Adding a Parent’s Name to Your Child’s Birth Certificate in Singapore

In Singapore, birth certificates are issued upon the registration of a child’s birth. The birth certificate will usually reflect the child’s biological parents’ names. However, in certain situations, parents might want to add their names to the birth certificate after it has been issued.

Here are some situations where this might occur, and how to go about adding a parent’s name to the child’s birth certificate.

Why Might a Parent Want to Add Their Name to the Child’s Birth Certificate?

At times, one parent’s name might not be listed on the birth certificate. One group of people seeking to add a parent’s name to their child’s birth certificate might be unwed mothers.

For instance, you might not have been married to the child’s biological father when the child was born. However, both of you might have gotten married subsequently and now wish to add the father’s name to the child’s birth certificate.

1. Where the parent whose name to be added is the child’s biological parent

This can only be done when both of the birth/biological parents get married. Adding the name of the biological parent legitimises the child and allows for re-registration of the child’s birth.

Is there a deadline for re-registration of the child’s birth?

The child’s birth parents are under a legal duty to re-register their child’s birth within 3 months of their marriage.

However if they do not do so, the ICA may notify either/both parents to do so according to a certain timeline. This will not affect the legitimation (or re-registration) of the child’s birth. The timeline will also be at least 7 days after the parent(s) has received the notice.

Procedure

To add the name of the biological parent to the child’s birth certificate, both parents will have to go to the ICA Information Counter (located on level 3 of the ICA Building) for an interview.

This can be done on any weekday between 8am and 4.30pm. The following documents must be submitted:

• Both parents’ original identity cards and original marriage certificate;
• The child’s original birth certificate;
• DNA test results to prove the father’s paternity of the child (the results must include the biological father and child’s identification numbers); and
• Any other documentary evidence to support the application (if any)

Once the application is approved, there is a fee of $180 for the insertion of the father’s name and particulars, and $40 for the issuance of a new birth extract (i.e. a certified true copy of the birth certificate).

As of December 2018, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) no longer offers DNA tests for parentage testing. DNA paternity test services can be obtained from private organisations instead.

2. Where the parent whose name to be added is not the child’s biological parent

Another issue would be whether it is possible to amend the child’s birth certificate to reflect the name of a parent who is not the child’s biological parent.

For example, after you have divorced your child’s biological parent and remarried, your current spouse may want to have their name added to the child’s birth certificate.

In this case, both parents will have to apply to adopt the child. If the adoption is successful, the names and particulars of the child’s birth parents will be replaced with those of the child’s adoptive parents.

You can then apply for a copy of the amended birth certificate.

You may wish to consult a lawyer for advice on filing for adoption for the purposes of re-registering a child’s birth.

Other Miscellaneous Issues

Changing just the child’s name

Parents may apply to alter their child’s name but this must be done a) before the child turns one year old; and b) provided that the child’s name has not been previously altered. Do note that only the child’s parent or legal guardian may apply to alter the child’s name.

Procedure

The application must be made using this form.

You will need to provide the following documents/information for the online application:

• NRIC of both parents (or foreign passport and FIN card for foreigners)
• Letter of consent duly signed by the other parent (who is named in child’s birth certificate)
• Other supporting documents (where applicable)

If there is no consent letter from the other parent, the parent making the application (i.e. the applicant) is required to produce a court order stating that the applicant has the full control and rights to change the child’s particulars unilaterally without the other parent’s consent.

Upon approval, your child’s digital birth certificate which was previously issued will be cancelled and a new digital birth certificate reflecting the child’s new name will be issued.

A non-refundable application fee of S$33 must be paid. You will also be required to pay S$18 for the issuance of a new digital birth certificate.