Get Birth Certificates in San Marino

A birth certificate (atto di nascita) in San Marino is an essential civil document required for obtaining Sammarinese citizenship documents, enrolling in school, applying for a passport, and many other official purposes. San Marino is the world’s oldest republic, a small landlocked enclave within Italy, with Italian as its official language. This guide covers how to get birth certificates in San Marino, including in the City of San Marino and in Serravalle.

How Birth Registration Works in San Marino

In San Marino, civil registration is handled by the Civil Status Office (Ufficio di Stato Civile) under the Secretary of State for Internal Affairs. The country is divided into nine municipalities (castelli), each with a local government (giunta di castello). However, civil registration is centralized at the national level through the Ufficio di Stato Civile.

Births must be registered within three days at the Civil Status Office. When a baby is born — usually at the San Marino State Hospital (Ospedale di Stato) — the hospital provides a birth notification. One parent or another qualified informant must then proceed to the Civil Status Office to complete the formal registration and receive the atto di nascita.

Documents Required for Birth Registration in San Marino

To register a birth and obtain a birth certificate in San Marino, parents typically need:

Hospital birth notification from the Ospedale di Stato
Valid identity documents of both parents (Sammarinese identity card, passport, or Italian documents for Italian residents)
Marriage certificate if married
If unmarried: a recognition of paternity (riconoscimento di paternità) before the registrar

San Marino has close legal ties with Italy and follows similar civil law procedures. Certified copies of the atto di nascita can be requested from the Civil Status Office at any time.

Getting a Birth Certificate in the City of San Marino

The City of San Marino (Città di San Marino) is the capital of the republic, perched on the slopes of Mount Titano. The Civil Status Office is located in the capital’s government district. All births in San Marino — regardless of which castello they occur in — are registered at this centralized office. Parents with a birth anywhere in the country must attend the Civil Status Office in the capital city within three days.

The Civil Status Office in the City of San Marino is part of the Palazzo Pubblico complex or nearby government buildings. Given San Marino’s small size (approximately 61 km²), the office is easily reachable from anywhere in the country. Certified copies of birth certificates can be requested in person or by post.

Getting a Birth Certificate in Serravalle

Serravalle is San Marino’s most populous castello, a commercial and industrial hub located in the northern part of the country. Despite being the most populated area, Serravalle does not have its own civil registration office for births — all registrations are handled centrally in the capital city. Parents with a birth in Serravalle must travel to the City of San Marino’s Civil Status Office for registration.

San Marino’s compact geography means the journey from Serravalle to the capital takes only a few minutes. Subsequent certified copies of birth certificates can also be requested through the Civil Status Office by post or in person.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Civil Status Office in San Marino?

The Ufficio di Stato Civile (Civil Status Office) is located in the City of San Marino (Città di San Marino), the capital of the republic, within the central government buildings on Mount Titano.

How many days do you have to register a birth in San Marino?

Births in San Marino must be registered within three days at the Civil Status Office in the capital city.

Can a San Marino birth certificate be apostilled?

Yes. San Marino is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. Apostilles for Sammarinese civil documents are issued by the competent authority, typically the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs or the Civil Status Office.

Can children born in San Marino acquire Sammarinese citizenship?

San Marino citizenship is primarily acquired through Sammarinese parentage (jus sanguinis). Children born in San Marino to non-Sammarinese parents do not automatically become citizens. The citizenship rules are complex — contact the San Marino Secretary of State for Internal Affairs for guidance on citizenship by descent or naturalization.

Conclusion

Getting a birth certificate in San Marino requires registering the birth within three days at the centralized Civil Status Office in the City of San Marino. Whether born in the capital or in Serravalle, all registrations are handled at the same office. The atto di nascita issued there is the cornerstone of civil identity in the republic, required for citizenship documents, passports, and all major life events in San Marino.