Birth permission certificate no longer required for couples expecting test-tube babies

Chinese couples no longer have to get birth permissions before they want in vitro fertilization (IVF).

However ID cards, a valid marriage certificate, and a written commitment to China's family planning policy are still required documents that must be presented.

The birth permission, a way for the authorities to control the population, means couples are allowed to have children legally. Parents will get fined if they have babies without it.

In most regions of the country, the permission is part of a family planning service certificate which will be checked in a series of procedures: pregnancy test, child delivery, maternity insurance application, etc.

Applying for the permission can be a very cumbersome procedure, especially with many couples not living and working in their hometown where they are usually the registered as permanent residents.

They have to make many trips between their hometown and where they currently live to complete the application.

The National Health and Family Planning Commission said the procedure simplification for couples expecting test-tube babies can help boost the "two-child" policy introduced this year.

Though the police Chinese couples no longer have to get birth permissions before they want in vitro fertilization (IVF).

However ID cards, a valid marriage certificate, and a written commitment to China's family planning policy are still required documents that must be presented.

The birth permission, a way for the authorities to control the population, means couples are allowed to have children legally. Parents will get fined if they have babies without it.

In most regions of the country, the permission is part of a family planning service certificate which will be checked in a series of procedures: pregnancy test, child delivery, maternity insurance application, etc.

Applying for the permission can be a very cumbersome procedure.

With many couples not living and working in their hometown where they are usually the registered as permanent residents and thus where they must present themselves to get the permission certificate can create many troubles for couples.

The National Health and Family Planning Commission said the procedure simplification for couples expecting test-tube babies aims to complement the "two-child" policy introduced earlier this year.