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Registering a child's birth

A birth must be registered within one month (up to two with a valid reason). If the child was born in an Estonian hospital, it's easiest via the e-population register — the personal code is assigned at the maternity ward. Registration takes 7 working days; the first certificate is free and the digital one is downloadable for 30 days. A child may have up to three first names.

Service passportUpdated: 29.07.2026.
Cost
Free
Duration
Registered within 7 working days
Deadline
Within one month of birth
Where
e-population register or the municipality
Open the official service →
✓ Information verified: 2026-07-29 Report an error

Who this applies to

The child's parents. Unmarried parents can also register online together with the paternity acknowledgment; if one married parent applies alone, the other's written name consent is needed. From 2026 in-person registration happens only at county-centre municipalities (any of them). After registration the Social Insurance Board sends a proactive family-benefit offer within a week; many municipalities pay a local birth allowance too.

Step by step

Register the birth

In the e-population register choose birth registration, enter the child's name and confirm with a digital signature. In person — at a county-centre municipality.

Download the certificate

The first certificate is free; download it within 30 days from the e-population register. A repeat later costs 10 euros.

Confirm the benefits and family doctor

Within a week the SKA benefit offer arrives — confirm it. Also register the child with a family doctor and declare the residence (backdatable up to 3 months from the birth date).

Common mistakes

Missing the one-month deadline without a valid reason — registration becomes more complicated.
Not downloading the digital certificate within 30 days — a repeat costs money later.
Overlooking the municipal birth allowance — local grants (sometimes hundreds of euros) often need a separate application.

Frequently asked questions

Does registration cost anything?

No — registering and the first certificate are free. A repeat certificate costs 10 euros (electronic 5).

When does the child get a personal code?

A child born in an Estonian hospital gets the code at the maternity ward — pre-filled at registration.

Official sources

Verified against official sources · 29.07.2026.

See also