A birth certificate is one of those documents you do not think about until the day someone asks for it — a school admission form, a visa application, an insurance policy, or a passport renewal. And when the original is lost, damaged, or simply sitting in a drawer back home, you need a fresh copy. The good news is that learning how to get a birth certificate copy in the UAE is a simple process: the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) handles it, and most applications are completed online within a day.
This guide walks you through who can apply, what documents you need, how the online and in-person routes work, typical fees, and what to do when the original certificate is no longer available.
Quick Answer
If the child was born in the UAE, you can get a birth certificate copy through MOHAP’s website or smart app, or in person at a MOHAP public health centre. The father, the mother, or an authorised representative can apply. You will need a copy of the lost or damaged certificate (if you still have one), passport copies of both parents, and, for UAE citizens, a copy of the family book. Processing usually takes about 24 hours, and the typical fee is in the region of Dh60–Dh65 — check the official portal for the current fee before paying. A physical copy can be delivered to your home or collected from a health centre.
Who Can Apply for a Birth Certificate Copy
Not everyone can walk in and request someone else’s birth certificate. The application must come from someone with a direct connection to the person named on the certificate:
- The father or the mother of the child
- The person named on the certificate, if they are now an adult
- A legal guardian of the child
- An authorised representative holding a valid power of attorney
In practice, MOHAP requires the presence of both parents or an authorised delegate when the application is made. If you are applying from outside the UAE, a representative in the country can collect the certificate on your behalf, provided they carry a power of attorney and copies of your original documents. In some cases, staff at a UAE consulate can receive the document for you with an authorisation letter stamped by the embassy.
How to Get a Birth Certificate Copy: Step by Step
There are two routes: online and in person. The online route is the one most people use, but both lead to the same document.
Option 1: Apply online through MOHAP
- Go to the MOHAP website or open the MOHAP smart app and sign in with UAE PASS.
- Select the service for issuing a replacement or duplicate birth certificate.
- Fill in the application form with the child’s details — name, date of birth, place of birth, and the certificate details if you have a copy.
- Upload the required documents (listed in the next section).
- Pay the fee online.
- Choose home delivery or collection from a MOHAP public health centre.
Once submitted, the application is typically processed within one working day. If you picked home delivery, the printed certificate is couriered to your address; if you picked collection, you will be notified when it is ready.
Option 2: Apply in person at a public health centre
- Visit any MOHAP public health centre in the UAE with the original documents.
- Fill in the application form at the counter.
- Hand over the documents for verification and pay the fee.
- Collect the certificate when it is ready, or arrange delivery.
The in-person route is useful if you are unsure about the documents or if the case is unusual — for example, if you have no copy of the original certificate at all. Staff can look up the record using the child’s details.
Documents You Need for a Duplicate Copy
The document list is short, but each item matters. Have these ready before you start:
- A copy of the lost or damaged birth certificate, if you still have one
- Passport copies of both the mother and the father
- Original passports of the parents (for in-person verification)
- Copy of the family book, for UAE citizens
- Emirates ID copies of the parents, where available
If the original certificate is completely missing, contact the health authority of the emirate where the child was born to retrieve the certificate details first. MOHAP cannot issue a copy for a record it cannot find, so this step is important. For a full walkthrough of document lists across birth, marriage, and death certificates, see our guide on birth certificate requirements and documents.
If the lost certificate belonged to an adult and the details need updating at the same time, read our guide on how to replace a lost official certificate before applying.
Fees and Processing Time
| Item | Typical detail |
|---|---|
| Application fee | Around Dh60–Dh65 for a replacement copy |
| Processing time | About 24 hours (one working day) |
| Home delivery | Available for a small additional courier fee |
| Collection | From a MOHAP public health centre |
Fees are set by the health authorities and can change, so treat the figures above as a guide and confirm the exact amount on the MOHAP portal at the time you apply. Always keep the payment receipt until the certificate is in your hands.
Getting a Copy When the Birth Happened Abroad
If the child was born outside the UAE but you need a UAE-issued record, the situation is different. For expatriate residents, a child born abroad needs a birth certificate from the country of birth first, followed by a passport from the parents’ home-country embassy and a UAE entry visa. The UAE embassy in that country is the right starting point — details are covered on the official UAE portal’s page on having a baby.
For UAE citizens, the embassy can arrange a return document or passport for the newborn, and the child’s name can be added to the family book after arriving in the UAE. In these cases, the foreign birth certificate usually needs UAE document attestation before local authorities will accept it.
After the Copy: Attestation and Translation
A fresh copy of a birth certificate is only half the job if it will be used outside the UAE — for a foreign visa, overseas university admission, or an embassy appointment. Two extra steps often follow:
- Attestation: the certificate may need to be attested by MOHAP and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before a foreign authority accepts it. Our UAE document attestation process guide explains the full chain.
- Translation: if the receiving authority needs the certificate in a language other than Arabic, only a licensed translation is accepted. See the UAE legal translation requirements for how that works.
If your copy will only be used inside the UAE — for example, for a school file or an Emirates ID application — you can usually skip both steps.
Tips to Avoid Delays
- Check the names match: the child’s name and the parents’ names on your application must match the original record exactly. Small spelling differences are the most common reason applications get held up.
- Bring originals in person: even if you upload copies online, keep original passports and IDs with you if you visit a centre.
- Keep the hospital discharge summary: if you still have it, it can help staff locate the birth record faster when no copy of the certificate exists.
- Prefer the digital copy: many government services now accept a downloadable digital version. Our guide on how to download government certificates online explains where digital versions are valid.
- Apply before deadlines: schools, visa medicals, and passport appointments rarely wait. Apply as soon as you know you need the copy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How long does it take to get a birth certificate copy in the UAE?
Online applications through MOHAP are typically processed within about 24 hours (one working day), assuming all documents are correct. In-person applications at a public health centre take a similar amount of time.
Can I get a copy if I have lost the original certificate completely?
Yes. Provide the child’s details on the application, and if you cannot supply a copy of the old certificate, contact the health authority of the emirate where the birth took place to retrieve the certificate details first.
Can a relative apply on my behalf if I am abroad?
Yes, an authorised representative with a power of attorney can apply and collect the certificate. They will need copies of your original documents, including passports, plus the power of attorney document.
Does the copy look different from the original?
No. A replacement birth certificate issued by MOHAP carries the same details and legal standing as the original. It is an official reissue, not a second-class document.
Do I need the copy attested for use inside the UAE?
Usually not. A MOHAP-issued certificate is accepted directly by UAE schools, hospitals, and government departments. Attestation is normally only required when the document will be presented to a foreign authority.
What if the details on the original certificate were wrong?
Request the correction together with the copy application, or apply for a revised certificate first. You will need to provide evidence supporting the correct details, such as passports or a court letter depending on the correction.
The Bottom Line
Getting a birth certificate copy in the UAE is one of the smoother government transactions you will deal with: apply online through MOHAP with UAE PASS, upload a short list of documents, pay a modest fee, and collect the certificate or have it delivered within about a day. The most common cause of delay is a mismatch between the application details and the original record, so double-check every name and date before you submit. Keep a scanned copy of the certificate somewhere safe once it arrives — next time, you may not need the paper version at all.
Last Updated: 8 October 2026
About the author: Zaviyar Sultan is a UAE-focused writer at Asandada24, covering driving, visas, banking, insurance and everyday UAE life. His guides are researched from official UAE government and regulator sources and updated regularly.
Asandada24 is an independent informational website, not affiliated with the UAE government or any agency mentioned; content is general information only, not legal, immigration or financial advice; verify critical details with official sources before acting.