Applying for an official marriage certificate
You need an official marriage certificate to prove your marriage and change your name. Here you’ll find out how to apply, the cost and how to correct an error.
A marriage certificate is issued by the registry of births, deaths and marriages in the state or territory where you were married.
You need an official marriage certificate to prove you are married or when changing your surname after marriage.
This is different to the ceremonial marriage certificate you take home on your wedding day.
Who can apply for a NSW marriage certificate
You can apply for a NSW marriage certificate if the marriage took place in NSW and:
- you are one of the people named in the marriage
- the couple named in the marriage have passed away and you are a child of the marriage, or
- you are the authorised representative of either person named in the marriage
An authorised representative will need to:
- show a letter of authority (PDF 627.26KB) giving them permission to apply for the marriage certificate
- show Power of Attorney for either person named in the marriage, or
- be a solicitor who is either acting for a person named on the certificate or who needs the certificate for a legal purpose
Celebrants can order the marriage certificate on your behalf within 2 months from the date of the ceremony. They do not need a letter of authority to do so.
You can apply for a marriage certificate at any time after your marriage, once the marriage has been registered.
You can also apply to get a replacement marriage certificate if you have lost the original copy.
How to apply for a NSW marriage certificate
To apply for a new or replacement marriage certificate, you will need to provide:
- details of the marriage
- personal and contact information
- proof of identity documents
- payment
You can apply online, or:
- by downloading a marriage certificate application form (PDF 454.35KB)
- in person at a Service NSW service centre
Proof of identity documents
To apply for a NSW marriage certificate you will need to provide:
- at least 3 forms of current identity
- one form of identity each from categories 1, 2 and 3
If you cannot provide proof of identity documents from categories 1 and 2:
- you must still provide at least 3 forms of identity
- at least 2 of these should be from category 3
If you cannot meet these requirements, contact the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages.
| Category | Documents |
|---|---|
| 1 | If born in Australia:
Record of immigration status:
|
| 2 |
|
| 3 |
|
| 4 |
|
How much a marriage certificate costs
The cost of a marriage certificate will depend on the type of certificate you choose and how quickly you want to get it.
| Certificate request | Standard service | Priority service |
|---|---|---|
| Standard marriage certificate | $60 | $88 |
| Standard and commemorative marriage certificate | $87 | $115 |
All prices include postage and handling. Add $9 for international post.
How long it takes to get an official marriage certificate
Your marriage certificate will be processed once your application has been received. There can be delays if the information in your application is:
- incomplete, or
- incorrect
The number of working days it takes to process a certificate depends on how you apply. Processing times are estimates only.
It's much quicker for marriages registered online by your marriage celebrant. Check with your celebrant if they can apply for a marriage certificate for you.
Official marriage certificates are delivered by registered post. The processing time does not include delivery, please see Australia Post website for current delivery times within Australia or International.
You can click and collect urgent certificates from the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages office in Chippendale.
Getting your certificate:
- Applying online is the fastest and easiest way to obtain your certificate. If you have selected a 'collect' option please await a confirmation email, sent to you within one working day of your application, before coming to the office to collect the certificate.
- Apply for your certificate online.
Australia Post advises customers to expect delays with international post.
| Standard marriage certificate | Standard service | Priority service |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate for newlyweds (celebrants have 14 days to lodge) | Up to 6 weeks | Not available |
| Online application | Up to 3 weeks | Up to 1 weeks |
| Submitted by post | Up to 6 weeks | Up to 4 weeks |
| Registry agent (Service NSW) | Up to 4 weeks | Up to 2 weeks |
If there’s an error on your marriage certificate
You can apply to correct an error if you’ve received your marriage certificate and the details are incorrect.
This will be free if the registry made the error. There will be an additional cost if you supplied incorrect or incomplete information.
You’ll need to:
- return the original certificate by post
- provide 3 proof of identity documents
- send the correct information on the correct an entry form (PDF 1.96MB)
Learn how to correct an error on your marriage certificate.
If you were married in another state or territory
You need an official marriage certificate from the registry in the state or territory where you were married to:
- prove you are married
- update your name after marriage
If you were not married in NSW, you can apply for a marriage certificate in: