Every person born in Singapore whose father or mother is a Singapore citizen is automatically a citizen. However, this rule does not apply if at the time of birth:
- his/her father (non-Singaporean citizen) was a member of the diplomatic corps of a foreign country; or
- his/her father was an enemy alien and Singapore was under enemy occupation when the birth occurred.
The government can grant citizenship even if the applicant's parents are both non-Singaporean citizens.
Q: Where do you register births?
Birth Registration Centres are available at: -
- Registry of Births and Deaths at Citizen Services Centre at 3rd Floor of SIR Building;
- KK Women's & Children's Hospital;
- East Shore Hospital;
- Gleneagles Hospital;
- Mount Alvernia Hospital;
- Mount Elizabeth Hospital;
- National University Hospital;
- Singapore General Hospital; and
- Thomson Medical Centre.
If your child was born in hospitals or places not listed above, please register your child's birth at the Citizen Services Centre. Notification of Live Birth must be obtained from doctors/midwife/ambulance staff who delivered the baby if the baby is not born in hospitals. Q: When do I have to register the birth of my child?
Births must be registered within 14 to 42 days from the date of birth, including Sundays and public holidays. A letter stating the reason for late registration must be given to the Registrar approval if the birth is not registered within the stipulated time frame. Birth Certificates will only be issued after approval is given and the birth is registered.
Q: What is the penalty for late registration?
You will be liable for a fine of $100.00 and your case would be classified as ‘late registration” in our records.
While applying for birth registration, the child's name must be furnished. The Chinese characters of the baby's name must be reflected in the Birth Certificate if the baby has been given a Hanyu Pinyin name. Ethnic characters of the child's name in Chinese/Jawi/Tamil can be included in the Birth Certificate but the accuracy of the characters must be ensured by the parents.
Procedure and Fees
The procedure for birth registration is relatively simple and fast as one has to apply by filing up the relevant form. The Officer will verify the documents produced and prints out the Birth Certificate. After verification from the applicant on the particulars in the BC, any ethnic characters will be written on the BC before it is laminated and issued instantly. Processing Fee is charged by SIR for only $18.00 but hospitals may charge a higher fee due to the inclusion of administrative fee for the hospital's services.
Q: If the child is born overseas and both parents are Singapore citizens, must they come back to Singapore to register the birth?
This is not required as they can register the child's birth at the country where the child is born. The parents may, at a later tie, apply for the child's Singapore Citizenship through the Singapore High Commission/Embassy at the country that the child was born or get a local sponsor to submit an application on their behalf to SIR.
Sep 08, 2008 - 03:52 PM
Public Access
