Changing your overseas-born child's name before they turn 18

If your child was born or adopted overseas and has lived in Queensland for the past 12 months (and currently live here), you can change their :

• first name(s) once before they turn 18
• family name any number of times (once every 12 months).

If your child was born, adopted or lives in another Australian state or territory, you need to apply to the interstate registry office.

If your application is approved, we will send the official certificate and you will need to change your child's name everywhere they are registered in the community.

To submit an application to change your child's name in person at the Brisbane registry, request an interview appointment.

You must book an appointment for each change of name application you are submitting to us.

Change of name certificate

Change of name certificates only provide some birth information, the new name and any previous change of name registered in Queensland by us. They are not proof of birth details.

The application fee includes 1 free change of name certificate. Additional certificates attract an extra cost.

Documents you will need to provide

If your child was born overseas, you must provide:

• certified proof of ID for both registered parents (read the rules below if you are a single parent or have legal parental responsibility)
• a certified copy of your child's birth certificate—if you can’t get one, we may accept other evidence of their birth (more about this below)
• 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
    • employer
  • state how long they have lived in Queensland
  • state how long the person or organisation has known your child
• evidence explaining why if your or your child’s current name is different to the name on their birth certificate, such as
  • marriage certificate
  • family deed poll document
  • change of name document.

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

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

If original documents are not in English, you must have them translated into English by a certified translator and provide a certified copy of the original document with the original translation.

Your application will not be approved if:

• you have not been able to provide enough
  • documentation to establish your identity
  • evidence that your child normally lives in Queensland
• the change of name appears to be for a fraudulent or other improper purpose
• the name you’ve chosen is a prohibited name.

Detailed rules and requirements are outlined in our change of name and prohibited name policies.

If only one of the parents shown on your child’s birth certificate is applying, you will need additional evidence to support this, such as a court order or death certificate.

Rules for changing your child’s names

To change your child’s names before they turn 18, you must:

• not have changed your child’s first name before
• not have changed your child’s family name in the past 12 months
• have consent from the authorised parents or person(s)
• have your child consent to changing their name (if aged 12 to 17)
• choose a new name that is not a prohibited name
• give a detailed reason for your child’s name change.

Who can apply

If both parents are shown on a child’s birth certificate, both parents need to consent to changing their child’s name.

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

• you are the child’s parent and there are no details for your child’s other parent on the birth certificate
• you have Queensland Magistrates Court order, ordering a change of name
• one parent is deceased—a death certificate is required.

If you have legal parental responsibility (i.e. under a Family Law order, a Child Protection order or a will), you can apply to change the child’s name but must provide evidence.

Read more about the evidence you will need to have.

How to apply

To apply to change your child’s name, you need to:

1. Read and understand the rules above.
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 and supporting documents for both parents certified by a Justice of the Peace or another authorised person.
6. Have another adult (18 or older) witness your signature(s) on the declaration section of the application form. This includes your child's signature if they are aged 12 to 17.
7. Submit your signed application form, 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 changing your child's name application form

Submit by post

Post your completed application form with your certified 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 interview 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.

Privacy notice

The Department of Justice, Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages is collecting your personal information for the purpose of facilitating your appointment booking online and for contacting you in relation to your appointment. Your personal information will not be used or disclosed for any other purpose unless authorised or required by law. Your personal information will be handled in accordance with the provisions of the Information Privacy Act 2009.

Other booking options

To book your interview appointment contact us.

Brisbane registry contact details

Located at Level 32, 180 Ann Street, Brisbane

Opening hours

Monday to Friday: 8.30am–4.30pm

Public holidays: Closed

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.

Visit the Brisbane registry customer service centre at Level 32, 180 Ann Street, Brisbane.