Registering a civil partnership

Couples can register their relationship as a civil partnership, by completing an application, without having a declaration ceremony. You need to be 18 or older, and at least 1 partner must live in Queensland.

A civil partnership is not a marriage and therefore has different rules.

By law, your civil partnership will not be registered earlier than 10 full days after you submit your compliant application. This is called the cooling-off period and can’t be shortened. An application is compliant when it has been completed in full and submitted with all required supporting documents and payment of the registration fee.

We don’t automatically send you an official civil partnership certificate. However, you may choose to order and pay for one when you submit your application to register your civil partnership.

Learn about having a civil partnership declaration ceremony from $384.10.

Rules for registering a civil partnership

Any eligible couple can enter a civil partnership.

To be eligible:

• both partners must
  • be over 18
  • provide 3 forms of proof of ID
  • not be married or already in a civil partnership
• it can't be a prohibited relationship
• at least 1 partner must currently live in Queensland
• you must provide evidence that you are no longer married (e.g. a divorce or death certificate) if you have ever been married
• all your documents must be in English, or supplied with accredited translations as well as the original document
• you must pay the registration fee of $159.00
• you and your partner must read the legal effects of a civil partnership.

If you are posting your application, you must have your supporting documents certified by a qualified Justice of the Peace or another authorised person. This is not required if you are applying in person.

How to apply

To apply to register your civil partnership, 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. Download and print the completed application form.
6. Visit a Justice of the Peace or another authorised person with your partner (if you are posting your application). Take your proof of ID and supporting documents to have them certified and to complete the statutory declaration section of the application form.
7. Attach your certified proof of ID, eligibility documents and evidence one partner lives at a Queensland address.
8. 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 register a civil partnership 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, use our online booking system to book a 15-minute appointment with us.

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.

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Pay the fee

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
Register a civil partnership	$159.00
Commemorative civil partnership certificate package (1 official civil partnership certificate and standard postage included)	$70.70
Official civil partnership certificate (standard postage included)	$54.40

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.

Our refund policy

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.

Please read our refund policy.

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Get the printable application form

If you can’t complete the application form online, you can use the PDF application form and apply by post or in person.

Get the application to register a civil partnership without a declaration ceremony.

Register with a declaration ceremony

Find out what you need to do if you choose to have a civil partnership declaration ceremony when registering your relationship as a civil partnership.