Beginning a Child's Citizenship Application Early
For expatriate families, registering a newborn's citizenship is often more complex than registering one's own. Why timing matters and what to do in the first weeks after a child is born.
A young child's hand resting on a passport.
For the majority of couples expecting a new baby in the UAE, your baby will be an expat from the day he or she is born. Making sure you start getting the documentation you need to ensure that your baby is a legal resident of the UAE (or any other country you are an expatriate resident in) will save you a lot of stress and hassle.
A newborn needs documents before residence can be completed
The practical sequence usually begins with the UAE birth certificate, followed by registration with the relevant country of citizenship, passport issuance and then the child’s UAE residence application. Timelines, grace periods, supporting documents and any late fees are set by the competent UAE authority and can change. Parents should check the current ICP or relevant emirate guidance promptly after birth rather than relying on an old deadline or daily-fine figure.
Starting early matters because travel and residence applications generally cannot be completed until the child’s identity and nationality documents are in place.
For citizens of St Kitts and Nevis, Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda, in order to apply for a passport for your newborn child, your baby needs to first be considered a citizen of that country. To start the process:
Obtain the UAE birth certificate
The hospital issues a birth notification, which is used to request the official birth certificate through the current UAE government process. The issuing and attestation steps depend on the emirate and the intended use of the document. Keep the parents’ passports, Emirates IDs, marriage certificate and hospital records ready, and follow the current official instructions for the place of birth.
Get the Required Government Forms from your Country of Citizenship
Each country has its own procedure for registering the birth of a newborn child. PassPro is able to assist with the entire registration process and application for citizenship of a newborn baby of an existing citizen of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica or St Kitts and Nevis.
If you would like to speak privately about a newborn registration or other post-citizenship matter, reach a senior advisor at PassPro.
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