After-birth checklist for parents in Iceland
After birth in Iceland, parents must move through child registration, possible ID confirmation, naming, paternity or custody steps where relevant, postnatal healthcare, leave administration, and childcare planning.
Last updated: May 2026
Add these tasks to my timelinePost-birth task checklist
Birth registration and ID
- □Confirm birth notification sent to Registers Iceland by the hospital
- □Receive child's kennitala (Icelandic ID number)
- □Confirm child is registered in your municipality
Namegiving (deadline: 6 months after birth)
- □Choose a name that is on the approved Icelandic names list (Mannanafnaskrá)
- □If the name is not on the list, apply to the Personal Names Committee
- □Confirm custody and paternity status if surname options are affected
- □Submit name registration with Registers Iceland before the six-month deadline
Paternity and custody (where relevant)
- □Declare paternity formally if not done before birth
- □Confirm custody arrangement if required for naming or leave applications
- □Understand how paternity affects surname options
Parental leave administration
- □Submit parental leave application on Ísland.is before leave begins
- □Ensure employer confirmation of leave period is provided
- □Review estimated payment timeline from Fæðingarorlofssjóður
Postnatal healthcare
- □Schedule postnatal midwife visit
- □Register child with a GP at your local healthcare centre (heilsugæsla)
- □Follow the vaccination and development check schedule
Childcare planning
- □Confirm preschool application status in your municipality
- □Check waitlist position and expected allocation timing
- □Arrange day-parent care if a leave-to-childcare gap is anticipated
Key deadlines after birth in Iceland
6 months
Naming deadline
Child must be officially named with Registers Iceland within six months of birth.
Before leave
Parental leave application
Application must be submitted on Ísland.is before the leave period begins, not after.
First year
Preschool application window
Most municipalities require applications well before the child reaches preschool age. Check your municipality's timing via Birta Life.
Frequently asked questions
Who registers the birth in Iceland?▼
The hospital sends a birth notification to Registers Iceland. Parents do not manually register the birth, but must complete namegiving separately within six months.
When does a child get a kennitala in Iceland?▼
The kennitala is assigned by Registers Iceland after birth registration. It is needed for health records, naming registration, parental leave, and preschool enrollment.
When must a child be named in Iceland?▼
Within six months of birth. The name must be on the approved list (Mannanafnaskrá) or go through the Personal Names Committee for review.
What if paternity has not been declared after birth?▼
If paternity has not been formally declared, it can affect surname options and custody-related naming decisions. Birta Life flags this as a dependency in the post-birth checklist.
Track every after-birth task in one timeline
Add your child's birth date and see naming, leave, and childcare tasks organized by deadline.
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