What Happens if You Are Born on a Cruise Ship?

By Alice Nichols

If you’re expecting a baby and planning a cruise, there’s something you need to be aware of: if your child is born on the ship, it may not be considered a legal birth. The rules and regulations vary from country to country, but more times than not, if the child is born in international waters, it won’t receive an official birth certificate. Depending on the country of your citizenship, this could cause some problems for you and your child down the road.

When it comes to registering a birth on a cruise ship, it all depends on the nationality of the parents. If both parents are citizens of one country whose laws recognize births at sea as legal, then chances are that your baby will have an official record with that country. However, if one or both parents have different nationalities or come from countries with laws that don’t recognize births at sea as legal, then the baby might not get an official record.

If this happens and you don’t register the birth in any other way before disembarking from the ship (many cruise lines will provide a certificate for a fee), then your child might not have any official documentation for their existence until you can apply for a passport or other identification document. In some cases this could even mean that your child won’t be able to get a social security number until they reach adulthood.

What To Do If You Are Born On A Cruise Ship?

If you find yourself in this situation (either giving birth on board or having people close to you do so) it is important to take action right away. Contacting your local consulate ahead of time can help ensure that all necessary documents are prepared for when disembarking from the cruise ship.

Conclusion:

Being born on board a cruise ship can cause complications if parents don’t register their child’s birth correctly before leaving the ship. It’s always best to contact your local consulate ahead of time to make sure all necessary documents are prepared before disembarking from the cruise ship. This will ensure that your child has all of their legal documentation required for future travel and other activities.