You can change your legal name a maximum of 3 times in your adult life (once every 12 months) if you were born or adopted overseas, have lived in Queensland for the past 12 months (and currently live here), and you are either:
You don’t usually need to apply to change your name if you are changing it after marriage, separation or divorce. Organisations will have different requirements for what proof they need and how you tell them, so you should contact them directly.
If your application is approved, we will send you an official certificate and you will need to change your name with every organisation you have a personal account with.
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—not including a change of name through marriage. They are not proof of birth details.
The application fee includes 1 free certificate. You have to pay for additional certificates.
states how long the person or organisation has known you
evidence explaining why if your current name is different to the name on your birth certificate, such as
marriage certificate
family deed poll document
change of name document.
If you can’t provide a birth certificate, we may accept one of these (showing your birth name), you must provide either:
a travel document
a passport issued by your country of birth with a letter from the consulate confirming your details
and
a statutory declaration that
explains why your birth certificate isn't available
includes your name at birth
includes your date and place of birth.
If any of the 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.
If you are in the custody of Corrective Services, or convicted of certain types of offences, you must get written approval before applying to us. Failing to do so is a criminal offence.
You may need written approval:
from the Chief Executive of Corrective Services if you are either
in the custody of Corrective Services
a released prisoner under the Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual Offenders) Act 2003
from the Police Commissioner if you are
a reportable offender under the Child Protection (Offender Reporting and Offender Prohibition Order) Act 2004.
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.
How to apply
To apply to change your name, you need to:
Read and understand the rules above.
Choose how you would like to pay the fee.
Review your details.
Read the email we send you to find out how to finalise your application.
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 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 according to 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 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 be process it urgently.
When applying for an exception to a change of 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 your supporting documents 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 by post or in person by requesting an appointment with us.
I want to change my name, but do not meet the normal rules to apply because I either:
was born overseas and have not lived in Queensland for 12 months
changed my name less than 12 months ago in Australia
already changed my name in Australia 3 times (or more) since 24 June 2024.
It is important to read the change of name policy and how to apply above to check that your situation fits one of the categories for an exception.
You will need to complete and submit the request exception to rules application along with your change of name application and evidence showing how your 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 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.
