Procedures for Registering a Birth Outside Syria

This article explains the practical steps required to register new births that occur outside the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic, whether through diplomatic missions or through the civil registry inside Syria if consular registration is not possible. The goal is to understand the procedures and requirements before visiting the relevant authority, ensuring the transaction is completed easily and without delay.

This article covers procedures for registering a birth outside Syria only. For procedures on registering a birth inside Syria, please refer to a separate article here: (article link).

Key Messages

1. Registering a birth is a legal procedure to establish the child's existence in the civil registry and to issue official documents later.
2. Births that occur outside Syria are initially registered at the Syrian diplomatic mission (embassy or consulate), and then referred for completion of registration in the civil status records inside Syria.
3. The legal deadline for submitting documents for a birth that occurred outside the country is nine months from the date of the event.
4. The obligation to report the birth lies with the father or mother, and adult relatives up to the fourth degree may report it if necessary according to the law.
5. Some cases have special restrictions: for example, births that are over 18 years old are not registered at diplomatic missions, but procedures can be started through them and completed inside Syria.
6. Procedural details (such as appointments/required forms/formal requirements) may vary from one mission to another and from country to country; therefore, we always advise you to confirm with the mission or relevant authority before your visit.

Why is registering a birth outside Syria important?

1. To establish the child's legal identity and confirm their basic information (name, lineage, date and place of birth) in the civil registry.
2. To enable the family to complete subsequent transactions (such as inclusion in the family record or obtaining an individual civil extract or identification documents).
3. To avoid complications that may arise from delayed registration or loss of the documentation link between the birth country documents and Syrian records.

How to register a birth outside Syria and obtain a Syrian birth certificate

First: Place of Registration

The place of registration varies depending on the case and is divided into two main tracks, which we will explain in detail below.

1. Through the Syrian embassy/consulate (the preferred track):

The concerned party registers the birth at the Syrian diplomatic mission, which in turn sends a copy of the registry document to the competent authorities via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates.

1. Inside Syria if consular registration is not possible:

If it is not possible to register the event through the above consular track, the law allows obtaining a certificate of the birth event/or a certified copy of it from the country of birth and submitting it to any civil registry center inside Syria to register it according to the regulations (provided that the documents are duly certified in the country of birth).

Second: Practical steps for registering a birth through the diplomatic mission:

By following these steps, according to the special birth registration service provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the Syrian Arab Republic:

1. Prepare the required documents:
2. An official local birth certificate from the authorities of the country of birth, duly certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the relevant country.
3. A document proving the marriage is registered in Syria (such as a family card/family record statement/official document proving the marriage is registered in Syrian civil status records).
4. Copies of the parents' ID cards or passports, or recent individual civil extracts.
5. In-person review and form completion: The review is usually in person at the authentication hall/consular section at the mission, with the approved form filled out.
6. Paying fees and receiving the document: After paying the fees according to the mission’s fee guide, the concerned party receives a copy of the birth statement (usually with an electronic authentication sticker).

Important organizational note: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates service indicates that the personal presence of the father or legal guardian is required for registration at the mission.

Fines and Fees: What to Expect?

• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates clarifies that the birth registration service at the mission requires fees according to its "fee guide," and these fees may vary depending on the country, mission, and type of procedure (authentication/registration/additional copies).
• If the birth certificate is issued outside Syria and could not be authenticated at the Syrian embassy/consulate, it is possible to register the event in Syria after paying a consular authentication fee at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its consular offices.
• From a procedural legal perspective: If long periods have passed, there may be additional procedures; the law stipulates special requirements for registering late births after one year (with specific conditions and exceptions).
• Fees and fines vary depending on the mission, country, and transaction circumstances (within/outside the deadline, inability to authenticate, etc.), so we always advise you to inquire directly with the mission or relevant authority about the latest applicable instructions before payment.

Special Cases for Registering a Birth Outside Syria

• No Syrian mission in the country of residence or difficulty accessing it: You can follow the legal alternative by obtaining a certificate of the event/or a certified copy from the country of birth and submitting it to a civil registry center inside Syria, taking into account the requirement for proper certification of the documents.
• Marriage not registered in Syria: A child born from an unregistered marriage cannot be registered until the marriage is properly registered.
• Birth event over 18 years old: Missions do not register birth events that are more than 18 years old, but procedures can be started through the mission and completed inside Syria according to the regulations.
• Exceeding the legal deadline (9 months outside Syria): Delay may require additional requirements depending on the length of delay and the nature of the case, and the law imposes controls and fines for late registration.

Tips and Guidelines

1. Register the birth as soon as possible within the nine-month period to avoid later complications.
2. Prepare the documents as required by the mission (especially authentication of the birth certificate from the country of birth’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs), as missing authentications is one of the most common reasons for transaction delays.
3. Check the spelling of the name and the date/place of birth and parents’ information before approval, as correcting records later may require longer legal procedures.
4. Keep both paper and digital copies of all documents and receipts, and request clear copies of documents received from the mission.
5. Before your visit: Check the mission’s website or contact them to confirm (booking/appointments/forms/fees), as details may vary from country to country.

List of Sources:

• Syrian Civil Status Law No. 13 of 2021.
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the Syrian Arab Republic – “Civil Status/Birth Registration” service
• Justice for All - Syria: An overview of registering a “birth event” in Syrian civil records.
• United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees UNHCR- Syria is Home website.

Disclaimer: This material provides general information for benefit and is not legal advice.