Medical Certificate of Birth for foreign newborns: what Beijing and Shanghai English government pages say

The Beijing Municipal Government English guide to procedures for newborn foreign babies says that for the Medical Certificate of Birth issued for the first time, original copies and photocopies of the parents' valid identity documents are required (For foreign nationals, original copies and photocopies of their passports are needed).

The Medical Certificate of Birth in Beijing

The guide says that if the application for the Medical Certificate of Birth is not being submitted by the mother of the newborn, an authorization letter signed by the mother personally is required together with the original copy and a photocopy of the valid identity document of the authorized individual submitting the application.

The guide says to apply at the service windows for issuing Medical Certificates of Birth in the midwifery institutions in Beijing.

The guide lists the processing time as immediate and the fee as free of charge.

The Certificate of Vaccination in Beijing

The guide says that every midwifery institution in Beijing should register the prophylactic vaccination records and issue the corresponding Certificate of Vaccination.

Registration of a foreign infant in Beijing

A Beijing Municipal Government English page says that according to relevant provisions of the Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China, for foreign infants born in China, their parents or agents shall, within 60 days of birth, present the infants' birth certificates and go through all the procedures for stay or residence registration at the exit/entry administration authorities of public security organs under the people's governments at or above the county level in the places where their parents stay or reside.

The page says any failure in registering the birth of a foreign infant in accordance with the relevant regulations will incur penalty as per the relevant provisions of the Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China.

First-time documents for a child in Shanghai

A Shanghai government English page, updated June 8, 2026, lists, among applicants, those whose infant's parents are both foreigners.

The page says that, among the required documents, the original and photocopy of the child's Medical Birth Certificate issued in China, including the supplementary page, are listed.

The page says an application for a visa or residence permit must be submitted for the child within 60 days after birth.

The page lists the processing time as seven working days.

Questions people ask

What does the Beijing guide list as the fee for the Medical Certificate of Birth?

The guide lists the processing time as immediate and the fee as free of charge.

Within what period must foreign infants born in China be registered, according to the Beijing page?

The page says parents or agents shall, within 60 days of birth, present the infants' birth certificates and go through all the procedures for stay or residence registration.

What does the Shanghai page list among the required documents?

The page says that, among the required documents, the original and photocopy of the child's Medical Birth Certificate issued in China, including the supplementary page, are listed.

Sources

Each source above was read on the date shown. This page is an unofficial summary of general administrative information. It is not published by the bodies named above, and it is not medical advice. If it differs from the official pages, the official pages prevail, and rules may change after the check date.