How to Get a Copy of an Australian Birth Certificate

Australian birth certificates are issued by the Australian Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages. Mothers are usually the gatekeepers of birth certificates until a child becomes responsible enough to safeguard it on their own. However, many people lose or misplace their birth certificates. While this can cause stress when applying for a passport or enrolling in school, it is easy for Australian residents to obtain a certified copy of their birth certificate.

Determine if you are eligible to apply for a birth certificate. The registry will only release records to the person listed on the birth certificate, or a parent listed on the certificate.

Contact the appropriate registrar for your state or territory. There are eight locations: Australian Capital Territory (ACT,) South Australia, Northern Territory, New South Wales (NSW,) Queensland, Victorian, Western Australia and Tasmania.

The contact information and web address for each registry, along with the fees as of 2009, is listed below: Australian Capital Territory 255 Cranberra Avenue Fyshwick ACT 2609 Phone: (02) 6207 3000 Fax: (02) 6207 0538 Postal address: GPO Box 158 Canberra City ACT 2601 Hours of Operation: Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Fees: $36 Website: www.ors.act.gov.au

South Australia Chesser House, Level 2 91-97 Grenfell Street Adelaide SA 5000 Phone: (08) 8204 9599 Fax: None Postal Address: GPO Box 1351 Adelaide SA 5001 DX 225 Hours of Operation: Mon.-Fri. 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Fees: Standard delivery: $38; Priority: $67.25 Website: www.ocba.sa.gov.au

Northern Territory Phone: 1300 655 236 Fax: None listed Postal Address: Not found Hours of Operation: Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Fees: Not found Website: www.nt.gov.au

New South Wales 35 Regent Street Chippendale Sydney NSW 2008 Phone: 1300 655 236 or +61 (2) 9354 1370 for international applicants Fax: (02) 9035 6111 or +61 (2) 9035 6111 for international applicants Postal Address: GPO Box 30 Syndey NSW 2001 Hours of Operation: Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Fees: Standard: $63; Urgent: $105, $6 for postage Website: www.bdm.nsw.gov.au

Queensland 110 George Street Brisbane QLD 4000 Phone: 1300 366 430 or +61 7 3035 1000 for international applicants Fax: None listed Postal Address: PO Box 15188 City East QLD 4002 Hours of Operation: Mon.-Fri. 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Fees: Standard processing: $33; priority processing: $54; express postage: $4.30; registered mail: $3.20 Website: www.justice.qld.gov.au

Victorian 595 Collins Street, Ground Floor Melbourne Victoria Phone: 1300 369 367 or +61 3 9613 5111 for international calls Fax: +61 3 9613 5880 Postal Address: GPO Box 4332 Melbourne Victoria 3001 Hours of Operation: Mon.-Fri. 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Fees: Standard processing: $25.80; Express postage: $4; International express: $11 Website: online.justice.vic.gov.au

Western Australia 141 St Georges Terrace Perth WA 6000 Phone: 1300 305 021 Fax: (08) 9264 1599 Postal Address: PO Box 7720 Cloisters Square, Perth WA 6850 Hours of Operation: Mon.-Fri. 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Fees: Standard processing: $42; urgent (24 hours): $75 Note: Does not accept faxed applications. You may also get an application at a regional courthouse. Website: www.bdm.dotag.wa.gov.au

Tasmania Phone: 1300 135 513 or (03) 6233 3793 or +61 3 6233 3793 Fax: (03) 6233 6444 or +61 3 6233 6444 Postal Address: GPO Box 198 Hobart Tas 7001 Hours of Operation: None found. Fees: Standard: $35.84; Express processing: $61.44; express postage: $4 extra Email: bdm@justice.tas.gov.au Website: www.justice.tas.gov.au

Obtain an application form from the registry office, or download an application online. Photocopy the required proof of identification. (Most registries require three forms of identification.) Proof of identity may include a current Australia driver’s license, passport, firearms license, Medicare card, credit card, student identity card, bank statement and a utility bill with home address.

Determine if you need standard or urgent processing, and include the required fee. Return your application to the registry--in person, or via mail. Some registries allow you to fax in the form, or complete the application online.