Get the “Medical Certificate of Birth” sorted out before discharge; decide on the baby’s name early and avoid typos.

12. Get the “Medical Certificate of Birth” sorted out before discharge; decide on the baby’s name early and avoid typos.

Cost: No cost at all. It can be arranged effortlessly while completing discharge procedures.

In plain terms: This certificate is a prerequisite for registering the child’s hukou, enrolling in yibao (basic medical insurance), and sending the child to school. Only the medical institution where the delivery took place can issue it for the first time. If you try to obtain it after discharge, you’ll have to follow a completely different process and submit extra documentation. Also, make sure the characters you pick for the baby’s name can be entered into the household registration system without any issues.

Benefit: Article 23 of the Maternal and Infant Health Care Law stipulates that medical institutions and home birth attendants must issue the standardized Medical Certificate of Birth for newborns as required by the State Council’s health administrative department. This certificate is a mandatory prerequisite for all subsequent procedures: registering hukou, signing up for medical insurance, applying for a health insurance card, and enrolling in preschool or school. The initial issuance can only be handled by the delivery hospital. Any later applications require a separate process and additional supporting documents.

Evidence grade: A

Notes: Before filling out the form, double-check every character in the parents’ names, their ID numbers, and the baby’s name. The characters chosen for the name must be compatible with the household registration system — using rare or uncommon characters can lead to endless complications down the line. Both name changes and certificate reissues involve reissuance procedures, which are far more expensive than simply verifying the details at the time of application. Once you receive the certificate, store it separately from other important documents: it holds the same legal weight as your household register and ID card.

Sources: Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (1994, revised in 2017). Maternal and Infant Health Care Law of the People's Republic of China (Article 23). <https://www.gov.cn/guoqing/2021-10/29/content_5647619.htm>