Applying for adoption searches and certificates
Adopted people, adoptive parents and birth parents can apply for information searches and certificates for births, deaths and marriages registered in NSW.
What information can you search for?
Adoption information is restricted under the Adoption Act 2000. Access to Registry records related to adoption depends on who you are and when the adoption occurred.
Eligibility to apply for adoption information
Adopted people, adoptive parents and birth parents can apply for information searches and certificates for births, deaths and marriages registered in NSW.
If the adoption occurred before 2010, you need to get an Adoption Information Certificate and Memorandum (AIC) or Supply Authority from the NSW Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) before the Registry can share information with you.
Siblings, people with inherited rights and other third-party applicants also need an AIC or Supply Authority from the DCJ as evidence for their eligibility for adoption-related searches or certificates. It does not matter when the adoption took place.
If you are eligible, the Registry can help you search for and access NSW records relating to an adoption. Select the options below to learn more about the types of records you may be able to access.
Adoption searches
The Registry can search for birth, marriage and death records relating to an adoption. Depending on when the life event took place, we can provide either an extract of information from the Register or a full copy of a certificate.
Information from a birth parent’s birth record can be provided if the birth was registered in NSW. The information you will receive depends on whether the birth occurred:
- less than 100 years ago: an extract of the record containing only the given names (first and middle names) of the birth parent, date and place of birth, and the first given name of their parents can be provided
- over 100 years ago: a full copy of the birth certificate containing all registered information can be issued.
Information from a marriage record can be provided if the marriage was registered in NSW. The information you will receive depends on whether the marriage occurred:
- less than 50 years ago: an extract of the record containing only the given names (first and middle names) of the couple, date and place of marriage can be provided
- over 50 years ago: a full copy of the marriage certificate containing all registered information can be issued.
Information from a death record can be provided if the death was registered in NSW. The information you will receive depends on whether the death occurred:
- less than 30 years ago: an extract of the record containing only the given names (first and middle names) of the person who died, the date and place of death, cause of death and burial or cremation details can be provided
- over 30 years ago: a full copy of the death certificate containing all registered information can be issued.
Adoption certificates
Eligible people can apply for an integrated birth certificate, a post-adoption birth certificate or a pre-adoption birth certificate.
An integrated birth certificate (IBC) lists an adopted person’s birth parents and older siblings as well as their adoptive parents and siblings.
The IBC identifies the adoptive parents as the legal parents and shows the adopted person’s legal name. It can be used as a primary identity document.
A post-adoption birth certificate is issued after an adoption. It lists the adoptive parents as the adopted person’s legal parents. It does not include the birth parents.
The post-adoption birth certificate is a standard birth certificate and can be used as a primary identity document.
If you only need a post-adoption birth certificate you can apply online using the standard birth certificate application.
A pre-adoption birth certificate includes the information provided by the birth parent(s) at the time of birth.
The pre-adoption birth certificate cannot be used for identification purposes and will be stamped with 'Not for Official Use'.
Who can apply?
Eligibility to apply for adoption searches and certificates depends on your relationship to the adopted person, their current age, and when the adoption occurred.
You may apply if you are:
- an adopted person
- an adoptive parent
- a birth parent
- a person with inherited rights.
Others wishing to apply
Anyone else applying for adoption searches and certificates must check their eligibility with the NSW Department of Communities and Justice first. If you are eligible to access this information, they will issue you an Adoption Information Certificate and Memorandum (AIC) or Supply Authority.
Once you have these documents, you can apply to the Registry for adoption-related information or certificates.
What you need
What you need to apply depends on when the adoption took place and the current age of the adopted person.
All applications must include:
- a completed application form, and
- proof of identity.
If the adoption occurred before 2010, you must provide an Adoption Information Certificate and Memorandum (AIC) or Supply Authority from the NSW Department of Communities and Justice.
If you are under 18, you must also provide:
- written consent from an adoptive parent and birth parent if:
- you were adopted before 2010 and are applying for a pre-adoption birth certificate or integrated birth certificate
- you are applying for an adoption search.
- written consent from an adoptive parent only if:
- you were adopted after 2010 and are applying for a pre-adoption birth certificate or integrated birth certificate.
If it is not possible to get consent from your adopted and/or birth parents because they have died or are unreachable, please email the Post Adoption Information Unit at the Department of Communities and Justice.
Adoptions that occurred outside NSW
If the adoption occurred interstate and you want to search related NSW records, you need to provide:
- an equivalent document to the Adoption Information Certificate and Memorandum or Supply Authority from the state where the adoption occurred
- pre-adoption birth certificate, and
- post-adoption birth certificate.
Adoptions that occurred in other countries are not eligible for current NSW Registry information and certificates. However, you can search for historical certificates in our archives. Learn more about searching NSW records for your family history.
How to apply
Download and complete the Adoption search and certificate application form.
Prepare your supporting documents (including proof of identity).
Submit your application either by post or in-person. You cannot apply for adoption information online.
By post:
Please post the application and copies of your documents to:
Adoptions Section
NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages
GPO Box 30
Sydney NSW 2001
Note: do not post original certificates or identity documents.
In person:
Go to your nearest Service NSW Centre.
Bring your original certificates and identity documents for staff to check and scan.
Make payment. If you apply by post, a secure payment link will be sent after your application is reviewed. If you apply in person, you may pay the relevant fee when submitting your application or via a secure payment link emailed to you.
Fees and processing times
Adoption search and certificate applications are often complex and processing times vary. While the Registry cannot provide processing times for this application, we will contact you within 8 weeks of receiving your application and keep you informed as it progresses.
| Service provided | Fee |
|---|---|
| Pre-adoptive certificate Includes the information provided by the birth parent(s) at the time of birth. This cannot be used for identification purposes and will be stamped with 'Not for Official Use'. Fees include $11 postage and handling | Standard service $70 |
| Integrated Birth Certificate (IBC) *There is no fee for the IBC if a copy of the original post-adoptive birth certificate is provided in your application. Fees include $11 postage and handling | Standard service $70 |
| Marriage search Includes a result of search with names of the couple, date and place of marriage only. A full copy can be provided if the marriage was at least 50 years ago. Fees include $11 postage and handling | Standard service $70 |
| Death search Includes name, date and place of death, cause of death and burial or cremation details of the person who died. A full copy can be provided if the death was at least 30 years ago. Fees include $11 postage and handling | Standard service $70 |
| Extract of a birth parent's birth record For people born in NSW, includes name, date and place of birth and the given names of the parents. A full copy can be provided if the birth was at least 100 years ago. Fees include $11 postage and handling | Standard service $70 |
The Registry may waive fees in some circumstances. Read our fee waiver policy to see if you’re eligible.
What is an Adoption Information Certificate and Memorandum (AIC) or Supply Authority and how do I get one
An Adoption Information Certificate and Memorandum (AIC), also known as a Supply Authority, contains identifying details of the people involved at the time of an adoption, including information about the:
- adopted person
- birth parents
- adoptive parents.
These documents are issued by the Department of Communities and Justice Post Adoption Information Unit.
The Registry needs these documents to ensure you are entitled to apply for identifying details and information about an adopted person and/or birth parents under the Adoption Act 2000 and Adoption Regulation 2003.
The Registry cannot apply for them on your behalf. You need to apply for it using the Application to obtain adoption information form on the Department of Communities and Justice website.
Learn more and apply for an Adoption Information Certificate and Memorandum (AIC) on the Department of Communities and Justice website.
What does ‘inherited rights’ mean
If the adopted person or birth parent is dead, a relative or significant other person can apply to ‘inherit’ the deceased person’s rights to adoption information. This is not an automatic entitlement.
You can apply to inherit the rights of a deceased adopted person or birth parent via the Department of Communities and Justice website. If you are eligible, you will receive an Adoption Information Certificate and Memorandum (AIC), also known as a Supply Authority. You can use this to apply for an adoption search or certificate.
I am helping someone else apply. What do I need to do
You may be able to help an eligible person apply for adoption searches or certificates if you are a spouse, friend, non-eligible family member, or another third-party.
To apply on behalf of someone else, you need to provide the following documents with the completed application form:
- a letter of authority
- proof of identity for yourself
- proof of identity for the eligible person, and
- an Adoption Information Certificate and Memorandum (AIC) or Supply Authority, from the Department of Communities and Justice Post Adoption Information Unit.
Solicitors have addition requirements they need to meet before they can apply on behalf of their client.
What if my search request includes information from another state or country
The Registry can only search for records registered in NSW.
If you are looking for NSW records relating to an interstate or international adoption, you need to provide the Registry with a letter of authority from the state or country where the adoption took place.
To search for information from another state or country, please contact the Registry (or equivalent office) there. Find the contact information for Registry offices in other Australian states and territories.
Why is there information missing on my certificate or search result
For some historical adoptions, information may be missing about the birth family. This could be because of forced adoption and removal practices in the past.
Where information is incomplete, a dash or ‘unknown’ is recorded in the relevant fields.
Please note, birth, death and marriage record extracts do not include the parent/s last name (surname) as they are not yet public record. Once a record becomes old enough, a full certificate can be provided. Learn more about the Registry records you can access.