Birth certificates

If the birth or adoption was registered in NSW you can apply  for a copy of:

• your own birth certificate
• your child's birth certificate.

You can also apply for the birth certificate of another person if you fall into one of these 5 categories.

1. You have written permission to apply and can provide us with:

   a) letter of authority (PDF 217.4KB) giving you permission to apply
   b) proof of identity for the person named on the certificate or one of 
        their parents (at least 3 documents), and
   c) proof of your own identity (at least 3 documents).

2. You have a written power of attorney given by the person on the birth certificate.
3. You can provide a document showing you are a legally appointed guardian of the person on the birth certificate.
4. You're a solicitor acting for the person named on the certificate or you require the certificate for a legal purpose and can meet the requirements for solicitors applying for certificates.
5. You were born in Australia after 20 August, 1986 and one parent’s birth is registered in NSW, and you are applying for their birth certificate to apply for an Australian passport.  

You must provide a least 3 forms of current identity, one of each from Categories 1, 2 and 3.

• If you cannot provide proof of identity from Categories 1 and 2, you must still provide at least 3 forms of identity. At least two of these must be from Category 3.
• If cannot meet these requirements, please contact us for further advice. 

If you're eligible to apply and the person has been registered in NSW, to apply for a birth certificate you must provide: 

• details of the person's birth
• personal and contact information 
• proof of identity documents that have been saved to your phone or computer
• additional documents that apply to for solicitors applying for certificates (if applicable)
• documents showing your permission to apply for the birth certificate (if applicable)
• a debit or credit card to pay for the certificate.

You can also apply for a birth certificate by:

• Applying online.  Applying online is the fastest and easiest way to obtain your certificate.  If you have selected a ‘collect’ option please await a confirmation email, sent to you within one working day of your application, before coming to the office to collect the certificate.
• printing a birth certificate application form and sending the completed form to us by post
• in person at a Service NSW Centre. This is not a same day service. 

If there are errors on the certificate you must:

• return the original certificate to us by post
• provide 3 proof of identity documents  and
• send us the correct information on the correct an entry form.