Change your name (adult born in Victoria) | Births Deaths and Marriages Victoria

Echuca and Seymour Justice Service Centres are currently closed due to the ongoing flood event.

This page explains how to change your name if you are:

An adult (over 18)
Born in Victoria.

Not sure if you’re in the right place?

Choose the page that matches your circumstances: adult or child, born in Victoria or born overseas.
Age of person whose name is being changed	Person born in Victoria	Person born overseas	Person born interstate
Adult	Read this page	Adult born overseas	Apply to the Registry in that state or territory
Child	Child born in Victoria	Child born overseas	Apply to the Registry in that state or territory

Changing your name due to marriage, separation or divorce

Read Changing your name after marriage, separation or divorce if you want to change your family name:

To your spouse's family name
Back to your own family name.

You can change your name only once in a 12-month period and 3 times in your lifetime.

Changing a record of sex

If you want to change your name and record of sex at the same time, please apply from our ‘Change your record of sex (adult born in Victoria)’ page.

Apply now (External link)

What you'll need to do

We'll ask you for the following:

1. Your current details

At a minimum, we’ll ask you for:

Personal details, such as name and date of birth
A clear reason for the change of name
Original (not copies) birth certificates. You will need to post these to us
Credit history (if changing more than one name: for example, your first name and family name).
Agencies that we accept credit histories from include:
You can attach these to your online application.
Any previous names you've been known by.

You might be using a different name in the community from what is on your birth record (before the change of name). If so, we may ask you to provide a statutory declaration to explain this.

2. Your chosen name

Chosen family name(s)
Chosen given name
Chosen other given name(s).

Generally, we accept most names, but there are some names that aren’t allowed. See Naming restrictions.

3. Your original certificate

We ask you to return the original birth certificate before we can issue a new one.

If you don't have the original, you need to provide a statutory declaration (External link) explaining why. Learn more about how to digitise and upload documents.

4. Proof of your identity

You may be able to prove your identity online. If not, you can still prove your identity by mailing certified copies to us.

Acceptable documents

One of the easiest ways to prove your identity is by presenting your driver licence (if it confirms your residential address) and your Passport.

Example driver licence

An Australian passport

There are other ways to prove your identity.

If you send documents to us by mail, they must be certified copies.

Don't send original identity documents by mail
Don't send uncertified copies - we can't accept them.

Learn more about how to prove your identity.

Documents must be current (not expired). If you cannot provide current photo identification, please contact us.

Get a certificate

Get a certificate when you change your name

When you change your name, you get a new birth certificate. It shows your:

New name
Name at birth.

A history of changes is on the back of the certificate.

The certificate is valid for all legal and official purposes. You will need this certificate to update identity documents such as your driver licence and passport.

Get a certificate later

You can order another certificate later – for example, if you lost it and need a replacement.

Order a new birth certificate (External link)

Deed poll

Deed polls are no longer used in Victoria for a change of name. Learn more about getting a copy of a deed poll certificate.

Timeframes and delivery

How long will it take?

Check our certificate turnaround times.

If it's urgent, apply online then contact us.

Delivery of multiple certificates

We send legal certificates by express post, for security.

For commemorative certificates, you may only choose standard post. This is because they're not official identity documents. Legal and commemorative certificates will arrive separately.

Fees and payment

The fees are non-refundable except as set out in our Refunds page.

Change of name and certificate fees

Fees, inclusions and prices
Product or service	Inclusions	Price
Application fee	Registration of change of name Certificate	$131.50

Postage fees are additional.

Postage fees

Postage within Australia

Postage methods and prices, within Australia
Type of certificate	Postage and handling method	Price
Legal certificate	Express post	$10.00
Commemorative certificate	Standard post	$1.00

Postage outside Australia

Postage methods and prices, outside Australia
Type of certificate	Postage and handling method	Price
Legal certificate	International express	$54.10
Commemorative certificate	International economy	$3.80

See Australia Post (External link) for postage details.

Check the Payment methods we accept.

After the change

After you’ve changed your name

Update your documents

After you've changed your name, you must update your identity documents. These may include:

Driver licence
Passport
Bank accounts
Electoral enrolment
Utility accounts
Superannuation
Insurance
Immigration documents

Changing your name again

You should not change your legal name lightly. You can change your name only once in a 12 month period and 3 times in your lifetime.

If you want to change your name again, you will need to prove you have been using this name for at least 12 months.

Apply now (External link)