Registering a child's birth
A child's birth must be reported to any registry office (dzimtsarakstu nodaļa) in Latvia within one month — regardless of the birthplace or the parents' declared residence. Registration is free: the office records the birth, assigns a personal code, issues the birth certificate and declares the newborn's residence at the same time.
Who this applies to
Step by step
Prepare the documents
The medical certificate of birth issued by the healthcare institution (original) and the parents' passports or eID cards. Many offices require prior booking.
Register the birth
The office registers the fact while you are present: the system generates the child's personal code, declares the residence and issues the birth certificate. A child may be given no more than two first names.
Apply for the benefits
Once the personal code is assigned, apply on Latvija.gov.lv for VSAA benefits: the one-off birth grant (600 EUR), the childcare and parental benefits. Many municipalities let you apply for their own birth grant at the same time.
Common mistakes
Frequently asked questions
Does registration cost anything?
No, registering the birth and the certificate are free. A ceremonial registration is possible on request (municipalities may charge for it).
What if the parents are unmarried?
The father is recorded via the parents' joint paternity acknowledgment — filed at, before or after the birth registration. Without it, only the mother is recorded.
Must the child's residence be declared separately?
No — the registry office declares the newborn's residence during birth registration.