More than one dad will be delighted with this news. Last June we told you that, as a result of the new regulations, Newborns can be registered from the hospital itself where they are born, by electronic communication to the Civil Registry. However, this measure was not implemented generally from the first day, but began with pilot centers by Autonomous Community, except in Madrid, where there were more centers involved from the beginning. The reason for this gradual implementation of the baby enrollment, as announced by the Ministry of Justice, was to test its effectiveness before extending the system to all public and private maternity wards with sufficient technical resources.
The new system newborn registration This avoids the travel to the Civil Registry offices that parents had to make in the first few days of their baby's life. These procedures can be tedious and complicated, depending on the place of registration. Since its implementation, in the centers where the measure is applied, The hospital management notifies the Civil Registry of the birth within 72 hours.. In addition, the baby's identification mechanisms and the verification of maternal filiation, and the parents sign the official declaration form assisted by healthcare personnel, which provides greater legal security.
Where you can register your newborn without going to the registry
The implementation schedule is progressiveIn an initial phase, several hospitals were set up, one for each autonomous community, except for Madrid, which had more centers. Over time, availability has expanded, and today many public hospitals and some private ones They already process registration from their own administrative units. It is advisable confirm with your hospital before delivery if you offer this one-stop service.
Specifically, the hospitals in which they are initially implemented the measures were as follows:
- San Carlos Clinical Hospital and the JimĂ©nez DĂaz and Infanta Leonor Foundation in Madrid
- University Hospital of AlcorcĂłn
- Iron Gate of Majadahonda
- University of Fuenlabrada
- TorrejĂłn Hospital
- Clinical Hospital of Valladolid
- Pontevedra Hospital Complex
- Gutiérrez Ortega de Valdepeñas Hospital (Ciudad Real)
- Marqués de Valdecilla Hospital in Santander
- Terrassa Hospital
- University Hospital of Ălava and Juan RamĂłn JimĂ©nez de Huelva
- Navarra Hospital Complex
- San Pedro de Logroño Hospital
- General Hospital of Lanzarote
- Regional Hospital of Melilla
- Merida Hospital
- Northwest Regional Hospital of Caravaca de la Cruz (Murcia)
- Inca Regional Hospital (Balearic Islands)
- Central University of Asturias
- Doctor Peset Hospital of Valencia
- Lozano Blesa Hospital in Zaragoza
Remember Not all centers have the same equipment nor identical organization: in some hospitals there is a Civil Registry office or documentation unit that manages the electronic referral, and in others it is processed by the hospital management. If your hospital does not perform the registration, You can do it at the Civil Registry corresponding within the legal deadlines.
Processing of the registration application for all births from health centers
En general, most births can request their registration from health centers. However, there are certain excluded assumptions where Civil Registry legislation requires processing the registration in person at the corresponding office.
Necessary to appear in person to register a newborn in the following cases:
- When it exists paternity suit or if the presumption of marital paternity is to be broken.
- When one of the parents is younger or has its capacity judicially modified.
- When it comes to the birth of children non-marital in the case of absence, death or disability of the father, the mother or both.
- When both parents are foreigners of different nationalities.
- When the mother has resigned to the son.
Furthermore, it cannot be processed registration at the hospital in the following additional cases established by instructions from the General Directorate and applicable regulations:
- If they have elapsed more than 72 hours from birth for communication from the health center (outside the hospital period).
- When the destination Civil Registry is not computerized or the health center lacks the technical means for electronic referral.
- In births of lifeless child or twins with one alive and one deceased, due to the associated registration complexity.
- When you intend to register as parents two unmarried women; in such case only communication will be made regarding the pregnant mother and the affiliation will be completed through the corresponding legal means.
- When the name is not known of the person born at the time of processing or the medical certificate is not presented required.
The processing is carried out through a computer application and requires, in general, the following documentation that the hospital sends to the Civil Registry: medical birth certificate (electronically signed), identification document valid parents' ID (DNI, NIE or passport), family book or marriage certificate if it exists, and official application form signed by those who declare. If everything is correct, the Civil Registry will register the newborn and, within a few days, will provide the literal birth certificate by the chosen means (postal mail or email).
After enrollment in the hospital it will not be necessary to go to the civil registry
La communication from the health center sends to the Civil Registry all the necessary documents to register the newborn, so Parents will not need to travel to the Civil Registry unless the documentation sent contains any error, omission or inaccuracy which requires subsequent correction.
Once registered, the Civil Registry will send the parents a literal birth certificate with which they will be able to carry out the administrative transactions that they require from other Administrations (benefits, health card, registration, etc.). This notification is made preferably by electronic means. Also registered in this way are: deaths occurred in health centers, with the medical certification that must express the existence or not of signs of violent death or causes that prevent the burial or cremation license.
Family Book Update
With this new measure already no need to update the family record book to prove the birth. You can present the existing book, if you have one, along with the literal birth certificateIn any case, anyone who wishes to do so may go to the Civil Registry to update it voluntarily. You should keep in mind that, with the new Civil Registry model, New Family Books are no longer issued in the current inscriptions; the existing books remain valid as a historical document, but they are not essential if you provide the certification.
The hospital enrollment system is voluntary
If for any reason you prefer someone to go to the Registry to register the child you are within your rights, since the new electronic communication system from health centers can be used in a volunteer to avoid travel. However, you can process the application in person at the Civil Registry in the traditional manner and timeframe. Please note that if this is not done from the hospital, You have 10 days to declare the birth before the Civil Registry and that the deadline can be extended up to 30 days for just causeIf the hospital does not enroll you, it may issue a certificate of non-processing so that you can submit it to the Registry.
Reinforcing identification: guarantees against errors and impersonation
The administrative reform included measures to strengthen identification of newborns and prevent fraud. In sensitive cases such as death of newborns After the first six months of pregnancy, it is required that the death certificate is signed by two doctors, who under their responsibility must sign, based on medical, biometric and analytical tests, that there is no doubt on the mother-child relationship.
What is birth registration?
The birth registration is the registry entry which is carried out by the Civil Registry and which certifies the fact of birth, the date, time and place where it took place, the identity and sex of the baby and, where appropriate, of the filiationThis entry is what allows you to obtain literal certification for all subsequent procedures.
Who is required to promote birth registration?
- La hospital management, clinics and health establishments where birth takes place.
- El health personnel who has attended the birth when it has taken place outside a health establishment.
- Los parentsIn case of renunciation of the child at the time of birth, the mother will not have this obligation, which will be assumed by the Public Entity competent.
- El next of kin or, failing that, any person of legal age present at the place of delivery.
How do I register and what are the deadlines?
When the communication of birth It is carried out from the hospital, the deadline for submitting it is 72h from birth. If this is not done, those who are required to promote registration have a term of 10 days to declare the birth before the Civil Registry Office, extendable up to 30 days when just cause is proven by means of a file.
What documentation must accompany the declaration?
The declaration is submitted with the official form completed (chosen name, order of surnames and affiliation), the identification and nationality of the declarants and the medical birth certificate electronically signed by the physician. When the ordinary deadline has elapsed, it will be required resolution in registry file.
Where should the birth be registered?
While the traditional model coexists with the new Civil Registry, births can be registered in the Municipal or Consular Registry of the place where it occurs. In births that occur in Spanish territory, within the deadline, it is also possible to register them in the Civil Registry of the parent's address or legally known parents. With the full implementation of the new model, registration may be requested in any General Civil Registry Office or Consular of the corresponding district.
Cases and documentation by frequent typologies
Depending on the family situation and nationality, the Registry may require specific documentation In addition to the medical certificate and ID. Some common scenarios:
- Spanish single mother, of legal age: valid identification of the mother and birth certificate.
- Married son of Spaniards, of legal age: IDs of both parents, birth certificate and, if available, family book or marriage certificate.
- Non-marital child of Spaniards, of legal age (without changing the order of surnames): IDs of both and birth certificate.
- Foreign single mother, of legal age: Valid ID and birth certificate; additional documents may be required depending on personal legislation.
- Non-marital child of a Spaniard and a foreigner (without change of surnames): IDs of both and birth certificate.
- Non-marital child of foreigners, of legal age (without changing surnames): IDs for both parties and a birth certificate; the Registry may request proof of marital status, as appropriate.
- Marital son of two married women: IDs of both, birth certificate, family book or marriage certificate and, where applicable, assisted reproduction certificate.
The hospital may not make the communication when, in addition to the general legal assumptions, the mother's identification is missing, there is death of one or both parents in certain combinations of non-marital filiation, the marriage is not accredited in cases where it is required, or the time has elapsed 72hIn these cases, you must go to the Civil Registry with the required documentation.
Practical advice: coordinate health, employment and benefits procedures
Take advantage of the income to advance procedures that depend on registration. Notify your company of the birth as soon as possible and request the company certificate to manage the birth benefit before the INSS, checking that the quotes and dates are correct. If your hospital delivers one "birth data sheet" (sometimes known as a yellow sheet), keep it and attach it where appropriate. In parallel, once you receive the literal certification, you can process health card, benefits and, if applicable, regional aid.
In some autonomous communities, such as Madrid, all hospitals in the public network They have the electronic referral service. If the registration is not made from the hospital, in certain locations it is required that it be done in the Civil Registry of the municipality of birthIt's a good idea to check the corresponding Civil Registry's appointment page before traveling.
You can find more information in the website of the Ministry of Justice.
Images: eloisa, Bonnie U Gruenberg, Ernest F.
Register your baby from the hospital Reduce travel, speed up procedures and improve legal security thanks to biomedical identification and the signing of the official form. Find out at your center about the availability of the service, keep in mind the 72 hour period, review the documentation and, if any of the following apply, excluded assumptions, go to the Civil Registry within the legal deadlines to complete the registration without setbacks.