Correct a birth certificate

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

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. We assess all corrections before making them.

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

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

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

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 birth certificate before we can issue a corrected version.

If you don't return the original certificate, you will need to provide a statutory declaration explaining why. Learn more about how to digitise and upload documents.

3. Evidence to support the correction

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

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

Alternatively, you can provide your driver licence, medicare card and credit or debit card.

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). 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	Acceptable evidence
Add a parent's name	See Add or remove a parent on 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 descriptor (e.g. mother and mother; father and father)	Proof of your identity. Enter the descriptor 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.
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?

Estimated time from when we receive a complete application with all required documents:

Delivery	Processing time
Pickup 595 Collins Street Melbourne	28 days (4 weeks)
Australia post Express post	35 days (5 weeks) Includes postage time (estimated)

Delivery

Processing time

Pickup

595 Collins Street
Melbourne

28 days (4 weeks)

Australia post

Express post

35 days (5 weeks)

Includes postage time (estimated)

We send legal certificates by express post, for security.

Track the progress of your corrected certificate (External link).

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

Certificate fees

If the original birth certificate is returned	If the original birth certificate IS NOT returned
No fee for certificate (There may be a postage and handling fee for the new certificate. Check Postage, below)	$33.80 The price of a legal birth certificate applies

If you choose to receive your certificate by post, add postage costs (below).

Fee does not include postage.

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

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	Click and collect 595 Collins St, Melbourne	FREE
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 (External link) we accept.

Apply now (External link)