Registering a Birth in Monaco: Procedure and Documents

Overview

Birth registration in Monaco is a mandatory legal formality governed by Monegasque civil law. All births occurring in Monaco must be declared to the civil registry within 5 days of delivery. Failure to register within the deadline can result in legal complications and additional administrative steps.

Most births in Monaco take place at the Centre Hospitalier Princesse Grace (CHPG), which works closely with civil registry officials to facilitate the declaration. However, parents are responsible for ensuring the registration is completed and for obtaining the official birth certificate.

Deadline and Responsibility

5 days from birth — the day of birth itself is not counted.

The obligation to declare rests primarily on:

• The father of the child
• The doctor, midwife, or person who assisted at the birth
• If none of the above: another adult present at the birth

For births at CHPG, maternity staff typically initiate the declaration process in coordination with the Mairie de Monaco. Parents should confirm completion and collect the birth certificate.

Where to Register

Mairie de Monaco — Service de l'État Civil
Place de la Mairie
Monaco-Ville (Le Rocher)

The civil registry office handles:

• Birth declarations
• Issuance of birth certificates
• Apostille authentication
• International multilingual extracts

Required Documents

The documents required vary by family situation:

For married parents:

• Medical birth certificate from the hospital
• Valid ID of the declarant (passport or national ID card)
• Marriage certificate (original or authenticated copy)

For unmarried parents:

• Medical birth certificate from the hospital
• Valid ID of both parents
• Acknowledgement of paternity (if established before birth, provide documentation)

For foreign nationals:

• All foreign documents must be originals or certified copies
• Documents not in French must be accompanied by certified French translations

Birth Certificates

Once registered, the civil registry issues an acte de naissance (birth certificate). Request multiple copies at the time of registration:

• One copy for passport applications
• One for school enrollment
• One for insurance or legal purposes
• One to keep in a safe location

Additional copies can always be obtained from the Mairie for a small fee.

International Birth Certificates

Monaco participates in the Vienna Convention of 1976 on multilingual civil status documents. This allows the Mairie to issue multilingual international extracts recognized across participating countries without translation.

For use in non-participating countries, the document may require apostille authentication, which the Mairie de Monaco provides for civil status documents issued in Monaco.

For French Nationals

French nationals born or having children in Monaco should be aware that specific rules apply under the Franco-Monegasque Convention on mutual legal assistance and civil status. French parents may also need to register the birth with the French consular authorities or the relevant French mairie. Consult the French consulate in Monaco if in doubt.

Practical Tips

• If both parents are present when leaving the hospital, bring all required documents and register immediately at the Mairie — it avoids a second trip
• Ask the Mairie specifically whether they need the original hospital certificate or whether CHPG has already transmitted it
• Request at least three certified copies of the birth certificate during registration
• Keep the birth certificate safe — it is the foundational civil status document for your child's entire life

See also: Marriage in Monaco, Childcare in Monaco