Relationship register

Couples who are not married can apply to register a relationship in NSW. The relationships register provides legal recognition for a couple.

Why register your relationship

Registered relationships are recognised as 'de facto' in NSW. Couples in registered relationships are subject to certain obligations and/or restrictions under NSW law.
Registered relationship certificates are used to access entitlements, services and records under state legislation.
In situations outside of legislation, service providers may choose to accept registration of a relationship as proof of legitimacy of that relationship.

Adults who are in a relationship as a couple can apply for registration of their relationship provided at least one of them lives in NSW.

A couple does not have to live together to be eligible to register their relationship.

A relationship cannot be registered if either person is:

under 18 years of age
married
related
in another registered relationship
in a relationship as a couple with another person.

Download an Application to register a relationship form (PDF, 710.09 KB).

Print and complete the form.
Then post your completed form (see form for address) and proof of identity to Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages or visit your nearest Service NSW centre.
You can order a commemorative certificate design along with the standard relationship certificate.

Replacement certificate

If you have registered your relationship and need a replacement certificate and/or a commemorative certificate, download the Relationship certificate application form (PDF, 631.62 KB).

Then post your completed form (see form for address) and proof of identity to Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages or visit your nearest Service NSW centre.

You must provide 3 forms of identification, one of each from Categories 1, 2 and 3.

If you cannot provide proof of identity from Category 1, you must still provide at least 3 forms of identification. At least one of these must be from Category 2, and two from Category 3.
If you cannot meet these requirements, please contact us for further advice.

Category	Documents
1	If born in Australia: An Australian birth certificate Record of immigration status: Citizenship certificate New Zealand citizenship certificate together with passport New Zealand birth certificate
2	Australia's driver's licence Australian passport Firearms licence Foreign passport Proof of age card
3	Medicare card Centrelink or Department of Veterans Affairs card Security/Crowd control licence Tertiary education institution ID card
4	Recent utility account with current residential address (issued within last 3 months)

Type	$AUD
Relationship registration (includes 1 standard certificate)*	$223
Revocation of relationship (if required)	$82
Standard (relationship or revocation) certificate	$60
Commemorative package (1 standard and 1 commemorative certificate)	$87
Commemorative certificate on its own	$41
Relationship ceremony package fee (includes registration, certificate and ceremony)	$407

*Add $41 if you require a letter of confirmation for lodgement of the application.

Processing begins when we have received your complete and correct application.

Certificates are delivered by registered post.
The processing time does not include delivery which can be up to 6 working days.

Application	Standard	Priority
Relationship registration certificate	54	Not available
Revoke a registered relationship	100	Not available
Commemorative relationship certificate	18	Not available

Why not celebrate the registration of your relationship with a special ceremony at a Registry venue?

Ceremony fees

The $407 package fee includes the registration fee ($223 including standard certificate), ceremony and issue of a ceremonial certificate on the day ($184).

Ceremony venues

Venue	Number of guests	Availability	Total fee
Parramatta Registry Office	Up to 24	Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm	$407
Chippendale Registry Office	Up to 12	Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm	$407

There is no fee for withdrawing:

a relationship registration, within the 28-day cooling-off period
a relationship revocation, within the 90-day cooling-off period.

The fee for the application to register a relationship is non-refundable.

Withdraw an application to revoke a registered relationship (PDF, 483.56 KB).

Then post your completed form (see form for address) and proof of identity to Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages or visit your nearest Service NSW centre.

A fee applies to revoke a registered relationship. Either or both persons can apply.
If only one person revokes a registration, they must provide proof they've served notice on the other. The Registrar has the discretion to dispense the notice requirement if the person cannot serve notice.
A cooling-off period of 90 days applies before the registration is revoked by the Registrar.
If either person requires a copy of the relationship certificate showing the revocation details, a standard certificate fee of $60 applies.

Relationship certificate application (PDF, 631.62 KB)

Revoke a registered relationship application (PDF, 419.84 KB)

Then post your completed form (see form for address) and proof of identity to Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages or visit your nearest Service NSW centre.

Registrations revoked by law and void registrations

Registration of a relationship may also be revoked by law on the death or marriage of a person in the relationship.

A registration is considered void if:

the agreement of one or both persons in the relationship to registration was obtained by fraud, duress or other improper means
the relationship was registered when either person was mentally incapable of understanding the nature and effect of registration
the relationship was prohibited (i.e. one of the persons was married).