note: If any document is not in English, an official translation will be needed. When necessary, you could be asked to submit additional supporting papers.
How Much to Register a Birth in Singapore?
The cost to register for birth and receive a digital birth certificate is S$18.
The moment of registration with LifeSG requires payment by credit or debit card.
ICA Birth Registration: What Is The Processing Time?
You will soon receive a digital notification if you submit your birth registration online and it is successfully registered. You will be informed of the successful registration in circumstances where additional verification is required within three (3) business days. Please be aware that some cases can require more time to process.
You have 90 days after receiving notification to download your child’s digital birth certificate from ICA’s e-Service.
If your kid is not a citizen of Singapore, you must submit an application for a passport for them at the embassy or high commission of your country within 42 days of the child’s birth, following receipt of the birth certificate.
For your child’s stay in Singapore, you must additionally apply for the proper immigration permit at the ICA Visitor Services Center or the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) (for work pass holders).
If you have any questions about the birth registration procedure or the digital birth certificate, you can contact ICA at ICA Birth RBD@ica.gov.sg.
Note: After May 29, 2022, ICA stopped printing actual birth certificates. Only newborns that are registered will receive digital birth certificates. The digital birth certificate for your child should be saved on your own device for easy access in the future.
ICA Birth Registration: Inclusion of Parents’ Dialect in Digital Birth Certificate
Parents who received digital birth certificates between May 29, 2022 and August 31, 2022 may re-download their child’s digital birth certificate at no additional cost via ICA’s e-Service.
The parents’ latest registered dialect at the time of the child’s birth registration is used as the basis for the dialect information on the birth certificate.
Redownloading is not required. Digital birth certificates that are issued without the language preferences of the parents’ parents will still be recognised.
Ethnic name for a child
Ethnic name inclusion is not required. If either parent is of Chinese, Malay, or Indian descent, they can choose to add ethnic characters to the child’s name in Chinese (中文名), Jawi (ﻨﺎﻢ ﺠﺎﻮﻱ) or Tamil (தமிழ் பெயர்). The accuracy of the ethnic characteristics offered and discovered in a recognised dictionary must be ensured by the parents.
Hanyu Pinyin name
It is not required to include the name in Hanyu Pinyin. If either parent is of Chinese descent, parents may choose to give their child a name in Hanyu Pinyin.
The appropriate Chinese ethnic character name must be used along with the Hanyu pinyin name, which will be enclosed in brackets. An illustration of how the child’s name will appear on the digital birth certificate with Chinese characters and Hanyu pinyin is attached:
|
Name: Isaac Tan (Chen Xiao Ming) 陈小明 |
The name on the child’s passport will automatically reflect the Hanyu pinyin name if it is listed on the birth certificate.
Race of the child
If the child’s parents are of different races, the child’s race can either match that of either parent or be a legal mixed race. A child who is a citizen of Singapore is also entitled to a double-barrelled race that combines the races of both parents. The child’s siblings from the same set of parents who are younger than 21 should all be of the same race.
Alteration of child’s name
Parents may apply in person at ICA before the kid becomes one year old with the required fee if they wish to change their child’s name after the birth has been recorded.
Regularisation of Stay for a Child Who Is Not a Singapore Citizen
If a kid is not a citizen of Singapore at the time of birth, it will be assumed that they have been awarded a special pass that allows them to stay in Singapore for 42 days starting on the day of their birth. The Advisory Note that was included with your child’s digital birth certificate includes a section where you may find out when the Special Pass expires.
If your child is not a citizen of Singapore, you must make sure that they have a valid immigration pass in order for them to stay in Singapore after their 42nd day of birth:
Renew the child’s special pass at the ICA Visitor Services Center on Level 4 of the ICA Building, or apply for a visit pass there.
Visit MOM to learn more about work passes with dependent rights.
How Does One Apply For The Child’s Singapore Citizenship If He Is Born Overseas?
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The parents can apply for the child’s Singapore Citizenship through the Singapore High Commission/Embassy in the country where the child is born or get a local sponsor to submit an application on their behalf to the Registry of Citizens, Citizen Services Centre, 6th Storey, ICA Building.
Can I Change My Child’s Name In The Birth Certificate?
A request for an alteration of the child’s name in the birth register can be accepted, once you make the payment of the prescribed fees and before the child turns one year old. However, this can happen only when no certified extract of the birth register has been issued during this period. The Registry of Births at the ICA Building does these alterations.
To find out more information on registering your child’s ICA birth cert, you can call ICA at 6391 6100.
Where To Translate Birth Certificate To English In Singapore?
Do you need an English translation of your birth certificate in Singapore for immigration or other official or legal reasons? Are you considering where in Singapore you may have your birth certificate translated into English?
If so, professional translators can quickly, accurately, and affordably translate your birth certificate from another language into English. Professional translators translate birth certificates for affordable rates at numerous translation agencies in Singapore.
Your birth certificate can be translated by the following companies with the highest level of accuracy and dependability:
Updates by Matt Doctor
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