Official recording of children who die immediately after birth
General information
If a child is born alive and dies immediately after birth, this is recorded as both a birth and a death in the Central Civil Status Register. In general, the notification of birth is sent to the registry office automatically by the hospital in which the child is born. If requested, the registry office will issue a birth certificate and a death certificate.
Deadlines
The notification of birth must be made within one week.
Competent body
The registry office in the child’s place of birth (e.g. location of the hospital):
- the Registry Office or Registry Office AssociationGerman text for the municipality
- in Chartered Cities: the RegistryOofficeGerman text of the municipal executive
- In Vienna: the Registry Offices in ViennaGerman text in whose area (district) the birth took place
The following persons must carry out the notification, in the following order of precedence:
- the director of the hospital in which the child was born
- the doctor or midwife who was present at the birth
- the father, the mother or a parent, if they are able to do so within the notification period of one week (e.g. in the case of home births)
- the authority or police department conducting investigations into the birth
- other persons who have knowledge of the birth based on their own observation
Some registry offices and hospitals cooperate with one another, so that the hospitals concerned send the registry office the documents required together with the ‘Notification of birth’ (Anzeige der Geburt) form. Please enquire at your hospital or at the competent registry office.
In the case of home births the birth or death of a child may only be registered if a confirmation of birth/medical confirmation of death issued by a doctor or midwife is available or the birth or death is not doubtful due to other circumstances.
Documents required
The person responsible for the care and upbringing of the child must submit the following documents no later than one (1) week after the birth:
- written declaration of the first name given to the child,
- marriage certificate or partnership certificate of the parents,
- if the parents were not married, the mother's birth certificate and the mother's most recent marriage certificate,
- proof of dissolution or annulment of the marriage or registered partnership,
- proof of the parents' nationality,
- proof of the parents' main residence if they live abroad,
- the birth certificate, if the birth has not been reported by the head of a hospital, the midwife, or the doctor who assisted with the birth.
A foreign-language document must be submitted with the necessary certification formalities and a translation. Further information is available from the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA)/Office for Consular Certifications (0501150-4425; beglaubigungen@bmeia.gv.at). To deregister in person or by mail, you will need a registration form.
Naming
Parents must declare the child's first name in writing. If the first names are given by the parents by mutual agreement, the declaration of one parent is sufficient if it contains an assurance that the other parent agrees.
The first name and family name of the child is entered in the documents.
Costs
- notification: free of charge
- issue of the confirmation of birth/birth certificate and confirmation of death/death certificate: free of charge
- after two years: EUR 13.10
NOTE: There are no fees for the first issue, provided that these documents are issued within two years of the birth of the child. There are generally costs for sending the certificate. Please enquire at the competent registry office.
Further links
Legal basis
- Personenstandsgesetz (PStG)
- Personenstandsgesetz-Durchführungsverordnung (PStG-DV)
- Gebührengesetz (GebG)
