After you get married
Once you’re married, you may want to think about changing your surname, making a will and updating your accounts. There’s also visa options for non-citizens with an Australian spouse.
There are certain tasks you may want to do after you are married.
This can include things like changing your surname, making a will, and reviewing your financial, health and insurance accounts.
There are also visa options if you’re not an Australian citizen and have married one.
Changing your surname after marriage
It's up to you:
- if you change your name after marriage
- which organisations you change your name with
You do not need to go through a formal name change application if you:
- were married in Australia
- are changing to your spouse's surname or adding their surname to yours
Learn how to change your surname if you were married in Australia.
Changing your surname if you were married overseas
You cannot use your marriage certificate if you were married overseas to informally change your name after marriage.
Instead, you will have to apply for an official change of name.
Updating your important information
Getting married can change your financial situation.
Let Centrelink know about the change to your relationship if you’re getting a payment. It may affect the amount you receive.
Once you’re married, you may also want to consider:
- making or updating your will
- adding your partner to your Medicare card, or vice versa
- registering as a family for Medicare Safety Nets
- updating your nominated beneficiary with your superannuation fund
- reassessing your private health insurance, if you have it. You can stay on separate policies or change to a couple’s policy
If you’re not an Australian citizen
If you’ve married an Australian citizen but are not one yourself, you still have to apply for Australian citizenship.
The Department of Home Affairs has information on:
- temporary partner visas, which let you live, work and study in Australia while your permanent partner visa is being processed
- permanent partner visas, which let you live, work and study in Australia indefinitely. If eligible, you can then apply for Australian citizenship
- becoming an Australian citizen