You may be able to apply for information about the identity of the birth parent(s) or an adopted person. To do this, you will need to complete an application form with Adoption and Permanent Care Services (or from the interstate or overseas agency where the adoption was processed).
If information is available, Adoption and Permanent Care Services will send you a package of information and documentation. It will include an authorisation allowing you to purchase information from us (the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages).
This page explains how to apply for:
It also provides information about the fees for these services and how to contact or submit your application to us.
A person may be eligible to apply for information from the adopted child's entry in the register with authorisation from Adoption and Permanent Care Services.
For the birth parent(s) or other eligible person, this will be a post-adoption birth certificate. This certificate can’t be used for identification purposes and will be stamped ‘Not to be used for official purposes’.
An adopted person (or their adoptive parent) who needs their legal identity document can choose to apply for an official birth certificate without sex shown—this will not be stamped.
The adopted person, a birth parent or an eligible relative may apply for the pre-adoption information if they have authorisation from Adoption and Permanent Care Services.
The pre-adoption information will come in the form of a certificate that can’t be used for identification purposes. It will be stamped ‘Not to be used for official purposes’.
If the adoption took place outside of Queensland, contact the registering authority interstate or overseas.
With authorisation from Adoption and Permanent Care Services, you may apply to find out what related Queensland marriage and death information is available.
If the person you are looking for was married or passed away interstate or overseas, we will not have the information.
Search results for a marriage will include:
Search results for a death will include:
If the birth father or parent is not shown on the entry in the birth register, we may not be able to search for the marriage or death information.
An adopted person (or an eligible relative) can apply for the birth parents' Queensland birth certificate(s) if they have authorisation from Adoption and Permanent Care Services.
The certificate we issue can’t be used for identification purposes and will be stamped ‘Not to be used for official purposes’.
To apply for eligible certificates and search results:
Fill in the access to adoption records application form
Post your completed application form along with your certified copy of the authorisation from Adoption and Permanent Care Services and other supporting proof of ID documents to:
Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages
PO Box 15188
CITY EAST QLD 4002
Visit the Brisbane registry customer service centre at Level 32, 180 Ann Street, Brisbane with the completed application form, your original authorisation from Adoption and Permanent Care Services and original proof of ID documents.
The total estimated cost is calculated when you fill in the application form online. We will email you after we have reviewed your application with the correct amount. You can pay:
We will accept cash at the customer service centre but prefer contactless payments such as EFTPOS or credit card.
We do not accept personal cheques or cheques issued from outside Australia (in any currency).
Make Australian-drawn cheques and money orders payable to 'Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages'.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Pre-adoption certificate (standard postage included) | $54.40 |
| Official birth certificate—without sex shown (standard postage included) | $54.40 |
| Search fee (under 1 name for each event) | $27.10 |
| Each additional name searched (for each event) | $27.10 |
Standard postage is included in the price when you order a certificate to be sent by mail.
You can choose to have your certificate sent by express or registered post for a fee.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Express post | $8.55 |
| Registered post | $8.10 |
| International registered mail | $18.55 |
We value identity protection, so we recommend that you choose registered post. This ensures your certificate's delivery can be tracked and delivered to you more securely within Australia.
International registered mail is used for overseas deliveries. However, this can’t be tracked and signing on delivery is only available in some countries.
If you are suffering financial hardship and have an immediate need for a birth certificate, you may be able to have your application fee waived.
Learn more in our fee waiver policy and complete a request for a fee waived certificate.
We make sure your certificates leave our office in good condition.
After it’s collected from our office, we do not have control over or responsibility for any damage done to a certificate in the post.
You can lodge a claim for compensation through Australia Post. We are unable to provide a replacement certificate free of charge.
The fee you pay is for you to submit your application and for us to review it.
You will lose the fee paid if we refuse your application or you cancel it after we have started to review it.
Please read our refund policy .
Online: our general enquiry form.
By phone: local call* 13 QGOV (13 74 68) or international +61 7 3022 6100 (+10 hours UTC)—phone lines are open Monday to Friday, 8.30am–4.30pm.
*Costs may be higher from mobile phones and interstate.
