How to Get an Australian Birth Certificate

Keep track of your vital records in Australia.

Keeping vital records for yourself and your children is an important way of establishing identity and keeping track of information. Many forms of identity verification require a birth certificate to obtain, making this record one of the most important. If you were born in Australia and have lost your birth certificate, however, it is possible for you or your parents to obtain another copy from the Australian government and registry. Commemorative certificates, which are much more ornate, are also available.

Things You'll Need

• Three forms of identification
• Letter of authorization
• Application form
• Application fee
• Envelope

Instructions

1. Determine the Australian territory where the birth took place. Birth and death registries are located in Australian Capital Territory (ACT), Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia and New South Wales (NSW).

2. Find the website for the appropriate territorial government and registry. The NSW Government registry page, for which a link is provided in the Resources section of this article, offers links to the country's other registries in the aforementioned territories.

3. Prepare three forms of identification to obtain a birth certificate, if you are the person named on the certificate or the parent of the person named. If you are an authorized representative of the person on the certificate, you must provide a written statement and identity verification from the person named on the birth certificate, or show appropriate legal authority for your request, such as legal guardianship or power of attorney.

4. Fill out the birth certificate application form, as found on the state or territory's government registry website.

5. Enclose the appropriate fee, as listed on the territory or state's website, for urgent or non-urgent delivery. Additional birth certificates may be ordered at the same time for a reduced fee.

6. Turn in or mail the application form, along with your identity verification and fee, to the nearest Registry office in the region of the birth, or submit the application by fax.

References

• NSW Government Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages: Birth Certificates
• NSW Government Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages: Other Registries

Resources

• NSW Government Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages