Birth and Death in Indonesia

Birth in Indonesia 

If your baby is born in Indonesia, please ensure you register the birth of the baby with Indonesian authorities and inform UNHCR soon after the birth so we can update your records and documentation. 

Registering the birth of your child with Indonesian authorities 

Birth registration is the official recording of the birth of a child by national authorities.  Birth registration creates a permanent and official record of a child’s existence, establishes a child’s legal identity, and links the child to his parents and to the country of his/her nationality. 

Birth registration is important as it helps ensure children are able to access rights such as education and health care. Without birth registration and documentation, children may have problems proving their nationality, putting 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 linkage between the child and the parents and protects the unity of the family. It can also help the child reunify with the parents in the future if they are ever separated.  

Children born from one Indonesian parent and one parent who is a refugee, or an asylum seeker can obtain a Birth Certificate (Akte Kelahiran) from the local Civil Registry Office (Dinas Kependudukan dan Pencatatan Sipil).  

Children born from a mother and father who are both refugees or asylum seekers can obtain a Birth Notification Letter for Foreign Nationals without an Immigration Document (Surat Keterangan Peristiwa Penting Kelahiran) from the local Civil Registry Office. This is regulated in the Presidential Regulation No. 96/2018 Article 77 regarding issuance of a notification letter for important live events experienced by foreign nationals who are residing in Indonesia without immigration documents. This is relevant to refugees as most refugees and asylum seekers do not have valid immigration documents while living in Indonesia. 

Please note that for children receiving Birth Notification Letter for Foreign Nationals without an Immigration Document (Surat Keterangan Peristiwa Penting Kelahiran), the government does not official record the birth in the national registry however the Birth Notification Letter issued is an official government document that could be used in lieu of Birth Certificate. 

The issuance of a Birth Certificate or a Birth Notification Letter is free of charge. 

Documents to prepare to bring to the Civil Registry Office: 

1. Birth Notice from a health facility or midwife
   If a Birth Notice is not available, a form called Surat Pernyataan Tanggung Jawab Mutlak (SPTJM) Kebenaran Data Kelahiran (F-2.03) must be completed.  This form is available at the Civil Registry Office and must be signed by two witnesses.  
2. Marriage Certificate 
3. UNHCR Documents

If a Marriage Certificate is not available, a form called Surat Pernyataan Tanggung Jawab Mutlak (SPTJM) Kebenaran Pasangan Suami Istri (F-2.04) must be completed.  This form is available at the Civil Registry Office and must be signed by two witnesses. 

If you are facing challenges in obtaining a Birth Certificate or a Birth Notification Letter from the local Civil Registry Office (Dinas Kependudukan dan Pencatatan Sipil), please contact UNHCR here Contact Us.

Informing UNHCR of the birth of your child 

In addition to registering the birth of your child with the Indonesian government, please inform UNHCR of the birth of your baby and register the baby’s information with UNHCR by submitting a request via: https://enketo.unhcr.org/x/go1VXi5P.   

Choose “Yes” for the question “Have you been registered by UNHCR?” and fill in your UNHCR case number. Please make sure to insert your active contact number and choose “Newborn Registration” as the topic of your concern, then submit.   

UNHCR will contact you to schedule a registration interview. Please ensure you have the birth notification issued by the hospital/clinic/midwife with you for the registration interview.

If a member of your family passes away, the health facility that made the declaration should issue a Death Notification Letter.  According to Presidential Regulation No. 96/2018 Article 77, a notification letter will be issued for important live events experienced by foreign nationals without Immigration documents. 

Currently, however, Death Notification Letters are not being issued for refugees who have passed away. UNHCR continues to advocate with Civil Registry Offices to encourage that these documents are issued.  

If you are facing challenges to obtain a Death Notification Letter from the local Civil Registry Office (Dinas Kependudukan dan Pencatatan Sipil), please contact UNHCR.

For refugees living independently in Jakarta and the surrounding area who require assistance with the burial arrangements, please reach out to the CWS Health Hotline at 0811 816 1511.  For refugees living independently elsewhere, please contact the UNHCR field office responsible for your area.  If you possess the death certificate, kindly include it in your message. The team will provide support and guidance throughout the burial process. 

To facilitate the burial, a Status Confirmation Letter (SCL) from UNHCR that confirms that the refugee was registered with UNHCR at the time of death and includes information on any family members in Indonesia is necessary to enable coordination with the appropriate cemetery for the burial arrangements.  

Please note that UNHCR is unable to facilitate the transportation of the deceased to their Country of Origin (CoO).