A newborn baby visa in the UAE is the residence visa for a child born to resident parents, and it has a firm deadline: the baby's residence visa, passport and Emirates ID should be completed within 120 days of birth. Before the visa come the Arabic birth certificate, its translation and an embassy passport. Wordcraft handles the translation and attestation in-house and files the visa and Emirates ID.
The 120-Day Deadline, Explained
The UAE government gives expatriate parents 120 days from the date of birth to finish the baby's documents, including the residence visa (source: u.ae). During that period the baby can stay in the country legally without a visa. After day 120, daily fines apply and the baby cannot leave the UAE until the status is settled. The birth itself should be registered within the first 30 days, which the hospital normally starts for you.
The embassy passport is usually the slowest link, so start the birth certificate translation in the first weeks rather than waiting. If you are already close to day 120, or past it, message us straight away and we will check what can still be done.
Newborn Visa Timeline: From Birth to Emirates ID
| Stage | When | What happens | Who handles it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Birth registration and certificate | First days, within 30 days of birth | The hospital notifies the birth and the health authority issues the birth certificate in Arabic | Hospital and health authority (MOHAP, DHA in Dubai, DOH in Abu Dhabi) |
| 2. Translation and attestation | As soon as the certificate is issued | Legal translation into English or your home language; MOFA attestation if your embassy asks | Wordcraft |
| 3. Passport | Once the translated certificate is ready | Application at your embassy or consulate in the UAE | Parents, with our document list for your embassy |
| 4. Residence visa | As soon as the passport is issued | Application inside the UAE with GDRFA (Dubai) or ICP (other emirates) | Wordcraft |
| 5. Emirates ID and insurance | In the same request as the visa | Emirates ID issued; health insurance added where the emirate requires it | Wordcraft |
All five stages should be finished within 120 days of the birth.
Birth Certificate Translation and MOFA Attestation
A UAE birth certificate is issued in Arabic, and most embassies will not issue a passport from it without a translation. What you normally need:
- A legal translation of the birth certificate into English or your home-country language. Our MOJ-certified translators prepare it; see legal translation.
- MOFA attestation where your embassy or home country asks for it. It is now digital and verifiable online, and we arrange MOFA attestation for you.
The birth certificate attestation page explains the routes for certificates issued in the UAE and abroad, and why an attested copy is worth having later for school admission and your home-country records.
Getting Your Baby's Passport From the Embassy
With the translated (and, where required, attested) birth certificate, apply for the passport at your embassy or consulate. Each mission keeps its own list. Commonly it asks for both parents' passports and visas, the parents' marriage certificate and baby photos taken to passport standard. Tell us your nationality and we will send the exact list before you book the appointment.
Residence Visa, Medical Test and Emirates ID
- The residence visa is filed inside the UAE: through GDRFA if the sponsoring parent lives in Dubai, through ICP in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and the other emirates.
- Babies and young children are generally not required to take the medical fitness test.
- The Emirates ID application goes in with the visa, and young children usually do not need biometrics.
- Health insurance for the baby is needed where the emirate makes it mandatory for dependants, as Dubai and Abu Dhabi do.
Documents for a Newborn Residence Visa
- Baby's birth certificate (Arabic original) with translation and any required attestation
- Baby's passport and a recent photo
- Sponsoring parent's passport, residence visa, Emirates ID and salary certificate
- The parents' attested marriage certificate
- Tenancy contract, where the authority asks for it
- Health insurance for the baby, where required
Babies Born Outside the UAE
For a baby born abroad the order changes. The foreign birth certificate is authenticated in the country of birth and legalized by the UAE embassy there, which now completes the UAE MOFA attestation digitally in the same step. We then apply for an entry permit so the baby can travel in on your sponsorship, followed by the residence visa and Emirates ID. The 120-day rule applies to babies born in the UAE; for a baby born abroad the entry permit validity sets the pace. To sponsor the rest of the family, see the family visa service or the spouse visa page.
Last checked: 29 September 2026 against u.ae guidance on birth certificates and residence visas for newborn expatriates.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to get a residence visa for my newborn?
120 days from the date of birth for the visa, passport and Emirates ID. After that, daily fines apply and the baby cannot exit the country until the status is regularized.
What happens if I miss the 120-day deadline?
Fines build up for each day over the limit and must be settled before the visa is issued. Contact us at once; we check the options and file the visa as quickly as the passport allows.
Does my baby need a medical test?
Generally no. Babies and young children are usually exempt from the medical fitness test.
Can the mother sponsor the baby?
Yes, a mother who meets the family-sponsorship conditions can sponsor her child, and in some cases an approval from the authority is needed. We confirm this at application.
Do I need to translate the birth certificate?
Usually yes. The UAE birth certificate is in Arabic, and most embassies need a legal translation before they issue the passport.
Does the birth certificate need MOFA attestation?
Only if your embassy or home country asks for it. Many do for their own civil registration, so we check your nationality first.
Can I travel with my baby before the residence visa is issued?
Travel before the visa is issued can cause problems at exit and re-entry. Finish the residence first, or ask us to check your situation before booking.
How much does a newborn visa cost?
That depends on whether translation and attestation are needed and on your emirate. The written quote shows every government fee and our charge up front.
