How to apply for a birth certificate

In this guide, we explain how you can order a New South Wales (NSW) birth certificate.

You can order a new or replacement birth certificate from us if the birth or adoption happened in NSW.

You can order a birth certificate for:

• you
• your child (if they are under 18 years old). 

You can also order a birth certificate for someone else if you follow one of these rules. 

You can order a birth certificate for someone else if you have:

• a letter from the person saying it’s ok  
• documents to prove who they are
• documents to prove who you are. 

You can order a birth certificate for someone else if you have written power of attorney.

A  power of attorney  is a document that says:  

• a person can make decisions for someone when they can’t  
• what decisions they can make.

You can order a birth certificate for someone else if you have a document that shows you are their guardian.

A guardian is a person who acts and makes decisions for someone. 

You can order a birth certificate for someone else if you are the person’s lawyer.

A lawyer is someone who knows and understands the law. 

You need to share 2 documents to prove who you are to order a birth certificate.  

You need to pick 1 document from list 1 and 1 document from list 2.

We explain these document lists below.  

List 1 includes:

• an Australian birth certificate
• a foreign birth certificate (with English translation if needed)

• an Australian citizenship certificate
• an Australian citizenship by descent certificate

A citizenship certificate is an official document that proves someone is a citizen of a country.

A citizen is someone who belongs to a country under the law.

They have the rights and freedoms of that country.  

• an Australian passport
• an Australian visa (using a foreign passport)
• a foreign passport (with English translation if needed)

• an Australian driver licence
• a foreign driver licence (with English translation if needed)

• a firearms licence

• a proof of age or photo ID card

• a veteran card issued by the Department of Veterans' Affairs
• Immicard
• confirmation of Aboriginality and/or Torres Strait Islander heritage.

List 2 documents include:

• an Australian driver licence

• a Medicare card

• a Centrelink card

• a veteran card issued by the Department of Veterans' Affairs

• a licence to work as security or to control crowds

• an ID card from university, college or TAFE
• Aviation Security ID card (ASIC)
• Maritime Security ID card (MSIC)

• UN Convention Travel Document (Titre de Voyage)
• Certificate of Currency for private health insurance
• confirmation of Aboriginality and/or Torres Strait Islander heritage
• council rates notice from the last 3 months
• lease agreement
• NSW Corrective Services release certificate.

You need to share 2 documents to prove who you are. 

This includes one document from List 1 and one document from list 2.

If you can't meet this rule, complete your application and submit it with the ID documents you have.

Make sure your contact details are on the form so we can contact you.

It costs $70 to order a birth certificate.

It will cost $105 if you want your birth certificate faster.  

It will cost $44 for a commemorative certificate.  

A commemorative certificate is a decorative copy of a document.  

You can’t use a commemorative certificate as proof of who you are.

We don't send out commemorative certificates faster.

It will cost $100 if you want to order a birth certificate and commemorative certificate. 

It will cost $135 if you want to order a birth certificate and commemorative certificate and get your birth certificate faster.

It will cost an extra $10 to send your birth certificate outside of Australia.

It will cost $51 for us to send a copy of your birth certificate to a passport office.

When you order a birth certificate, you need to fill out information about the person.

For example, information about:

• who they are
• when the person was born
• where the person was born. 

You also need to make sure you have a way to pay for the birth certificate.  

You can order a birth certificate on our website.

Or you can fill out a form to order a birth certificate.

You can download the form from our website. 

After you have filled out the form, you can send it in the mail.

NSW Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages
GPO Box 30
Sydney NSW 2001

Or you can take your form to a service centre.

You can find a centre near you on the Find a service centre page on the Service NSW website.

If you are a new parent, you can order a birth certificate when you register your child's birth.

You can find out more on the Register your baby page on our website.

If you need a birth certificate for a research project about your family, you can visit the Family history search guide page on our website. 

We will check your order for a birth certificate to make sure you have provided the information we need.

Birth certificates can take up to 4 weeks to arrive.

Commemorative certificates can take up to 6 weeks to arrive.

If you paid for your birth certificate to arrive faster, it will take between 2 to 3 weeks.  

You should check the birth certificate to make sure all the information is right when it arrives.

You need to send it back to us if the information on your birth certificate is wrong.

When you send it back to us, you need to include 2 documents that show who you are. 

You also need to send a correct an entry form that explains what the information should be.

You can download the form from our website.

You can send it to:

NSW Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages

GPO Box 30

Sydney NSW 2001

You can also take it to a Service NSW centre near you.

You must not make any changes to your birth certificate before you send it back to us.

You can find contact information on the Contact the Registry webpage.