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.
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 an accredited 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
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
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.
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.
Submit your signed application form, supporting documents and payment (if you chose not to pay online) to us
by post
in person by requesting an appointment at the Brisbane registry customer service centre.
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 and Attorney-General, 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.
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.
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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.
If an urgent application does not comply, and we have to ask for more information or documentation, you can be assured it has already been reviewed before others. When your application becomes compliant, we will continue to process it urgently.
When applying for an exception to a change o name rule, your application will take longer to process than the days shown below.
Please allow extra time for Australia Post to deliver your certificate to your address.
When completing online, the total cost is calculated as you fill in the application form online.
The fee is for you to submit your application and for us to review it.
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
Item
Cost
Change of name (includes 1 official change of name certificate)
$205.90
Additional official change of name certificate
$54.40
Urgent application
$108.10
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.
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.
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.
When applying by post, you must have the supporting documents you provide certified by a qualified Justice of the Peace or another authorised person before you post them to us.
If you can't speak and understand English, you may bring an interpreter to your appointment.
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If you can't complete the application form online, you can use the PDF application form and submit it by post or in person by requesting an appointment with us.
If you want to change your child’s name, but do not meet the normal rules to apply because your child:
was born overseas and is either
1 year (or older) and has not lived in Queensland for at least 12 months
under 1 year and I have not lived in Queensland for at least 12 months
had their name changed less than 12 months ago in Australia
has had their first and/or middle names changed once before in Australia.
It is important to read the change of name policy and how to apply above to check that your child’s situation fits one of the categories for an exception.
You will need to complete and submit the request exception to rules application along with the change of name application and evidence showing how your child’s situation is exceptional.
Your application will take longer for us to consider—even if the urgent fee is paid.
If your request is not approved your child’s change of name application will be cancelled, and the fee (including urgent fee, if paid) will not be refunded. We will refund any payment for postage and any additional certificates. Read more about the refund policy.
