After the Birth of a Child

zur deutschsprachigen Version
to the German version

• Registering a Birth/Initial Issuance of a Birth Certificate
• Residence Registration of a Newborn
• Registration of the Newborn with the Social Insurance Company
• Enrolment in a Childcare Facility
• More Information

Registering a Birth/Initial Issuance of a Birth Certificate

If you gave birth at a hospital, the birth will usually be registered automatically at the local register office. In addition, a residential registration form [Meldezettel] will be issued. If the child is an Austrian citizen, a proof of citizenship [Staatsbürgerschaftsnachweis] will also be issued. 

As a rule, the child's names, the parents' names, the child's sex, time of birth and place of birth will be recorded on the birth certificate [Geburtsurkunde]. If you have not decided your child’s first name directly after delivery, you should contact the register office [Standesamt] at the very latest within 40 days after the birth and have the name recorded there.

If a child is born during an intact marriage, the husband will be recorded in the birth certificate as the child's father. In case of death or divorce the 300 day deadline must be taken into consideration.

If a child is not born during an intact marriage, the biological father can only be registered in the child's birth certificate if

• he makes an acknowledgement of paternity [Vaterschaftsanerkenntnis] or
• if the fatherhood is proven by court.

Deadlines

Births must be registered within one week. As the Birth Certificate is required for registering the newborn's residence, it should be applied for within three days after your return home from the maternity ward or after the home birth.

Responsible Authority

The local civil status office at the baby’s place of birth (e.g., location of the hospital):

• The register office or register office association [Standesamt oder Standesamtsverband] of the municipality
• In statutory cities: the register office [Standesamt] of the Magistrate
  • In Vienna: the register office [Standesamt] in which area (district) the birth took place
    

Fees

• Registration of a birth: free of charge
• Issuance of a birth certificate: free of charge
• Issuance of the first proof of citizenship: free of charge

Please note: The first issuance of a birth certificate for a child is free of charge provided it is issued within the first two years after the birth of the child (i.e. up until the day of its 2^nd birthday). The delivery of a birth certificate by mail is usually not free of charge. Please contact the responsible register office for further information on the costs.

Required Documents

Married parents must present the following documents:

• Birth certificates of the child's parents
• Marriage certificate [Heiratsurkunde] of the child's parents
• Proof of nationality of the child's parents
  
• Proof of the child’s parents' principal residence in case it is abroad
• If applicable, proof of academic degrees [Nachweis akademischer Grade] of the child’s parents
• Statement regarding the child’s first name (if you have decided on a first name)
  
• Registration form entitled "Anzeige der Geburt" (Registering a birth) if the birth was not registered by the head of the hospital, the physician or the midwife

Single, divorced or widowed mothers as well as mothers who have a registered partnership must present the following documents:

• Birth certificate [Geburtsurkunde] of the child's mother
• Proof of citizenship of the child's mother
  
• Confirmation of the registration [Bestätigung der Meldung] of the child’s mother if her residence is abroad
• If applicable, divorce decree or ruling with a confirmation of the legal effect of the divorce (issued by the divorce court) or the marriage certificate [Heiratsurkunde] of your last marriage and the death certificate of your late husband
• If applicable, certificate of registered partnership
• If applicable, proof of academic degrees [Nachweis akademischer Grade] of the child’s mother
• Statement regarding the child’s first name (if you have decided on a first name)
• If applicable, proof of the acknowledgement of paternity (by the father)
  
• Registration form entitled "Anzeige der Geburt" (Registering a birth) if the birth was not registered by the head of the hospital, the physician or the midwife
• If applicable, the change-of-name decision
• Ask for a specific authorization in the hospital which entitles the extramarital father or another person to carry out the registration

Documents which are not in German must be submitted in their original version together with a translation. 

Please note: A translation form reffered to regulation (EU) 2016/1191 attached to the original document basic conform the needs.

In addition a list of translator sworn and certified is available on the pages of the Federal Ministry of Justice [Bundesministerium für  Justiz].

Residence Registration of a Newborn

You can register the baby’s residence at the time you register its birth at the register office if a registration form has been filled in before (usually in the hospital). If you register the baby’s residence at the register office, you do not need to go to the registration authority.

Deadlines

You can register your baby’s residence simultaneously with its birth even before you leave the hospital.

Otherwise you need to register the child’s residence with the registration authority within three days after your return home from the maternity ward.

Required Documents

If you register the baby’s birth and residence simultaneously, no additional documents will be required.

Responsible Authority

If you register the baby’s birth and residence simultaneously: the local civil status office responsible for the baby's place of birth (e.g., location of the hospital). This can be:

• The register office or register office association [Standesamt oder Standesamtsverband] of the municipality
• In statutory cities: the register office [Standesamt] of the Magistrate
  • In Vienna: the register office [Standesamt] responsible for the baby's place of birth

In all other cases, in general, the registration authority responsible for your child's place of residence:

• The local municipal office [Gemeindeamt]
• In statutory cities: the Magistrate [Magistrat]

Exception – In Vienna:

• Any district office of the Magistrate [Magistratisches Bezirksamt] (regardless of the district of residence)
• The Meldeservice – Zentrale Meldeauskunft der MA 62

Registration of the Newborn with the Social Insurance Company

In general, children are co-insured with the mother and the father. Only in the very rare case that neither the child's mother nor its father are insured the child is not insured either.

Usually the responsible register office [Standesamt] reports the birth of the child to the social insurance organisation. This is done automatically after the birth has been registered. The report is processed on the same working day. From that day on, a social security number for the child exists. 

After a successful report an e-card (electronic chip card) will be sent to your child via post. If the card does not arrive within 14 days, please contact your social insurance organisation.

Enrolment in a Childcare Facility

It is recommended that you register your child as soon as possible in a crèche, kindergarten or day-care facility.

Responsible Authority

• Your municipal office
• In statutory cities: the magistrate
  • In Vienna:
    • MA 10 – Vienna Kindergartens [MA 10 – Wiener Kindergärten]
    • Service centres of Wiener Kindergärten [Servicestellen der Wiener Kindergärten]
• Private childcare facilities

More Information

Additional information can be found on the German website at oesterreich.gv.at.