Register your baby

You will need to provide your baby's name with your application. 

Giving your baby a name is an important decision.

We keep a record of popular names that might help you choose a name for your baby.

Most names can be registered but not all. We cannot register a name that:

• is offensive
• is too long
• 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 rules for registering a name in NSW.

If you change your mind about your baby's name after you register the birth, you will need to pay a fee to change the baby's name.

To complete the registration form you'll need information and documents about the parents, baby and birth.

If you are registering online, you can make a start and save your application so you can finish it when you're ready.

About the baby

• baby's full name
• date, time and place of baby's birth
• baby's birth weight in grams

About the parents

• full name, address and contact details
  • one parent must be the applicant to register the birth and provide an email address
  • for both parents to appear on the certificate, both parents must be informants on the application
  • only one informant is needed if only one parent's name is to appear on the certificate.
• 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, provide full names, date, and place of birth of each child
• for both parents, the surname of their mother at the time of her own birth
• copies of documents for proof of identity to upload during the registration process.

Parent(s) registering the birth of their child should use our online form as it is the quickest way to register your baby. 

If you are not a parent of the child, or cannot register your baby online, you will need to use the Birth Registration Statement paper application form.

To complete the registration:

• Download the PDF form Birth Registration Statement (PDF 617.83KB), complete the form and submit it with the required identification documents either in-person at your nearest Service NSW service centre, or by post to: 
  
  Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages
  GPO Box 30
  Sydney NSW 2001
   
• Alternatively, paper forms are available at your local Service NSW Centre, where you can also lodge the completed form and required documentation in person. 

After reviewing your application, we will send a secure payment link to the email address provided in your application for payment processing. 

Parents listed on the online birth registration form must supply at least 3 forms of current identity, one of each from Categories 1, 2 and 3.

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

You can scan or take a clear photo of each document and save as PDF, JPG or TIF files.

• The maximum file size is 20MB.

• Filenames must use only letters and numbers (no spaces, dashes, or underscores). Examples: mypassport19.jpg, licence19.tiff, jocard19.pdf.

When you are completing the registration form, you will be asked to confirm you have read and understood the following statement on privacy and disclosure of birth data.

Our role

We are responsible for the administration of the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1995 (NSW) in compliance with the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998.

We use the information you provide to us to:

• determine your eligibility to register a birth
• register the birth
• issue the information as a certificate and
• prevent fraud.

The information you provide

Your identity information and documents must be accurate and confirm your correct identity.

When you complete the birth registration form you provide your consent for us to confirm the information, documents or other evidence you have provided with relevant agencies. This includes:

• other registries of births, deaths and marriages
• law enforcement agencies
• relevant government departments
• motor vehicle or driver licensing authorities.

We retain your personal information and proof of identity documents indefinitely for record keeping and to confirm your identity.

For more information read our Privacy Collection Notice.

The birth register

The birth register is a permanent historical record and part of the civil records of NSW.

Only the person named on the certificate and their parents can apply for a copy of a birth certificate. They can also authorise another person to apply for them. 

Information held in the register can be used for:

• statistical analysis
• medical research
• community planning
• law enforcement and
• other uses provided for by law.

Birth records are available to the public after 100 years.