Guide summary: Absher’s Report Missing Documents service includes birth certificates. Report the Saudi-issued certificate from the appropriate Absher account, state whether it was lost or stolen, and retain the reference. The official government service guidance then directs the user to make an appointment to request a duplicate. Because eligibility and follow-on options depend on the family record shown in Absher, use the instructions generated for your case rather than assuming that reporting alone creates a replacement certificate.
Check that this is the correct process
This route is for a birth certificate issued by Saudi Civil Affairs and available against the relevant Saudi civil record. It is not the process for:
- a UK or other foreign birth certificate, which must be replaced by the authority that issued it;
- registering a new birth for the first time;
- correcting a name, date or parent’s details on an existing record; or
- replacing a passport, Iqama or national identity card.
Absher lists the missing-document service for an account holder’s own documents. The beneficiary or child must appear in the account and in the available Civil Affairs records. If the birth certificate is not listed, do not report a different document type simply to open a case. Use Civil Affairs support or the appointment route to establish which parent, guardian or beneficiary must apply.
Before submitting the loss report
- Search carefully and confirm that the original paper certificate is genuinely missing.
- Have the account holder’s Saudi national identity or Iqama details and the beneficiary’s civil-record information available.
- Record when and where the document was last seen and whether the circumstances amount to loss or theft.
- Check the national address and mobile number shown in official systems so that any appointment or delivery instructions can reach the applicant.
The Saudi government service page warns that a confirmed missing-document report cannot be cancelled through Absher. Review the selected beneficiary, document type and event details before final confirmation.
Report the certificate through Absher
- Sign in to Absher: official service portal using the account that can see the relevant Civil Affairs record.
- Open My Services, choose Services, then Civil Affairs.
- Select Report Missing Documents. Interface wording can vary slightly between the portal and app.
- Choose Birth Certificate and select the beneficiary offered by the service.
- Enter the requested loss or theft details. Read any declaration about protecting official documents and the accuracy of the report.
- Review everything, submit the report and save the confirmation or reference number.
A successful report records the document as missing; it should not be described as a new certificate. Do not continue using a recovered paper original without first asking Civil Affairs whether it remains valid after the report.
Request the replacement
Follow the action shown after submission. The official GOV.SA guidance for this service says to make an appointment to file a request for a duplicate of a lost or stolen document and refers to Civil Affairs form 58. In Absher, return to Appointments or the Civil Affairs area, choose the relevant Civil Affairs appointment service, select the region, branch, date and time offered, and print or save the appointment confirmation.
Take the originals specifically requested in the appointment confirmation, together with the loss-report reference and any form generated or required by Civil Affairs. Requirements can vary according to the beneficiary, the age of the record and whether Civil Affairs needs to verify parentage or amend data. Do not rely on an unofficial universal checklist.
If Absher instead offers an electronic replacement or delivery step for this exact certificate, follow the on-screen official route and check the registered national address before confirming. Absher clearly advertises electronic replacement and delivery for some Civil Affairs documents, but that does not prove that every birth-certificate case is eligible for delivery.
If the service is missing or blocked
Check that you are using the correct account and that the beneficiary is linked to it. Try the official Absher portal as well as the current app, then use Absher support or book a Civil Affairs appointment if the record is absent. For a data error, ask for the appropriate correction service rather than filing a false loss report. Keep copies of the report and appointment confirmation until the replacement has been issued and checked.
Security: Never send an Absher password, one-time code or a full certificate image to an unofficial intermediary. Civil documents contain information that can be misused.