If they were born outside of Queensland

You can apply to have the sex your child identifies as recognised under Queensland law. They must be  under 16 and have lived in Queensland for the past 12 months (and currently live here).

If your child was born:

• overseas you may choose to change your child’s first name and middle name(s) at the same time. If you want to change their family name do this before your application to change your child’s recognised sex has been finalised. You will need to complete a change of name application and pay an additional fee
• in another state or territory you need to apply to the interstate registry office for a change of name.

If your child was born or adopted in Queensland, you can apply to acknowledge their sex.

Certificate options

The application fee includes 1 recognised details certificate, which is legal proof of your child's sex. You have to pay for additional certificates.

A recognised details certificate only provides some information—it does not show change of name details and is not legal proof of a name change.

There are 2 official recognised details certificates:

• linking recognised details certificate—shows your child’s new sex and name on the front and their previous details on the back (use to update sex on ID)
• recognised details certificate—shows your child’s new sex and name and does not show any previous details (may not be suitable to update sex on ID).

A recognised details certificate is not proof of a name change. If your child was born overseas and you are changing their first name(s), you will need to order a change of name certificate.

Organisations will have different requirements for what proof they need about changes to your child’s details, so you should contact them directly.

If your application is approved, we send you a recognised details certificate that shows the sex your child identifies as. This becomes your child’s recognised sex under Queensland law.

Documents you will need to provide

If your child was born outside of Queensland, you will need to provide:

• a certified copy of your child’s birth certificate—if you can’t get one, we may accept other evidence of your child’s birth (more about this below)
• certified proof of ID for both registered parents (read the rules below if you are a single parent or person with parental responsibility)
• an assessment from an authorised specialist that is a developmentally informed practitioner
• evidence that your child currently lives and has lived in Queensland for 12 months before your application (or more), such as a letter. The letter should
  • be dated and signed on letterhead from your child’s
    • day care
    • school
    • doctor
    • employer
  • state how long they have lived in Queensland
  • state how long the person or organisation has known your child
• evidence explaining the reason if your or your child’s current name or sex is different to the details on their birth certificate, such as
  • marriage certificate
  • change of name document
  • change of sex document.

Normally both parents of the child must apply together. If only one parent or person with parental responsibility is applying for the child, you need to provide additional evidence.

Other evidence of birth

If you can’t provide your child’s birth certificate, we may accept one of these (showing their birth name), you must provide either:

• a travel document
• a passport issued by the country of your child’s birth with a letter from the consulate confirming their details

and

• a statutory declaration that
  • explains why your child’s birth certificate isn't available
  • includes your child’s name at birth
  • includes your child’s date and place of birth.

Rules for changing your child’s recognised sex

To have your child’s sex recognised, you must:

• not have changed your child’s recognised sex in Queensland in the past 12 months
• be a registered parent of the child, or been given legal parental responsibility for the child
• have consent from the other registered parent or other person with parental responsibility
• have your child consent (they must also sign if aged 12 to 15)
• choose a sex descriptor that is not a prohibited sex descriptor
• choose a name that is not a prohibited name—if you decided to also change their first names.

Your application will not be approved if:

• your application does not meet the rules for changing a child’s recognised sex
• your application is incomplete, or you are not able to provide all the documents needed
• you have not provided enough documentation to establish your identity
• the change of sex appears to be for a fraudulent or other improper purpose.

The fee covers the cost for us to review your application and is non-refundable even if it is not approved. You may want to read our refund policy.

Who can apply

If both parents are shown on a child’s birth certificate, both parents need to consent to changing their child’s sex and name (if applicable).

If you are a single parent, you can apply to change your child’s sex and name if one of the following applies:

• you are the child’s mother and there are no details for your child’s other parent on the birth certificate
• one parent is deceased a death certificate is required.

A person with sole parental responsibility under a Family Court order can apply—parenting order must be provided.

If you are a legal guardian (i.e. you have been appointed under a law of a state or the Australian Government), you can apply—child protection order or legal will appointing guardianship must be provided.

A child that is 12 years old (and less than 16) may apply to the Childrens Court if each parent of the child or person(s) with parental responsibility for the child does not support a change to the child’s sex.

Learn more about the requirements for who can apply.

How to apply

To apply to change your child's recognised sex, you need to:

1. Read and understand the rules above.
2. Answer the questions—it should take you less than 15 minutes.
3. Choose how you would like to pay the fee.
4. Review your details.
5. Read the email we send you to find out how to finalise your application.
6. Have your proof of ID and supporting documents certified by a Justice of the Peace or another authorised person.
7. Submit your signed application form, with the supporting documents and payment (if you chose not to pay online) to us
   1. by post
   2. in person by requesting an appointment at the Brisbane registry customer service centre.

Fill in the change your child's recognised sex application form

Submit by post

Post your completed application form with your certified supporting documents and payment (if you didn't pay online) to:

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

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

Submit in person by requesting an appointment

To submit your completed application form in person, you need to book a 15-minute appointment with a registry officer.

This online service allows you to choose the date and time of your appointment at the Brisbane registry customer service centre at Level 32, 180 Ann Street, Brisbane.

To book your appointment, you will be asked for your name, email and mobile number, and you will get an email confirming your appointment. The email will also allow you to easily reschedule or cancel your booking, if necessary.