A birth certificate is a record of documentation used to prove the identity of a particular person. It contains important information about the person’s parents, place of birth, and mostly the date and time of birth. This information matters for visas, passports, driver’s licenses, and even school or university admissions.
Whether you require the original document or its certified translation, doing everything at once will save you precious time and unnecessary administrative hassle. This article will tackle everything you need to know about your translation of a birth certificate.
Birth Certificate Translation Services in Saudi Arabia
Alsun Arabia offers a certified translation of a birth certificate in all regions of Saudi Arabia, including Riyadh and Jeddah. Our translations can be used in cases when one needs to have his or her birth certificate translated from Arabic into English or any other language, or from a foreign language into Arabic.
In case the birth certificate is provided either by the Saudi Civil Affairs or by some civil registrar outside Saudi Arabia, we guarantee that the translation will meet all the specifications required by the authorities in Saudi Arabia and will not have to be returned for revision.
What Is a Certified Birth Certificate Translation?
A certified translation of a birth certificate is an entire document that is reproduced in another language word for word, and it comes along with a stamp from the translator or translation company verifying that the translation provided is accurate and complete.
This differs from an informal translation since a certified translation comes with the credentials of the translator or translation service. The certified translation is normally provided by a certified translation agency or individual who has a Ministry of Commerce license and, in case of legal translations, a Ministry of Justice certification as well.
Why Certified Birth Certificate Translation Matters in Saudi Arabia
An official translation of a birth certificate is usually required for a bunch of reasons that are related to various legal entities, including courts and governmental organisations.
For this reason, heading to a certified translation and localisation services centre is the right way to translate documents to obtain official, legal documents that can be used for any purpose.
Moreover, a certified translation can be used for any foreign affairs outside the country by getting the certificate notarized.
Common Reasons Parents Need This Service
In Saudi Arabia, the most common reasons for parents to order a certified translation birth certificate include the following:
- Registration of the child’s dependent status on the parent’s Iqama via Absher in case the child is born outside of Saudi Arabia.
- Enrollment of a child in a school, in which both local and international schools need a certified and sometimes notarized copy of the birth certificate.
- Renewal of a passport in one of the embassies in Riyadh or Jeddah.
- Adding a child to the existing family health insurance plan by a sponsor.
- Issuance of family visas for the spouse and children.
What Should Be Included in a Certified Birth Certificate Translation?
In order for it to be accepted without question, the certified translation of birth certificate must accurately reflect the original and have the following information included:
- Name of the child written out according to how it is recorded in the passport of the child.
- Names of both parents as they appear on their respective official documents.
- Dates of birth, with both Hijri and Gregorian if they appear in the source document.
- Registration number and institution that issued the document (e.g., Civil Affairs in Saudi Arabia or the foreign civil registry office)
- The stamp of the translator or the office, the signature and attestation of correctness, and notarization when required by the receiving body.
When Do You Need a Birth Certificate Translation in Saudi Arabia?
Certified translations become very important for families in KSA in a number of situations, including:
- Immediately after the birth of the baby overseas and the need to get the child listed in the parent’s residency records,
- Enrollment in schools, which could either be a Saudi school or an international school,
- Family visa application,
- Iqama application for a dependent,
- While applying for passports through the embassy,
- Legal issues like custody and inheritance disputes where proof of parenthood may be demanded.
Since each case is handled by a different entity, it makes sense to find out the certification process needed in each case.
Saudi Birth Certificate vs. Foreign Birth Certificate: What’s Different?
| Saudi Birth Certificate | Foreign Birth Certificate |
| A Saudi birth certificate is issued by the Ministry of Civil Affairs. Generally, this is done in the aftermath of registering the birth via Absher service or at civil registration offices following registration of birth at the hospital. It takes the form of a standard Saudi birth certificate that includes a registration number and is increasingly printed with Arabic and English sections. | A foreign birth certificate will always take the form of the certificate issued by the foreign country concerned and according to its format, language, and civil registration. In most cases, a foreign birth certificate cannot be accepted without first being certified and attested by the relevant embassies. The certificate must also be translated into Arabic before it is finally accepted by MOFA. |
Authorities That Require Certified Birth Certificate Translation in Saudi Arabia
Certified translations could be required to meet any or all of the following authorities based on their purposes:
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA)
- Absher and Jawazat: In the case of applying for registration of a dependent child with his/her parents’ residency account.
- Ministry of Education/school admission department: As a part of the file for admission of students.
- Foreign embassies of Riyadh and Jeddah: For passport applications and consular registrations.
- Courts/Legal departments: For custody, guardianship, or inheritance issues.
Documents Required Alongside Your Birth Certificate Translation
Almost all authorities would want to receive the certified translation of a birth certificate along with the following set of documents according to the requirements of the receiving authority:
- Original birth certificate (and photocopy).
- Passport photocopies of the child and both parents.
- Copies of Iqama from the parents, where residency has to be changed.
- Certified translation of the marriage certificate of the parents, if it is required by the receiving authority.
- Legalization and attestation from the Saudi embassy for foreign certificates.
Common Mistakes That Delay Birth Certificate Translation
We list the common mistakes that could delay the acceptance of certified translation to avoid them:
- Wrong spelling of child’s name on the translated document against their name on the passport.
- Skipping legalization in the home country prior to translation and attestation of foreign certificates.
- Obtaining translation from an unauthorized translator or translation office whose signature is not recognized by official authorities.
- Submitting outdated or damaged original documents, which some authorities would outrightly reject.
- Neglecting the MOFA attestation process after translation, thinking that the translated copy is enough.
Our Birth Certificate Translation Process: Step by Step
To get an official translation of birth certificate, it’s necessary to follow some steps to get the most advantages out of it. These steps are:
- Searching the web for a legal translation provider for the sake of getting an official translation.
- Choosing Alsun Arabia, which offers a high-quality translation to the target language of the country.
- Send your birth certificate via WhatsApp and ask for an official quote through our professional team.
- When agreeing on the terms and conditions, proper quote, language, and date & time for an official translation.
- It’s time to complete the payment for getting an official translation of a birth certificate.
- Once the translation is finished and reviewed, we stamped and signed it for delivery on time.
Languages We Translate Birth Certificates Into
We translate birth certificate in Arabic and a wide range of languages, up to 75 languages, to cover all clients’ needs in Saudi Arabia. Our language list includes English, Urdu, Hindi, Tagalog, Bengali, Indonesian, French, Malayalam, and more.
Birth Certificate Translation Near Me
If you are looking for a place where you can get a birth certificate translation near you, then you should know that the Riyadh branch of Alsun Arabia is located on King Fahd Road at Al Olaya near the Kingdom Tower, which makes this stop convenient regardless of the fact that you will have to go to another building, either a government office or an embassy, on the same day. Translation is possible online as well with delivery of the translated document by email or mail service.
How Much Does Birth Certificate Translation Cost in Riyadh?
The cost of a certified birth certificate translation in Riyadh depends on the language pair, the length and format of the original certificate, and the time it takes to be translated. Our pricing plans start at SAR 35 for standard documents like birth certificates for language pairs Arabic and English. To receive an accurate quote for translating your birth certificate, please send us a copy of the document.
Birth Certificate Translation Office in Saudi Arabia
Alsun Arabia is a certified translation office in Riyadh where our translators can deal with certificates that can be used in government entities, courts, and foreign embassies in Saudi Arabia. Arabic birth certificate translation is one of the simpler yet precise translations that we conduct as per the same standards that govern our certified translations.
Why Choose Alsun Arabia for Birth Certificate Translation?
There are several reasons why individuals and businesses choose to use our birth certificate translation services. The reason behind that lies in the fact that our translators have experience in working with civil registry records and not just any other kind of content, making sure that the exchange regarding names and dates will be minimal.
We offer more than one language pair needed in order to deal with the expatriate population of Saudi Arabia; we guarantee the confidentiality of clients’ documents and even help with the procedures to be done before and after the translation process, such as MOFA attestation.
Conclusion
In Saudi Arabia, translation of a birth certificate is the one document that will make or break anything you need to do further, from getting your child’s Iqama registered to getting his/her school enrollment papers to applying for a family visa or having an existing passport reissued by the embassy. Making sure that all names and dates are consistent and that you use a certified translator or a certified translation office.
We translate certified birth certificates at Alsun Arabia on a daily basis in whatever language and format Saudi governmental agencies and foreign embassies would accept; thus ensuring that your document will be accepted the first time around, not rejected for revision. If you want to go ahead with the process, our Riyadh branch is here to help you through it.
Read More: Iqama translation office
FAQs
How long does a birth certificate translation take?
A certified translation of the birth certificate takes 24 hours, but the time varies based on language pair and document length.
Can a foreign birth certificate be used directly in a Saudi school?
No, because it requires certification, translation into Arabic, and usually MOFA attestation in order to be accepted as a part of a student’s enrollment process.
What if my child’s name is spelled differently across documents?
Inconsistencies in the name of a child in the translation and his/her passport or Iqama are one of the main reasons why the document may not be accepted. Therefore, you need to resolve this issue before submitting. At Alsun Arabia, we pay much attention to that issue to avoid rejections.
Can I submit my documents online instead of visiting the office?
Yes. You can send your documents via WhatsApp or email and get the translation by the same way.
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Norhan Fathi
Professional SEO Content Writer and Translator with extensive experience in crafting creative, high-quality content. Skilled in reviewing, refining, and enhancing texts with a strong focus on content quality, coherence, and clarity to ensure the desired outcomes are achieved in the most effective way.