Fees and processing times
Find out the cost and estimated processing times for certificate applications through the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages.
Important information about ordering a certificate
Processing times are for applications that have all the required information including correct proof of identification documents and paid application fee. We cannot process your application until it’s been verified as being complete.
How you apply for a certificate will affect the time it takes to process your application. The quickest way to apply is online.
The forms for your chosen certificate or application can be found on the relevant page, which are listed below under related information.
There are three ways you can apply:
- online - this is the quickest way
- paper application posted directly to the Registry
- via Service NSW Service Centres
Certificates are delivered by registered post or international registered post. Our processing times do not include Australia Post delivery times. Please see Australia Post website for current delivery times within Australia or International.
Priority services are only available on some application types. If there is no priority service fee listed, it means that the application type is complex, and the registration or certificate isn’t eligible.
A priority service may also include an option to collect the certificate directly from the Registry.
All prices include $11.00 postage and handling.
If your application requires international postage, you will be charged an additional $9.00 fee.
The fee to send a certificate to any passport office, Australian embassy or consulate is $48.
You must contact the passport office, Australian embassy or consulate before this is sent. If this has not been done, the Registy will email the certificate, but can not guarantee this will be accepted.
You will need to provide the email address of the passport office, Australian embassy or consulate to the Registry. A list of Australian embassies and consulates located overseas can be found on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website.
Certificates can not be emailed to international diplomatic offices.
There is no fee to correct a record if the Registry has made an error.
A standard certificate fee may be charged if the error was due to a customer submitting incorrect or incomplete information in their application. Please refer to the certificate applied for to view current standard certificate fees.
Please allow up to 9 weeks for processing of certificate correction applications.
Birth certificates: newborn babies
| Standard birth certificate ordered when birth is registered | Standard service $67 |
|---|---|
| Online application | Up to 4 weeks |
| Postal application | Up to 5 weeks |
| Via Service NSW | Up to 6 weeks |
| Fee to send a copy of a certificate to a passport office | $48 |
Birth certificates
| Standard birth certificate | Standard service $67 | Priority service $99 |
|---|---|---|
| Online application | Up to 4 weeks | Up to 2 weeks |
| Postal application | Up to 6 weeks | Up to 4 weeks |
| Via Service NSW | Up to 5 weeks | Up to 2 weeks |
| Fee to send a certificate to a passport office | $48 |
| Official birth certificate and commemorative certificate* package | Standard service $97 | Priority service $129 |
|---|---|---|
| Online application | Up to 6 weeks | Up to 4 weeks |
| Postal application | Up to 7 weeks | Up to 6 weeks |
| Via Service NSW | Up to 6 weeks | Up to 4 weeks |
| Commemorative birth certificate* only | Standard service $44 | Priority service |
|---|---|---|
| Online application | Up to 6 weeks | Not available |
| Postal application | Up to 7 weeks | Not available |
| Via Service NSW | Up to 6 weeks | Not available |
*Commemorative certificates are sent separately from a standard certificate.
Marriage certificates
The quickest way to receive your certificate is for your celebrant to register your marriage online. Marriage celebrants have up to 14 days to register your marriage.
| Standard marriage certificate | Standard service $67 | Priority service $99 |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate for newlyweds (celebrants have 14 days to lodge) | Up to 3 weeks | Not available |
| Online application | Up to 4 weeks | Up to 2 weeks |
| Postal application | Up to 6 weeks | Up to 4 weeks |
| Via Service NSW | Up to 5 weeks | Up to 2 weeks |
| Fee to send a copy of a certificate to a passport office | $48 |
| Official marriage certificate and commemorative certificate* package | Standard service $97 | Priority service $129 |
|---|---|---|
| Online application | Up to 6 weeks | Up to 4 weeks |
| Postal application | Up to 7 weeks | Up to 4 weeks |
| Via Service NSW | Up to 6 weeks | Up to 4 weeks |
| Commemorative marriage certificate* only | Standard service $44 | Priority service |
|---|---|---|
| Online application | Up to 6 weeks | Not available |
| Postal application | Up to 7 weeks | Not available |
| Via Service NSW | Up to 6 weeks | Not available |
*Commemorative certificates are sent separately from a standard certificate.
Single status certificates
| Request for a Single Status certificate (10-year search*) | Standard service $67 | Priority service $99 |
|---|---|---|
| Postal application | Up to 6 weeks | Up to 4 weeks |
| Via Service NSW | Up to 5 weeks | Up to 2 weeks |
| Fee to send a copy of a certificate to a passport office | $48 |
*There is a $52 fee per additional 10 year search.
Family history certificates
| Family history certificates | Standard service $39 |
|---|---|
| Online application: email delivery | Up to 3 weeks |
| Online application: postal delivery | Up to 3 weeks |
| Postal application | Up to 4 weeks |
| Via Service NSW | Up to 4 weeks |
| Pre-1856 Church Register Records (Volume records) | Up to 5 weeks |
Death certificates
| Certificate request | Standard service $67 | Priority service $99 |
|---|---|---|
| Death registration | Up to 1 week | Not available |
| Correction to a certificate | Up to 9 weeks | Not available |
| Online application | Up to 4 weeks | Up to 2 weeks |
| Postal application | Up to 6 weeks | Up to 4 weeks |
| Via Service NSW | Up to 5 weeks | Up to 2 weeks |
| Fee to send a copy of a certificate to a passport office | $48 |
Section 50 (10-year search)
| Section 50 (10-year search*) | Standard service $66 | Priority service $98 |
|---|---|---|
| Postal application | Up to 6 weeks | Up to 4 weeks |
| Via Service NSW | Up to 5 weeks | Up to 2 weeks |
*There is a $52 fee per additional 10-year search.
Registered relationship
| Application | ||
|---|---|---|
| Relationship registration and certificate* | Standard service $253 | Priority service |
| Online application | Up to 13 weeks | Not available |
| Postal application | Up to 13 weeks | Not available |
| Via Service NSW | Up to 13 weeks | Not available |
| Revoke a registered relationship** | Standard service $93 | Priority service |
| Postal application | Up to 13 weeks | Not available |
| Via Service NSW | Up to 13 weeks | Not available |
| Relationship ceremony (includes registration, certificate and ceremony) | Standard service $479 | Priority service not available |
| Replacement certificate | Standard service $67 | Priority service $99 |
| Postal application | Up to 6 weeks | Up to 4 weeks |
| Via Service NSW | Up to 5 weeks | Up to 2 weeks |
| Commemorative package (1 standard and 1 commemorative certificate) | Standard service $97 | Priority service $129 |
| Postal application | Up to 7 weeks | Up to 6 weeks |
| Via Service NSW | Up to 6 weeks | Up to 4 weeks |
| Commemorative certificate only | Standard service $44 | Priority service |
| Postal application | Up to 7 weeks | Not available |
| Via Service NSW | Up to 6 weeks | Not available |
| Additional fee for letter of confirmation for lodgement of the application | Standard service $45 | Priority service not available |
*The processing time for relationship registration certificates includes a 28-day cooling off period.
**The processing time to revoke a registered relationship includes a 90-day cooling off period.
Change of name registration
| Certificate request | Standard service $222 | Priority service $283 |
|---|---|---|
| Online application | Up to 11 weeks | Up to 5 weeks |
| Postal application | Up to 12 weeks | Up to 7 weeks |
| Via Service NSW | Up to 12 weeks | Up to 7 weeks |
Change of name replacement certificate
| Certificate request | Standard service $67 | Priority service $99 |
|---|---|---|
| Online application | Up to 4 weeks | Up to 2 weeks |
| Postal application | Up to 6 weeks | Up to 4 weeks |
| Via Service NSW | Up to 5 weeks | Up to 2 weeks |
| Fee to send a copy of a certificate to a passport office | $48 |
Change of sex
| Certificate request | | |
|---|---|---|
| Recording a change of sex (born in NSW) | Standard service $153 | Priority service |
| Postal application | Up to 10 weeks | Not available |
| Via Service NSW | Up to 10 weeks | Not available |
| Recognised details certificate (born outside of Australia) | Standard service $153 | Priority service |
| Postal application | Up to 10 weeks | Not available |
| Via Service NSW | Up to 10 weeks | Not available |
| Replacement recognised details certificate | Standard service $67 | Priority service $99 |
| Postal application | Up to 6 weeks | Up to 4 weeks |
| Via Service NSW | Up to 5 weeks | Up to 2 weeks |
Adoption certificates
Adoption applications can be complex, and we are unable to provide a firm estimate of the time required to complete the process.
| Pre-adoptive certificate | Standard service $67 |
|---|---|
| Integrated Birth Certificate (IBC) *There is no fee for the IBC if a copy of the original post-adoptive birth certificate is provided in your application. | Standard service $67 |
| Marriage search | Standard service $67 |
| Death search | Standard service $67 |
| Extract of a birth parent's birth record | Standard service $67 |
Pre-adoptive certificate Integrated Birth Certificate (IBC) *There is no fee for the IBC if a copy of the original post-adoptive birth certificate is provided in your application. Standard service $67 Standard service $67 |
Pre-adoptive certificate Marriage search Standard service $67 Standard service $67 |
Pre-adoptive certificate Death search Standard service $67 Standard service $67 |
Pre-adoptive certificate Extract of a birth parent's birth record Standard service $67 Standard service $67 |
Adding or removal of a parent
| Add or remove a parent on a birth registration (includes 1 birth certificate) | Standard service $150 |
|---|---|
| Postal application | Up to 6 weeks |
| Via Service NSW | Up to 6 weeks |
| Add or remove a parent on a birth registration only (no certificate) | Standard service $83 |
| Postal application | Up to 6 weeks |
| Via Service NSW | Up to 6 weeks |
Add or remove a parent on a birth registration (includes 1 birth certificate) Postal application Standard service $150 Up to 6 weeks |
Add or remove a parent on a birth registration (includes 1 birth certificate) Via Service NSW Standard service $150 Up to 6 weeks |
Add or remove a parent on a birth registration (includes 1 birth certificate) Add or remove a parent on a birth registration only (no certificate) Standard service $150 Standard service $83 |
Add or remove a parent on a birth registration (includes 1 birth certificate) Postal application Standard service $150 Up to 6 weeks |
Add or remove a parent on a birth registration (includes 1 birth certificate) Via Service NSW Standard service $150 Up to 6 weeks |
Registry weddings
| Ceremony type | Fees |
|---|---|
| Classic wedding ceremony Monday to Friday 9am-4pm | $479 |
| Classic wedding ceremony Saturday 9am-4pm | $594 |
| Classic wedding ceremony Select Saturdays 4.30pm-6pm | $799 |
| Premium wedding ceremony | $1,301 |
| Legal only ceremony | $479 |
Ceremony type Classic wedding ceremony Monday to Friday 9am-4pm Fees $479 |
Ceremony type Classic wedding ceremony Saturday 9am-4pm Fees $594 |
Ceremony type Classic wedding ceremony Select Saturdays 4.30pm-6pm Fees $799 |
Ceremony type Premium wedding ceremony Fees $1,301 |
Ceremony type Legal only ceremony Fees $479 |
In the event of a natural disaster
| Replacement certificates due to a natural disaster | Processing time* |
|---|---|
| Postal application | 3 days |
| Via Service NSW | 3 days |
Replacement certificates due to a natural disaster Postal application Processing time* 3 days |
Replacement certificates due to a natural disaster Via Service NSW Processing time* 3 days |
*Please note, the Registry may need to contact you if additional information is required. Please allow at least five business days for the Registry to contact you.
Contact us
If you have any queries related to the above processing times or fees, visit our Contact the Registry page for more information.