Commemorative birth certificates

Year of the Snake

Artist Lucy Wang with a snake at Taronga zoo and a copy of the commemorative snake certificate

In celebration of Lunar New Year and the arrival of the Year of the Snake.

Whether you were born in the Year of the Snake or are welcoming a new addition to your family this year, you can celebrate this milestone with a commemorative birth certificate by artist Lucy Wang.

Lucy featured the breathtaking landscapes of Mungo National Park in her design as it’s home to one of Australia’s largest reptiles, the Carpet Python (Morelia spilota). This snake, with its intricate black and brown patterns accented by golden spots, holds a significant place in the storytelling traditions of First Nations communities.

The snake is also significant in Chinese culture as a symbol of wisdom, transformation, and intuition. For Lucy, the snake "represents resilience and the ability to adapt, qualities we can all admire.”

See the designs

About commemorative birth certificates

Our commemorative birth certificates:

can be purchased at any time, for people of any age who were born or adopted in NSW
are keepsakes and not official proof of identity documents
are suitable for framing at 279mm x 355mm (that's a bit bigger than A4 paper)
are printed on archival paper and wrapped in acid-free tissue paper
will be sent to you in a protective cardboard mailing tube*.

_{^{*Please note: The mailing tube may not fit in a standard mailbox. If no one is home at the time of delivery, it will either be left in a safe place or taken to your local post office for collection.}}

How to order a certificate

Complete our online application form to order a birth certificate and select the decorative design of your choice.

It's a wonderful gift for parents, grandparents, godparents or relatives.

You have a choice to purchase either:

a single commemorative birth certificate, or
a package that includes an official birth certificate and a commemorative certificate.

Order a birth certificate

Fees and processing times

*Official birth certificate and commemorative certificate package** _{^{Fees include $11 postage and handling}}	Standard service $98	Priority service $131
Online application	Up to 4 weeks	Up to 3 weeks
Postal application	Up to 6 weeks	Up to 5 weeks
Via Service NSW	Up to 5 weeks	Up to 4 weeks

*Commemorative birth certificate only** _{^{Fees include $11 postage and handling}}	Standard service $44	Priority service
Online application	Up to 8 weeks	Not available
Postal application	Up to 9 weeks	Not available
Via Service NSW	Up to 8 weeks	Not available

^{*Commemorative certificates are sent separately from a standard certificate.}
^{The listed processing times do not include postage delivery times. Please allow 5 to 7 days for delivery of the certificate.}

Choose a design

Commemorative birth certificates featuring the Matildas and Socceroos by artist Serena Geddes.

Football Australia

Births, Deaths and Marriages has partnered with Football Australia to launch two new commemorative certificates, designed by artist and illustrator Serena Geddes.

Matildas - Features the team standing on the football pitch, holding a trophy and linking arms in jubilation after a winning match.

Socceroos - Features the Socceroos captured in a moment of celebration while running in a huddle and holding up a trophy.

See all Football Australia designs

5 commemorative certificates for the Year of the Dragon, displayed flat out in a fan

Lunar New Year

Australian/Chinese contemporary oriental brush painter, Lucy Wang, has created these beautiful designs to celebrate children born on different years of the Chinese Zodiac.

Commemorative designs are available for more than a decade, covering Lunar Years 2020 - 2031.

See all Lunar Year designs

Bluey

Bluey House - Featuring the scene of many of the show's most iconic moments, the first certificate shows Bluey and her family outside their quintessential Queenslander home.

Bluey Beach - Bluey and younger sister Bingo build a sandcastle while enjoying a day at the beach.

See all Bluey designs

Birth certificates with Australian fauna and flora

Australian Classics

Fauna – This beautiful design by Australian artist Lynne Muir has been a favourite for the last 20 years.

Ken Done – 'Sydney Harbour' is an original work by world-renowned Sydney artist Ken Done. Royalties from the sale of this certificate go to supporting UNICEF.

See all Australian classics certificates

May Gibbs

May Gibbs (1877-1969) was an illustrator, artist and children's author best known for her gumnut babies creations, inspired by Australian bush flora. Royalties from sale of May Gibbs’ designs help fund the charities Cerebral Palsy Alliance and Northcott.

Boronia Baby – In 1916 the book 'Gum blossom babies' was published, the beginning of the bush fantasy world that captured the imaginations of Australians for over a century.

Gumnut Baby – Gibbs’ illustrations featuring the baby figures modelled on eucalypt buds and flowers first appeared in 1913.

May Gibbs Flora and Fauna – Features a number of illustrations from May Gibbs which playfully celebrate Australia's flora and fauna. See all May Gibbs certificates

Indigenous art

These designs created by Indigenous artists are a wonderful way to celebrate a birth.

Melissa Greenwood - Ngarrwa (Give Birth) and Jagun (Birth Caves).

See all indigenous art certificates

Commemorative birth certificates featuring blue and pink handprints

Baby handprints

Available in blue or pink, these certificates are a touching memento of a day to remember.

This design continues to be one of our most popular.

See all baby handprints certificates

A commemorative birth certificate celebrating rainbow families

Rainbow family

The certificate features bright pride colours with genderless native animals as rainbow families enjoying themselves among iconic Sydney landmarks.

Sydney-based artist, illustrator and animator Monica Higgins (she/her) removed gender from the focus of the illustration to give our rainbow families the freedom to be seen as they wish to be.

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