Having a baby in the UAE as a Saffa involves two parallel processes: UAE admin (birth certificate, residence visa, Emirates ID) and South African admin (registering the birth and getting a SA passport). Both have hard deadlines. Miss them and you will be paying fines and scrambling with a newborn in your arms. Start early, follow the sequence, and it is actually very manageable.
The 120-day rule: You have 120 days from birth to get your baby's UAE residence visa stamped. After that, fines of AED 50-100 per day kick in and your baby cannot leave the UAE until everything is settled. The clock starts the moment the baby arrives.
Before the birth: what to sort in advance
Open your maternity file at your chosen hospital — Do this in the first trimester, not the third. Popular hospitals fill their delivery slots months in advance.
- Bring your attested marriage certificate with Arabic translation. Hospitals check this. Without it, the birth certificate process is delayed.
- Both parents' passports and UAE residence visas.
- Mother's Emirates ID.
- Health insurance card. Confirm your policy covers maternity and delivery before you book.
Sort your attested marriage certificate now — Hospitals require an attested and Arabic-translated marriage certificate to issue the birth certificate. If yours is not yet attested, start the DIRCO process immediately. Allow 4-8 weeks. See the Saffa attestation guide for the full process.
Maternity leave entitlements
- Private sector — 60 calendar days. First 45 days: full pay. Next 15 days: half pay.
- Public sector — 90 days, fully paid.
- Sick or disabled newborn — Additional 30 days full pay, plus 30 days unpaid if needed.
- Miscarriage after 24 weeks — 60 days, same as standard maternity.
- Paternity leave (private sector) — 5 working days, fully paid, within 6 months of birth.
Maternity leave applies from your first day of employment with no minimum service period. Nursing breaks of up to 1 hour per day are paid and continue for 6 months post-delivery.
Phase 1: UAE Birth Certificate (within 30 days of birth)
- Hospital issues a birth notification — Happens automatically at discharge. This is NOT the birth certificate. It is the starting document.
- Apply for the official UAE birth certificate — Dubai: through DHA at dha.gov.ae or via UAE Pass. Abu Dhabi: through the Health Authority. Private hospital births require a separate application.
- Submit required documents — Parents' passports and UAE residence visas. Attested marriage certificate with Arabic translation. Birth notification and hospital discharge summary. Mother's Emirates ID.
- Receive Arabic and English certificates — You need both. English is used for the SA passport application. Arabic is used for UAE admin.
- Get the birth certificate attested — Get MOFA (UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs) attestation for use with the SA Embassy. Cost: approximately AED 150-200 per attestation.
Phase 2: South African Passport (aim for Days 15-45)
- Register the birth with the SA Embassy or VFS Global — SA babies born abroad must be registered with the Department of Home Affairs. Apply within 30 days of birth via the SA Embassy in Abu Dhabi or VFS Global in Dubai.
- Complete form DHA 24 and BI-529 — Both parents must be present at the embassy to sign. If one parent is outside the UAE, obtain their consent from the SA Embassy where they are residing.
- Submit documents — Attested UAE birth certificate (English). Both parents' SA passports (originals). Both parents' UAE residence visas. Attested marriage certificate. 3 recent passport photos of the baby (white background).
- Receive the SA abridged birth certificate — Posted once processed. This confirms SA citizenship. Babies born abroad to SA parents are automatically entitled to SA citizenship.
- Apply for the SA passport — Submit at VFS Global Dubai (Wafi City) or SA Embassy Abu Dhabi. Both parents must be present and sign in front of a commissioner of oath. Processing time: 8-10 weeks (processed in SA). Track at services.vfsglobal.com/are/en/zap.
Phase 3: UAE Residence Visa (before Day 120, aim for Days 60-100)
- Confirm your baby has health insurance — Mandatory for the residence visa application. Add the baby to your employer plan immediately if not covered. Basic plans start from AED 600/year for children.
- Gather sponsor documents — Father's Emirates ID, UAE residence visa and passport copies. Attested marriage certificate. Ejari tenancy contract. Salary certificate (showing AED 4,000+ monthly salary).
- Gather baby documents — UAE birth certificate (Arabic version). Baby's SA passport. Baby's passport-size photo (white background, eyes open, facing forward). Health insurance confirmation.
- Apply via GDRFA Dubai or ICP — Dubai: gdrfad.gov.ae or via an Amer centre. Other emirates: icp.gov.ae or the ICP UAE app. AMER 247 (amer247.com) can also process this.
- Receive residence visa stamp — Stamped into the baby's SA passport. Cost: approximately AED 350 for visa issuance. Total including typing fees and processing: AED 1,500-2,500.
Phase 4: Emirates ID (simultaneously with Phase 3)
- Emirates ID application is submitted with the residence visa — Baby does not attend biometrics. Children under 15 are exempt from fingerprinting.
- Emirates ID delivered by post — Typically 5-10 working days after the residence visa is approved. Cost: approximately AED 170 for a 2-year Emirates ID.
- Your baby is now a UAE resident — They can access healthcare, be enrolled in school and travel in and out of the UAE.
Cost summary
- UAE birth certificate (DHA/DoH) — AED 50-100
- MOFA attestation of birth certificate — AED 150-200
- SA birth registration (VFS/Embassy) — Service fee applies, verify at vfsglobal.com
- SA passport for baby — Verify current fee at vfsglobal.com/are/en/zap
- UAE health insurance for baby (annual) — AED 600-1,500 for a basic plan
- UAE residence visa (government fees) — AED 350 approx
- Typing/Amer centre fees — AED 200-500
- Emirates ID (2-year) — AED 170 approx
- Total UAE-side — approximately AED 1,500-2,500
Rules every Saffa parent needs to know
The 120-day deadline is hard:
- Day 121 onwards: fines of AED 50-100 per day. Fines must be paid before the residence visa application can proceed.
- Your baby cannot exit the UAE without a valid residence visa.
- The fine clock ticks regardless of embassy delays. Start Phase 2 immediately.
SA passport takes 8-10 weeks — Apply by Day 30-40 to have it back in time for the 120-day deadline. VFS Global Dubai (Wafi City) is the primary SA passport application centre for UAE residents from July 2025.
Dual citizenship — Children born abroad to SA parents are automatically entitled to SA citizenship and can hold dual nationality. Register with the SA Embassy as soon as possible.
Joint property note — The father is typically the UAE residence visa sponsor. Mothers can sponsor in approved special circumstances.
Information correct as of June 2026. Congratulations on your new arrival.