How to apply for a Birth Certificate

In this guide, we explain how you can order a New South Wales (NSW) birth certificate.

You can order a birth certificate for:

• you
• your child. 

You can also order a birth certificate for someone else if you follow one of these rules. 

You can order a birth certificate for someone else if you have:

• a letter from the person saying it’s ok  
• documents to prove who they are
• documents to prove who you are. 

You can order a birth certificate for someone else if you have a written power of attorney.

Apower of attorneyis a document that says:  

• a person can make decisions for someone when they can’t  
• what decisions they can make.

You can order a birth certificate for someone else if you have a document that shows you are their guardian.

A guardian is a person who acts and makes decisions for someone. 

You can order a birth certificate for someone else if you are the person’s lawyer.

A lawyer is someone who knows and understands the law. 

You can order a birth certificate for your parents if:

• you were born in Australia after 20 August 1986

• Your parent was born in NSW.

You can only order a birth certificate from us if the person was:

• born in New South Wales (NSW)
• adopted in NSW.

You need to share documents to prove who you are to order a birth certificate.  

There are 4 document category types you can use to prove who you are:

• Category 1 documents

• Category 2 documents

• Category 3 documents

• Category 4 documents.

We explain these document category types below.  

Category 1 documents include:

• an Australian birth certificate

• citizenship certificate

A citizenship certificate is an official document that proves someone is a citizen of a country.

A citizen is someone who belongs to a country under the law.

They have the rights and freedoms of that country.  

If you are from New Zealand, you can share:

• a New Zealand citizenship certificate and passport

• a New Zealand birth certificate.

Category 2 documents include:

• an Australian driver licence

• a passport

• a gun licence 

• a NSW Photo Card.

Category 3 documents include:

• a Medicare card

• a Centrelink card

• a Department of Veterans Affairs card

• a licence to work as security or to control crowds

• an ID card from university or college.

Category 4 documents include bills that shows your name and address.

For example, an electricity bill.

This bill must be from the last 3 months.

You need to share 3 documents to prove who you are. 

This includes one document from:

• Category 1
• Category 2
• Category 3. 

If you can’t meet this rule, you still need to share 3 documents to prove who you are.

And at least 2 of these documents must be from Category 3.

You can share a document from Category 4 if you can’t provide documents from:

• Category 1
• Category 2.

If you can’t meet either of these rules, you can contact us for help.

It costs $67 to order a birth certificate.

It will cost $99 if you want your birth certificate faster.  

It will cost $44 for a commemorative certificate.  

A commemorative certificate is copy of a document.  

You can’t use a commemorative certificate as proof of who you are.

We don't send out commemorative certificates faster.

It will cost $97 if you want to order a birth certificate and commemorative certificate. 

It will cost $129 if you want your birth certificate and commemorative certificate faster.

It will cost an extra $9 to send your birth certificate outside of Australia.

It will cost $48 for us to send a copy of your birth certificate to a passport office.

When you order a birth certificate, you need to fill out information about the person.

For example, information about:

• who they are
• when the person was born
• where the person was born. 

You also need to make sure you have a way to pay for the birth certificate.  

You can order a birth certificate on our website.

Or you can fill out a form to order a birth certificate.

You can download the form from our website. 

After you have filled out the form, you can send it in the mail.

NSW Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages
GPO Box 30
Sydney NSW 2001

Or you can take your form to a service centre.

You can find a centre near you on the Find a service centre page on the Service NSW website.

If you are a new parent, you can order a birth certificate when you tell us about your child.

You can find out more on the Register your baby page on our website.

If you need a birth certificate for a research project about your family, you can visit the Family history search guide page on our website. 

We will check your order for a birth certificate to make sure you have provided the information we need.

Most orders will take between 2 to 4 weeks to arrive.

If you paid for your order to arrive faster, it will take between 1 to 2 weeks.  

You should check the birth certificate to make sure all the information is right when it arrives.

You need to send it back to us if the information on your birth certificate is wrong.

When you send it back to us, you need to include 3 documents that show who you are. 

You also need to send a form that explains what the information should be.

You can download the form from our website.

You can send it to:

NSW Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages

GPO Box 30

Sydney NSW 2001

You must not make any changes to your birth certificate before you send it back to us.

You can contact Service NSW for more information.

You can call Service NSW.

13 77 88

You can find Service NSW contact information on the Contact us page on the Service NSW website.

You can also take it to a Service NSW centre near you.