Applying for a marriage certificate

You can apply for a Queensland marriage certificate, a replacement marriage certificate or a commemorative marriage certificate package—if you or the person you are applying for were married (and the marriage registered) in Queensland.

Your registered celebrant or registered minister of religion must record your marriage with us. We don't automatically send a certificate when a marriage is registered. You need to buy one.

Certificate types

There are 3 types of marriage certificates:

  • official marriage certificate—can be used for identification purposes and proof of change of name through marriage
  • commemorative marriage certificate package includes an official marriage certificate
  • ceremonial marriage certificate—given to you by your registered celebrant or registered minister of religion is not official. You can't use it to prove your relationship.

If you were married outside Queensland, contact the interstate or overseas registering authority to get your certificate.

How to apply

  1. Answer the questions—it should take you less than 10 minutes.
  2. Choose how you would like to pay the fee.
  3. Review your details.
  4. Read the email we send you to find out how to finalise your application.
  5. Have your proof of ID documents certified by a Justice of the Peace or another authorised person.
  6. Submit your proof of ID by post or in person—if you paid online or not.
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Post your completed application form along with the printed order receipt (if you paid online), your certified proof of ID and other supporting documents (if needed) to:

Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages
PO Box 15188
CITY EAST  QLD  4002

We will begin to process your application when we receive your documents.

At the Brisbane registry customer service centre at Level 32, 180 Ann Street, Brisbane, you will need to use our self-serve kiosk.

For faster service apply and pay online—then bring your receipt number, original proof of ID and other supporting documents (if needed) along with you to complete your order in person or with one of our agents.

If you live outside the Brisbane city area, bring your receipt number (if you paid online) or a completed application form, with your proof of ID and other supporting documents (if needed) to any of the following locations:

When you buy a marriage certificate online, you can show your proof of ID in person by visiting a participating JPs in the Community location:

Bring your printed receipt (if you paid online), your original proof of ID and other supporting documents (if needed).

Processing times are the same and start when you have had your ID verified.

Our processing timeframes apply to correctly filled out applications that have been submitted with all the required proof of ID and supporting documents (as required).

They apply once we receive applications submitted by post or in person at a Queensland Magistrates Court, QGAP office.

Priority Number of business days
Non-urgent certificate applications (average processing time—no additional fee)
10
Urgent certificate applications ($32.20) 2

Please allow extra time for Australia Post to deliver your birth certificate to your address.

When ordering a certificate, the total cost is calculated when you fill in the application form online.
You can pay:

  • online
    • by credit card (MasterCard or Visa)
  • at the customer service centre
    • by EFTPOS or credit card
    • with a business account cheque
    • with a bank cheque
    • with a money order
  • by post
    • within Australia
      • by credit card
      • with a business account cheque
      • with a bank cheque
      • with a money order
    • from overseas
      • by credit card.

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'.

Application fees
ItemCost
Commemorative marriage certificate package (1 official marriage certificate and standard postage included)$70.70
Official marriage certificate (standard postage included)$54.40
Urgent application$32.20

Postage fees

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.

ItemCost
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.

Fee waiver

If you are suffering financial hardship and have an immediate need for a 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.

Purchasing a marriage certificate on a smart device may be convenient.

However, keep in mind that the built-in settings, browser and history or cookies on your smart device may create their own issues.

If you are getting a message that your shopping cart is empty:

  • select the green checkout button to continue
  • try a different internet browser
  • clear the browser history or cookies
  • use a different device.

If you can't complete the order online, you can use the PDF application form and apply by post or in person.

Submit your application and payment for a marriage certificate to us:

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.

Contact us using our general enquiry form.

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.

Contact us

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.

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