Registering your baby's birth and other paperwork

Registering your baby's birth

If you had your baby in hospital, you’ll be given a form to register the birth. You can also do it online. Registering the birth:

• makes your baby’s name legal
• allows you to apply for a birth certificate.

Registering you baby's birth is free, and needs to be done within 60 days of the birth. 

Applying for a birth certificate

You will not automatically get a birth certificate when you register the birth of your baby. You’ll have to buy one. You can apply for a birth certificate once the registration is complete.

You’ll need a birth certificate to:

• access Medicare
• apply for certain government benefits
• enrol in early childhood education and care.

Find out the fees and processing times on our birth certificate page. 

Enrol your baby in Medicare

Your baby will be enrolled in Medicare automatically if:

• you're applying for a family assistance payment
• you've completed a pre-claim form.

Otherwise, you'll have to provide proof of birth to enrol your baby in Medicare. 

You can do this by completing the newborn child declaration form you received in the parent pack from the hospital or midwife. This will also:

• enrol your baby in the Medicare Safety Net
• register your baby for a My Health Record
• enrol your baby into the Australian Immunisation Register.

Make a family payment claim or finalise a pre-birth claim

You’ll need to provide proof of your baby’s birth to:

• finalise any family assistance payment claims made before the birth of your baby
• make a new claim.

You can do this by filling out the newborn child declaration that's included in the parent pack you get from your hospital or midwife.

Completing the newborn child declaration form will also:

• enrol your baby in Medicare and the Medicare Safety Net
• register your baby for a My Health Record
• enrol your baby into the Australian Immunisation Register.

Other paperwork

Depending on your circumstances, you may also have to:

• add your baby to your private health insurance policy - if you earn above the family income threshold and do not do so, you may be charged the Medicare Levy Surcharge at tax time
• let the Department of Home Affairs know you've had a baby, if you're a visa holder or visa applicant - they will confirm if your baby needs a visa of if they're an Australian citizen
• make or update your will, or appoint a legal guardian for your child in case anything happens to you.