Introduction
If your child's name has changed or been altered in any way, you'll need to register a change of name with the Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages.
You can do this via an online form. One parent enters the child's and their own details, and the other parent confirms the details are correct, and then provides their details.
Fees are attached to the application with the total amount varying depending on your choice of certificate.
Note: Applications can be saved and resumed for a period of 90 days. If they have not been submitted within that time, they expire.
Eligibility
The child must be:
- not a restricted person
- under 18 years of age
- born in NSW, or
- born overseas but a resident in NSW for 3 consecutive years immediately prior to the date of application.
Both parents named on the child's birth certificate must apply unless:
- only one parent is named on the child's birth certificate, or
- one parent has sole parental responsibility under a final parenting order made under the Commonwealth's Family Law Act 1975, to make decisions about:
- major long-term issues within the meaning of that Act, or
- the child’s name, or
- the other parent is deceased, or
- a court has specifically approved the new name for the child.
What you need
- the reason why you're changing your child's name
- a current credit card for payment
For each parent you also need:
- their current email addresses
- their personal and contact details
- digital copies of:
- 3 proof of identity documents including current photo IDs
- a document from a fourth category (if applicable)
In addition:
For a child born in NSW:
- 4 proof of identity documents including:
- NSW birth certificate or change of name certificate, and
- a current photo ID
For a child born overseas:
- the child's birth certificate to prove you are the parents of the child, and
- 4 proof of identity documents including current photo ID.
How to apply
- Check the eligibility requirements.
- Select the 'Apply online' button.
- Enter the required details.
- You will receive an email from Births, Deaths & Marriages (BDM) with your Online Reference Number (ORN).
- Check the email and continue the application by entering your ORN.
- Complete the online form and upload the required documentation.
- Select 'Submit Application'.
- Enter the second parent's details, and invite them to complete the application.
- BDM will email the second parent and provide an ORN.
- The second parent follows Steps 5 to 7.
- Review the application
- Decide if you'd like a commemorative certificate.
- Confirm your order.
- Make your payment.
- You'll both receive an email from BDM confirming receipt of your application and payment.
If you're not able to apply online:
- Download and complete Application to register a change of name for a child (under 18) – PDF.
- Visit a Service NSW Centre and lodge your application in person, or post it to:
NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages
GPO Box 30
Sydney, NSW 2001
Child proof of identity (POI) documents
Category 1: Right to reside in NSW
For a child born in NSW:
- the original copy of the child's NSW birth certificate
- the original NSW birth certificate and/or NSW change of name certificate will need to be returned.
For a child born overseas:
- their birth certificate to show that you are the parents of the child, and
- one of the following:
- Australian citizenship certificate
- New Zealand citizenship certificate and New Zealand passport
- New Zealand birth certificate
- ImmiCard
- Certificate of Registration by Descent.
Category 2: Link between photo and signature
One of the following:
- Australian passport
- overseas passport containing current visa (if applicable)
- Australian driver licence
- proof of age card or photocard issued by an Australian State or Territory
- NSW Corrective Services Certificate.
Note: If you cannot provide photo ID and the child is over 12 you'll need to attach a passport size photo signed by a guarantor.
Category 3: Usage in the community
One of the following:
- Medicare card
- private health care card
- Centrelink pensioner concession card or other entitlement card
- student or tertiary education ID card
- printed immunisation history record from the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (if applicable).
Category 4: Proof of residential address
For a child born in NSW you need to provide one of the following:
- school report
- private health care statement.
For a child born overseas, you need to provide 4 documents – one document per year over 3 years with the most current less than 3 months old. Documents may include:
- school reports
- private health care statements
- invoices for school, childcare or preschool fees
- Centrelink family payment advice.
Parent proof of identity (POI) documents
There are 3 POI categories and a fourth category to confirm your NSW residential address (if necessary).
You need to provide one document from each category.
Category 1
- Australian birth certificate
- Australian citizenship certificate
- New Zealand citizenship certificate
- New Zealand birth certificate
- ImmiCard.
Category 2
- Australian driver licence
- Australian passport
- firearms licence
- overseas passport containing a current visa
- proof of age card or photocard issued by an Australian State or Territory
- NSW Corrective Services Certificate.
Note: If you cannot provide photo ID you'll need to attach a passport size photo signed by a guarantor.
Category 3
- Medicare card
- private health care card
- Centrelink pensioner concession card or other entitlement card
- Australian Department of Veterans Affairs card
- security licence
- student or tertiary education ID card.
Category 4
You also need to provide a document confirming your residential address if none of the POI documents you used shows your address. Examples of documents include:
- an electricity, water or gas bill issued within the last 3 months
- a lease agreement
- a council rates notice issued within the last 12 months.
More information
- Certificates are sent by the Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages via registered post.
- Documents provided as proof of identity may have their authenticity verified through the online national Document Verification Service (DVS).
- In NSW, you can only change your name once in a 12-month period and 3 times in your lifetime.
- If you cannot provide originals of previously issued NSW birth or NSW change of name certificates, you'll need to provide the reasons why.
- Restricted persons: Anyone under the supervision of the Commissioner of Corrective Services, the Mental Health Review tribunal, or the NSW Police Commissioner, must obtain approval from that authority before an application can be made. To not obtain approval is illegal.