Register a birth
Learn everything you need to know about registering a birth, including who can apply, what information you need to provide, and when this needs to be done.
Registering a birth
Registering a birth with us:
- is free
- is the responsibility of parents - hospitals do not do this for you
- should be done within 60 days, or within 180 days if the baby’s sex characteristics are difficult to assign.
It’s never too late to register a birth and you won’t get in trouble if you miss the cutoff date.
Why it’s important
When you register a birth with us, you are officially giving the baby a legal name.
After you register a birth, you can then apply for a birth certificate. This can be done at the same time using our online birth registration form.
A birth certificate is a proof of name and age identity document that makes it easier to:
- access health services like Medicare
- enrol in childcare and school
- take part in organised sport
- open a bank account
- get a driver licence or passport
- receive government benefits like parental leave.
Who can register a birth
Births are usually registered by the parents but can be registered by anyone who knows the relevant facts about the birth. This includes parents, court appointed guardians, government casework practitioners, or adults registering their own birth.
How to register a birth
When you register a birth using our online form, you have 14 days to complete it and can save your progress anytime.
What you will need to provide
To complete the registration form you will need to provide proof of your identity, and information about the birth, baby and parents.
If you are registering a homebirth, you may be required to provide additional information.
Details about the baby and birth
- baby’s full name
- We keep a record of popular names that might help you choose a name for the baby.
- Most names can be registered but not all. We cannot register a name that:
- is offensive
- is longer than 50 characters per name
- includes numbers and symbols such as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, Jnr, Snr
- could be confused with a title or rank such as colonel, judge, saint, queen, prince.
- Learn more about the restrictions for registering a name in NSW.
- If you change your mind about the baby's name after you register the birth, you will need to pay a fee to change the baby's name.
- date, time and place of the baby's birth
- baby's birth weight in grams
- sex of the baby.
Details about the parents
- full name, address and contact details
- place of birth
- the parents' jobs
- address during most of the pregnancy
- if married, date and place of marriage
- if the parents have other children born before this baby, the full names, date, and place of birth of each child
- three valid identity documents.
If the birth occurred outside of a hospital or birthing centre
When you submit a birth registration for a birth that happened outside of a hospital or birthing centre we may contact you for additional information.
Find out more about homebirth and freebirth requirements.
- Australian passport (can be expired up to 3 years)
- Australian driver licence
- Medicare card
- Australian birth certificate
- Proof of age or photo card
- Centrelink card
- Aviation Security Identification Card
- Maritime Security Identification Card
- New Zealand birth certificate
- New Zealand citizenship certificate and passport
- Foreign passport
- Australian visa using your foreign passport
- Foreign birth certificate
- Tertiary education card
- Security or crowd control licence
- Firearms licence
- Department of Veterans' Affairs card
You can select 1 from this list:
- Utility bill (from the last 3 months)
- Rates notice
- Lease agreement
- Other supporting documents (e.g., an overseas-issued driver licence or identity card)
Note: Government casework practitioners do not need to provide proof of identity documents.
Don’t have enough identity documents?
If you cannot meet these requirements, please apply with a paper application form, or attend an in-person event for support from the Registry.
How to upload copies of your documents
You can scan or take a clear photo of each document and save as a PDF, JPG or PNG file.
- The maximum file size is 4.5MB.
- Filenames must use only letters and numbers (no spaces, dashes, or underscores). Examples: mypassport19.jpg, licence19.png, jocard19.pdf.
How to buy a birth certificate when registering a birth
You can apply for a birth certificate at the same time you complete the birth registration.
You will need a credit or debit card ready to pay for the certificate when you apply.
Fees and processing times
| Registration of birth | Free |
|---|---|
| Standard birth certificate ordered when birth is registered Fees include $11 postage and handling | Standard service $68 |
| Online application | Up to 3 weeks |
| Postal application | Up to 5 weeks |
| Via Service NSW | Up to 4 weeks |
| Fee to send a copy of a certificate to a passport office | $49 |
The listed processing times do not include postage delivery times. Please allow 5 to 7 days for delivery of the certificate.
Hospitals have 7 days to inform the Registry about the birth. A new birth registration is matched to the notice provided by the hospital.
What do I do if I made a mistake when registering
If you made a mistake when you registered the birth or if you notice an error on the birth certificate you can apply to correct an entry.
We have separate processes for changing a child's name or adding a parent's details.
What if I don’t register a birth within 60 days
In most cases, a birth needs to be registered in NSW within 60 days. You have 180 days if the baby’s sex characteristics are hard to assign.
Don’t worry if you haven’t registered in time. It’s never too late - you can still register, but the Registry may need to contact you for more information.
Additional documents are required for a birth registered more than 12 months after the date of birth. This is what you will need for the application:
Proof of identity documents
- Children aged 1-15 years: one identity document showing the child’s name is required.
- Individuals aged 16 years or older: three proof of identity documents showing the individual’s name are required.
We will only accept documents that show the individual’s full name. Examples include:
- Medicare card
- Centrelink card
- preschool or school report
- school or TAFE or university identity card
- letter or document from a doctor or hospital that also displays the individual's date of birth
- utility bill issued within the last 3 months
- court order that also displays the individual's date of birth
- Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) placement order that also displays the child's date of birth
- other government issued documents may be accepted.
If you are unable to provide the required identity documents, you will need to apply with a paper application form. The Registry will then work with you to complete the registration.
Proof of birth
If we are unable to confirm the birth through hospital records or from the attending doctor or registered midwife, we will request alternative evidence to confirm that the birth occurred. This can include:
- declarations from family or other witnesses present at the birth
- baptism or christening certificate.
I’m an adult and my birth wasn’t registered, is it too late to register
It’s never too late to register a birth.
If you are 18 years or older, you can register your own birth at any time by downloading and filling out the birth registration form. Alternatively, your parents can register for you, which they can do online.
Additional documents are required for a birth registered more than 12 months after the date of birth. This is what you will need for the application:
Three proof of identity documents
Proof of birth
If we are unable to confirm the birth through hospital or medical records, we will request alternative evidence. This can include:
- declarations from family or other witnesses present at the birth
- baptism or christening certificate
- school records
- immunisation records.
Parent details for self-registration
To be recorded on a birth registration, each parent must acknowledge that they are the parent and will be included on the registration. If you are registering your own birth and your parents are unavailable to complete the registration, we will require additional information. This can include:
- a marriage certificate, if they were not married in NSW
- evidence of a de facto relationship
- results of a DNA test conducted in a NATA accredited laboratory
- other evidence that shows that the parent cannot sign the registration.
Self-registration form
If you are registering your own birth, you will not be able to do this online. You will need to complete the Birth Registration Statement form (PDF 1.2MB). Please note that paper forms take longer to process due to manual data entry. The Registry may need to contact you if the handwriting is difficult to read or information is missing.
Download and complete the form, and apply either:
- By post
Post your signed and completed form with copies of your identity documents to:
NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages
GPO Box 30
Sydney NSW 2001
Do not post your original identity documents in the mail.
- In person
Submit your signed and completed form in person at your nearest Service NSW service centre.
Bring your original identity documents to show staff.
If you have also applied for a birth certificate, we will send a secure payment link to the email provided in your application for payment processing, after we review your application.
Can I choose my parental descriptor
When registering a birth, parents can choose to be recorded as the mother, father or parent, no matter their legal sex.
My child was conceived via assisted reproduction, how is this recorded on the birth registration or certificate
If you have conceived the child via assisted reproduction and are in a same-sex relationship, either married or in a de facto relationship, both parents may be recognised on their child's birth record and birth certificate.
There is a non-compulsory question on the birth registration form that asks whether the child was conceived through assisted reproduction using donated sperm or ovum.
If you answer 'Yes' to this question and the child obtains a birth certificate after the age of 18, they will be notified that there may be further information available from the relevant authority. To learn more, see the NSW Health website.
If you registered a birth that occurred on or after 4 May 2016, you can amend it with assisted reproduction information by completing the Correct an entry application (PDF 343.63KB).
How are same-sex relationships recognised on birth registrations and certificates after an adoption or parentage order
Parents in same-sex relationships are recognised on birth registrations and birth certificates in line with the adoption or parentage order received by the Registry.
Parent descriptors and parent details are recorded exactly as set out in the court order. Please ensure the court order includes the descriptor you wish to be recorded (for example, mother, father or parent).
Which state do I register a birth in if I live in Albury Wodonga
If you live in Albury and your baby was born in Wodonga, you may be able to register your child’s birth in NSW rather than in Victoria.
A birth cannot be registered in both states. Once the registration is completed in one state, it cannot be changed.
If you reside in Albury Wodonga, you can only register a birth in NSW if you live in:
- Postcode 2640: Albury, North Albury, East Albury, South Albury, West Albury, Corrys Wood, Ettamoga, Glenroy, Lake Hume Village, Mungabareena, St Hilaire, Splitters Creek, Table Top, Thurgoona, Wirlinga
- Postcode 2641: Hamilton Valley, Springdale Heights, Norris Park, Lavington.
What if I cannot apply online
Applying online is the quickest and easiest way to register a birth.
If you are having trouble with the online form, please visit our online form help page for support. If you wish to report a technical problem with the form, please email the Registry at bdmsupport@customerservice.nsw.gov.au.
Alternatively, you can use the Birth Registration Statement form (PDF 1.2MB). Please note that paper forms take longer to process due to manual data entry. The Registry may need to contact you if the handwriting is difficult to read or information is missing.
Download and complete the form, and apply either:
- By post
Post your signed and completed form with copies of your identity documents to:
NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages
GPO Box 30
Sydney NSW 2001
Do not post your original identity documents in the mail.
- In person
Submit your signed and completed form in person at your nearest Service NSW service centre.
Bring your original identity documents to show staff.
If you have also applied for a birth certificate, we will send a secure payment link to the email provided in your application for payment processing, after we review your application.