Register a domestic relationship | Births Deaths and Marriages Victoria

To register a domestic relationship:

Tick icon You both need to take part in registering the relationship

Tick icon You both need to prove your identity

Tick icon One of you will need to provide evidence you live in Victoria.

You can apply to register a domestic relationship in Victoria if you are a couple and:

You're both at least 18 years old
At least one of you lives in Victoria
You're not already:
- Married
- In a registered relationship, or
- In another relationship that could be registered
You provide domestic support to each other
You're committed to each other both personally and financially.

It takes at least 28 days (4 weeks) from the date we receive a complete and valid application to register a relationship. To learn more, select the ‘Timeframes and delivery’ tab, below.

You can apply for a relationship certificate when you apply to register the relationship or at any later date.

Immigration and registered relationships

For information about registering your relationship for immigration purposes, contact the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (External link)

What you'll need to do

1. Details of the relationship

Both of you need to take part in registering the relationship:

Partner 1 completes their part of the application
We email Partner 2
Partner 2 completes their part.

You can only complete your own section.

2. Proof of your identity

Both of you must prove your identity.

Acceptable documents

The easiest way to prove your identity is with your driver licence (if it confirms your residential address) and your passport.

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

Don't send original identity documents by mail

Don't send uncertified copies – we can't accept them.

Learn how to prove your identity.

3. Proof of living in Victoria

One of you must prove that you live in Victoria.

Example: a bank statement showing recent transactions in Victoria.

This person should be ‘Partner 1’ when filling in the application.

4. Evidence of single status (if applicable)

If either of you has previously been married or in a registered relationship, you must provide evidence of its termination.

For example, this might include:

Divorce certificate
Certificate of revocation of a registered relationship
Death certificate of your former partner.

Refer to Uploading hard copy documents online for how to attach evidence to your application.

When you apply, please take care to provide correct details.

Enter details exactly as you want them on the certificate. This includes spelling and capitalisation (e.g. Name).

Remember to review the sections before you submit.

You may have to pay to correct a mistake or get a replacement certificate. Additional wait times will apply.

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

Fees

Relationship registration fee

Registration fee: $228.10.

This fee:

is non-refundable
doesn't include a certificate.

Certificate fees

Legal certificate	Commemorative certificate
$33.80	$60.00
Accepted as an official Australian relationship certificate.	Not accepted as an official Australian relationship certificate. For decorative purposes only.

Postage fees

We can’t refund postage fees if you decide to collect your certificate(s) in person.

Postage 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

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 product details.

Check the Payment methods we accept.

Recognised relationships

Recognised relationships

You may not need to register a relationship in Victoria if you have already done so somewhere else.

Victorian law recognises relationships formalised in the following states, territories and countries:

Australian Capital Territory
New South Wales
Queensland
Tasmania
New Zealand
Canada, including Quebec and Nova Scotia
Hawaii
California
New York
South Africa
the Netherlands
the United Kingdom
Scotland.

This applies to relationships formalised in these places and were valid immediately before 1 July 2016. Victorian law may also recognise relationships formalised in other places. To be recognised, the other place’s law must provide that the relationship:

Must be between two adults
Must be entered into consensually
Must not be between two people related by family; and
Must not include a person who is already married or in a relationship formally recognised by that law.

Relationship ceremonies

Relationship ceremonies

When registering a domestic relationship, you can choose to celebrate it with a ceremony. See Book your relationship ceremony for more details.

Ceremonies can take place on weekdays or weekends.

Find out more about Relationship ceremony fees.

Book your relationship ceremony

Withdraw an application

Withdraw an application

Log in to My items (External link) if you need to withdraw your application to:

Register a relationship
Revoke a registered relationship

Once logged in, choose ‘Withdraw order’.

Revoke a relationship

Learn more about revoking a relationship.

Your registered relationship is automatically revoked if:

One of you dies
One of you gets married (whether to each other or another person).

Register a domestic relationship (External link)