Birth registration is the official recording of the birth of a child through a state’s administrative process. It is a permanent and official record of a child’s existence; it establishes a child’s legal identity and links the child with the country of his/her nationality.
In Indonesia, refugees do not have automatic access to birth registration and birth certificates. UNHCR is sometimes able to support refugees by providing documentation or other needs on a case-by-case basis. However, UNHCR is limited in what it can do and cannot guarantee that the government of Indonesia will issue a birth certificate.
If you are having problems registering the birth of your child and getting a birth certificate, please email UNHCR at [email protected] or submit a request through our form: https://enketo.unhcr.org/fmYrpTgM
Birth registration is important as it enables children to access rights such as education and health care. Without birth registration and documentation, children may have problems proving their nationality which puts them at risk of becoming stateless. Birth registration proves the age of the child and protects the child from being vulnerable to protection risks such as trafficking, child labour, child marriage, illegal adoption and sexual exploitation.
Birth registration also proves the parental linkage between the child and the parents and protects the unity of the family. It can also help family unification of the child with the parents in the future in case of family separation.