All official procedures after birth

Finally the baby has arrived and you are first of all busy getting to know the new little person. But right at the start there are many Official procedures administrative tasks, many even within specific time frames. To make these dealings with authorities quick and smooth, here is a list of the official procedures:

List of administrative procedures after the birth

1. Birth notification
2. Birth certificate
3. Proof of citizenship
4. Residence registration form (Meldezettel)
5. Employer
6. Allowances
7. Maternity pay (Wochengeld)
8. Childcare benefit
9. Kindergarten
10. Benefits for multiples
11. Additional tips for discounts and gifts for the birth

 

1. Birth notification

The birth of the baby must be reported to the registry office (Standesamt) of the place of birth within one week. If delivery takes place in the hospital, the hospital sends the birth notification; for a home birth the midwife does. If neither a doctor nor a midwife were present, the parents must contact the registry office as soon as possible. For this you will need the following documents:

• Identity card
• Family record book (Familienstammbuch) or marriage certificate
• for unmarried mothers: the birth certificate, if possible also the father's

2. Birth certificate

You must also apply for your baby's birth certificate at the registry office. In large hospitals this can usually be done on site; if not, inquire at the hospital before delivery, as sometimes there are cooperations. Otherwise you must go to the registry office that is locally responsible for the place of birth (e.g. the location of the hospital). Registration is free of charge. For this you will need the following documents:

• Marriage certificate
• Austrian national (female): proof of citizenship showing the current family name
• Non-Austrian national: passport, certificate of nationality
• Residence registration form (Meldezettel)
• Birth certificates of mother and father
• if applicable, proof of an academic degree of the parents
• Declaration of the child's first name

for Divorced an additional item is required:

• If applicable, proof of the mother's residence abroad
• Marriage certificate of the most recent marriage
• Proof of dissolution of the marriage by divorce, annulment or nullification, with confirmation of finality
• if applicable, paternity acknowledgment

for Widowed an additional item is required:

• Death certificate of the spouse
• If applicable, proof of the mother's residence abroad
• Marriage certificate of the most recent marriage

If the baby was born out of wedlock the biological father will only be entered in the birth certificate on the basis of a personal declaration or by a court ruling.

Foreign nationals must bring translated or international marriage and birth certificates, as well as passports of the mother and father.
Extra tip: If you cannot immediately agree on a name for the baby, it is possible to come back within one month. If you want an unusual first name for your child, it is best to bring 'evidence', for example a name book.

3. Proof of citizenship

At the registry office you can also have a proof of citizenship issued for your baby. This is only possible after a birth notification. For this you will need the following documents:

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• Parents' marriage certificate
• Parents' proof of citizenship

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• Child's birth certificate
• Mother's proof of citizenship
• Official photo ID of the applicant

Since 1.1.2008 the proof of citizenship has been free for the first 2 years of your child's life.

4. Residence registration form (Meldezettel)

Your child also needs a residence registration form. This is applied for at the municipal office and is free of charge. The documents required are:

• Child's birth certificate

5. Employer

After the birth the current employer must also be informed by the parents. The duration of the parental leave must be announced, and sometimes fathers also receive additional days off. For this you will need the following documents:

• Child's birth certificate

Attention regarding the Announcement of the duration of parental leave there are deadlines: The mother must inform the employer how long she wishes to remain on parental leave For the parent who takes parental leave first it usually begins eight or twelve weeks (= end of the protection period) after the birth of the baby. The mother can also start parental leave after a vacation or sick leave. Thus the mother must inform the employer within this deadline; the father must inform his employer no later than eight weeks after the birth. If the parents share parental leave, this must be announced to the employer no later than three months before the end of the current parental-leave period. If the current parental-leave period following the protection period is less than three months, the next parental-leave period must be reported during the protection period.

6. Allowances

The family allowance must be applied for at the tax office. Since 1.1.1992 this allowance has only been available to the child's mother, unless she waives it in favor of the child's father. The required documents are:

• Application for granting the family allowance (Form Beih 1)
• Copy of the child's and the applicant's residence registration form (Meldezettel)
• Copy of the birth certificate

7. Maternity pay (Wochengeld)

Maternity pay must be applied for at the health insurance fund. The mother receives maternity pay 8 weeks before and 8 weeks after the birth. Exception: for premature birth, caesarean section or multiples she receives it for 12 weeks.

• Birth certificate (the registry office issues a free birth confirmation for this purpose)
• in case of premature birth, caesarean section, multiples a confirmation from the hospital (issued by the secretariat of the gynecological department)

The application is free of charge.

8. Childcare benefit

You can also apply for childcare benefit at the health insurance fund (Caution: For this you need a confirmation that you already receive family allowance)

Required documents:

• Birth certificate (the registry office issues a free birth confirmation for this purpose)
• if applicable, confirmation of a caesarean section (Sectio) (issued by the secretariat of the gynecological department of the hospital)
• if applicable, residence registration form (Meldezettel)

By reporting the birth to the health insurance fund your baby will be covered by social insurance through the mother or the father. After a few days you will also receive an E-Card with the child's own social insurance number.

9. Kindergarten

Also inquire in your area about the availability of kindergarten places. In some areas places are very scarce and you should register as early as possible. It is best to check with your municipality or the city administration how soon you need to register and what is required.

10. Support for multiples

Expenses for twins or multiples are correspondingly double or multiple. Some federal states want to provide additional financial support to families and offer a one-time payment after the birth. In the following federal states in Austria you can receive a one-time financial support for a multiple birth:

Lower Austria

Send a letter to the Lower Austrian provincial government and you will receive a one-time payment for your twins or multiples.

Contact address:

Application: letter to the Lower Austrian Provincial Government
Office of the Lower Austrian Provincial Government
Department of General Promotion, Family Section
3109 St. Pölten, Landhausplatz 1, Haus 9
Email: [email protected]
Tel.: +43 (0) 2742 9005 1 9005
Fax: +43 (0) 2742 9005 13335

Burgenland

For a one-time grant, send a letter within the first 6 months after the birth of your multiples to the Burgenland provincial government.

Contact address:

Office of the Burgenland Provincial Government
Department 6 – Main Department for Family and Consumer Protection
Edeltraud Fischer
Europaplatz 1
7000 Eisenstadt
Tel.: +43 (0) 57 600 2328 or +43 (0) 57 600 2536
Email: [email protected]

Salzburg

In Salzburg you can request the one-time payment for your multiples by phone from the family office:
Contact address:
Family Office of the State
Schwarzstraße 21/3
5020 Salzburg
Email: [email protected]
Tel.: +43 (0) 662 8042 5435 or 5436 and at +43 (0) 662 87 12 27

11. Additional tips for discounts and gifts for the birth

In some cities or municipalities you receive a gift for the birth.

Vienna

If your official residence is Vienna and the first two check-ups in the Mutter-Kind-Pass (mother-child booklet) have been completed, the City of Vienna will give you a changing backpack as a gift.

Lower Austria

In many municipalities in Lower Austria you receive shopping vouchers.

Extra tip: from the municipality. Always ask when buying baby products if there is a multiple-birth discount. Many furniture stores or online shops usually offer discounts for multiples. Also sign up with drugstores (e.g. Bipa, DM) or other websites selling baby products for baby clubs; these often send many free samples or vouchers (e.g. for diapers).

Read also: Household with baby

Photo by Janine, meinhaushalt.at