Changing your name if you were born overseas
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:
- 18 or older
- married under 18.
Find out how to change your name if you are under 18.
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 you were born in:
- another Australian state or territory, you need to apply to the interstate registry office
- Queensland find out how to apply.
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.
To submit your change of name application 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—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.
Documents you will need to provide
If you were born overseas, you must provide:
- certified proof of ID
- a certified copy of your birth certificate—if you can’t get one, we may accept other evidence of your birth (more about this below)
- evidence that you currently live and have lived in Queensland for 12 months before your application (or more), such as
- rental agreement(s)
- rates notices
- utility bills
- a letter that
- is dated and signed on letterhead by either
- your current employer
- your educational institution
- states how long you have lived in Queensland
- states how long the person or organisation has known you
- is dated and signed on letterhead by either
- 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
- a statutory declaration that
- explains why your birth certificate isn't available
- includes your name at birth
- includes your date and place of birth.
and
If any of the 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 you normally live 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.
Rules for changing your name
To change your name, you must:
- choose a name that is not a prohibited name
- not have changed your name
- in the past 12 months
- more than 3 times since 24 June 2024
- lived in Queensland for 12 months (or more)
- give a detailed reason for your name change.
Read our change of name policy for exceptions.
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.
- Have your proof of ID and supporting documents certified by a Justice of the Peace or another authorised person.
- Have another adult (18 or older) witness your signature on the declaration section of the application form.
- 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.
Fill in the change of 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 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 according to 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.
Certified and translated identity documents
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.
For original documents that are not in English, you must provide a translation from a translator certified by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI).
If you can’t speak and understand English, you may bring an interpreter to your appointment.