About the Registry

The Registry was formed in 1856 to register life events in NSW. Our role is to keep accurate and secure records, ensuring their integrity and confidentiality. The Registry works hard to deliver services and products quickly and efficiently and support our customers.

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Who we are

The NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages is an agency within the NSW Department of Customer Service. It exists to enact the Births Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1995 and the Relationships Register Act 2010.

What we do

  • Register life events in NSW accurately and securely. This includes births, deaths, marriages, relationships and official changes of name and sex.  
  • Issue certificates used as identity documents, and commemorative certificates used as a decorative keepsake for births and marriages.
  • Conduct Registry weddings, vow renewals, and unique ceremonies.
  • Provide access to the Registry’s historic records to help you research and explore your family history.
  • Provide data for planning and research to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and the Australian Bureau of Statistics.  
  • Help people with diverse needs to access our services.

Registry information

Our products and services

We provide a range of certificates, products, and information services that help you get the important foundational documents you need.

Fees and processing times

Our fees and processing times for registrations and certificates.

Our policies

The Registry has policies to guide its operations and ensure:

  • transparency
  • compliance with legislation
  • protection of personal information in all services provided.

Access to information

Certificate replacement

Change of name

Complaints and feedback

Correcting information

Fee waivers

Refunds

Registering a name in NSW

Privacy statement

Access to information

You can request access to information held by the Registry through the Department of Customer Service. 

Internal review of a decision

If you disagree with a decision made by the Registry, you can apply for it to be reviewed. Read about our internal review process. 

The Registry touches the lives of customers who have experienced a life event in NSW. We have been a trusted service for 170 years. 

Read about our history

Terms and conditions of using our service

In completing a Registry application form, you consent to us releasing the details you provide to agencies who may be able to validate the information.

False representation

If you knowingly provide false information in your application, you may be guilty of an offence under Section 57 of the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1995.

A person who makes a representation in an application, notice or document under this Act or in response to a notice under Section 44 of this Act (Registrar's powers of inquiry), knowing the representation to be false or misleading in a material particular, is guilty of an offence.

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