Correct a birth certificate

If there's an error on a birth certificate, you can apply to have it corrected.

We assess all corrections before making them.

Generally, you can only apply to correct your own or your child's certificate, if your child is under 18. Both parents need to apply if there are two parents listed on the child’s certificate.

Refer to the 'Evidence required tab' for common changes and the evidence you’ll need to provide.

If you want to add or remove a parent's name to a birth certificate, see:

Learn more about how to digitise and upload hard copy documents.

Apply now (External link)

What we need from you

We'll ask you for the following:

1. Details of the person on the certificate

As a minimum, we ask for:

Given name
Family name
Date of birth
Place of birth.

2. The original birth certificate

We ask you to return the original certificate before we can issue a new, corrected version.

If you return the original certificate

Post the original certificate to our mailing address. Please include your order number.

Once we’ve corrected the record, we’ll send you a new certificate free of charge.

If you can't return the original

You’ll need to provide a Statutory Declaration (External link) explaining why. Learn more about how to digitise and upload documents.

Once we've corrected the record, you'll need to apply for a new birth certificate. There is a fee for the new certificate.

We recommend that you don’t order a new certificate until we’ve corrected the record.

3. Evidence to support the correction

The evidence we ask for depends on the correction you want to make. Check the 'Evidence required' tab.

For documents in a language other than English, provide an English translation by a qualified translator. Learn more about translated documents.

4. Proof of 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.

There are other ways to prove your identity.

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 more about how to prove your identity.

Documents must be current (not expired). We accept Australian passports that are current or expired less than 3 years.

If you can’t provide current photo identification, please contact us.

Evidence required

The evidence listed below covers the most common correction requests. If you can't provide the evidence listed, send the best evidence you have available.

If we hold the evidence, for example, a marriage certificate, you don't need to provide a copy of it.

We will let you know if we need more evidence.

Correction type and acceptable evidence
Correction	Acceptable evidence
Add a parent's name	See Add a parent to a birth certificate
Name on the certificate	Evidence that proves the correct name intended at the time of birth, such as: A baptismal certificate A maternal health book or baby health care book (dated within 12 months of birth) Any other document indicating the earliest registered name Original immunisation records. And, in addition: To correct your child's name: A statutory declaration signed by the other parent, agreeing to the correction. To correct your name (an adult): Identity documents showing consistent use of your correct name in your lifetime. If you can't prove use of the correct name from birth, you'll need to apply for a change of name rather than a correction.
Parent age or place of birth	Either a birth certificate, citizenship certificate or overseas passport of the parent.
Parent occupation	Evidence that proves the parent's occupation at the time of the birth, such as: A confirmation of employment letter from the employer Pay slips Pay records.
Parental description (e.g. mother and mother; father and father)	Proof of your identity. Child's consent (if the child is between 12 and 18 years old) Enter the description you want in the 'Correction details' box in step 3. You must already be named on the birth certificate - if not, refer to Add or remove a parent on a birth certificate. Read more about Correcting a parent’s details on a birth certificate
Parents' marriage details	Marriage certificate with the correct details.
Parents' non-registered domestic relationship (de facto relationship)	Statutory declaration (External link) signed by both parents, confirming that both are requesting the change. The corrected certificate will show the parents' relationship as 'domestic relationship'.
Previous children (names or ages)	Birth certificate(s) of the other child/children of the same parents, showing the correct details.
Remove a father incorrectly named as the biological father	One of the following: The full report from a DNA-based parentage test (paternity test) approved by National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) (External link) A court order declaring the identity of the child's biological father A court order declaring that the registered father is not the biological father.
Sex	Statutory declaration (External link) confirming: What is to be corrected Why the correction is required. Evidence that proves the correct sex, such as: Copy of change a record of sex application, confirming requested sex descriptor. Note: Correcting the sex on a birth certificate isn't the same as actually changing your record of sex. See Change a record of sex.

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.

Certificate fees

Replacement certificate fees
Whereabouts of original certificate	Comments	Price
If you return the original birth certificate	No fee for certificate. (There may be a postage and handling fee for the new certificate. Check Postage, below.)	$0.00
If you do not return the original birth certificate	The price of a legal birth certificate applies	$55.80

Postage fees are additional.

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	$10.20

Postage outside Australia

Type of certificate	Postage and handling method	Price
Legal certificate	International express	$55.50

See Australia Post (External link) for product details.

Check the Payment methods (External link) we accept.