Replacing ID, licences and personal documents after a natural disaster
Your identification, licences, certificates, permits, registrations or documents might be lost or damaged. Find out how to apply for replacements.
Birth, Marriage or Change of Name certificates
Birth, Marriage or Change of Name certificates that have been destroyed due to a natural disaster can be reissued at no charge. Certificates registered in other Australian states and territories, and New Zealand, can also be replaced.
Visit your nearest Service NSW Centre for assistance.
Vehicle and vessel registrations and licences
The following products can be replaced for free if you were affected by a natural disaster or emergency:
- driver licence (including learner, P1, P2 and unrestricted)
- Mobility Parking Scheme (MPS) permit
- NSW Photo Card
- boat licence
- Personal Watercraft (PWC) licence
- Certificate of Registration for a vehicle and/or vessel (and registration label if applicable)
- number plates (number plate reissue, remake or hold fees may also be waived)
- e-toll tag
- learner driver log book.
Citizenship documents
If your passport has been lost or damaged, you may be eligible for a free replacement. You'll need to provide basic information to confirm your identity and prove that you were in a natural disaster area. No application form will be required. Call the Australian Passport Information Service on 131 232.
You can get your Australian citizenship certificate replaced for free. You must apply within 18 months of the natural disaster event. Visit the Department of Home Affairs for more information.
Election enrolment
If you're absent from your enrolled address due to a natural disaster, you don't need to update your enrolment. For more information, visit the Australian Electoral Commission's enrolment advice page.
Medicare card
If your Medicare card was damaged or lost, you can request a new card by:
- using your Medicare online account through myGov or your Medicare mobile app
- calling 132 011.
Your new card will replace your old card. You’ll have the same Medicare number that you did before, but your old card will no longer be valid. Your new card will arrive in 3 to 4 weeks to the address you give us. You can use a digital copy of your Medicare card in the meantime.
For more information, visit Replace your Medicare card or get an extra card on the Services Australia website.
Family law documents
Your family law documents can be replaced for free at a family law registry. This includes:
- divorce orders
- current orders
- other family law documents.
Visit the Federal Circuit Court of Australia website for more information.
Fishing licences
If your current recreational fishing licence has been lost or destroyed in a disaster, it can be replaced for free. Call 02 4424 7499 or email the Department of Primary Industries.
Liquor and Gaming NSW licences, certificates and documents
Liquor and Gaming NSW provides support for licensees affected by a disaster. It may be able to help with:
- replacement copies of destroyed licences and identification cards
- extensions of interim certificates reaching their 90-day limit
- replacement signage cost waivers or reductions
- financial hardship provisions for annual liquor licence fees
- extra assistance for liquor licence applications
- temporary relocation of liquor licences to other premises.
If you have lost your physical competency card, download a digital version. You can also find basic details of your licence, including licence number and conditions, at the online register.
You can download liquor premises licence documents for free through the liquor licence manager portal.
For more information, contact Liquor and Gaming NSW on 1300 024 720 or by email with details of your situation. Include ‘Disaster assistance’ in the email subject line.
NSW Fair Trading licences, permits and certificates
You can get free replacements of these licences, permits or certificates, if they were destroyed in a disaster, including:
- motor vehicle dealer, repairer, tradesperson
- pawnbroker and second-hand dealer
- paintball marker
- conveyancer
- tow truck driver (tow truck operators should contact the Police who will advise NSW Fair Trading)
- tattoo parlour or tattooist.
For assistance, email Service NSW, visit your nearest centre or call 13 77 88.
You can also contact Service NSW to replace:
- property licences and certificates
- conveyancers licences.
To apply for a replacement home building or trade licence, permit, certificate or card, complete the Application for a Duplicate Licence, Certificate or Permit – PDF. State on the form that the document was lost in a disaster. Please provide your home address if it is different to your nominated address.
Free mail redirection
The NSW Government provides free mail redirection services to those affected by natural disasters. Apply for this service at your nearest Post Office.