Apply for a birth certificate

On this page

• Anyone born in South Australia can apply for their own birth certificate.
• Anyone can access an historical birth certificate (more than 100 years old).

Who can apply for someone else's birth certificate

Only these people can apply for someone else's birth certificate:

• a child's parent
• a person's child
• a child's legal guardian - evidence is needed for non-parent guardians
• the person's current spouse - evidence is needed if surnames are different
• an executor of their estate, administrator or trustee - evidence of authority is needed
• someone with written authority or power of attorney - evidence of authority is needed.

When applying for someone else's certificate, you'll need to show proof of your connection to the person and give a reason for applying, for example, a parent applying for their child's certificate or an executor settling a deceased estate.

You'll need to provide basic information about the person, such as:

• names of parents
• date of birth
• place of birth.

You'll need to tell us if the information isn't available - for instance, an adult separated from their birth family at a young age.

Proof of identity

You need to prove your identity, unless you're applying for a birth certificate that's more than 100 years old.

You'll need to provide one of these combinations of documents:

• TWO documents from list 1
• ONE document from list 1 and ONE document from either list 2 or 3
• ONE document from list 2 and TWO documents from list 3
• THREE documents from list 3.

At least one document must show your name and address and one document must show your signature.

All identification documents must be current (not expired). Where a document from list 3 is provided as evidence of your address, it must have been issued within the last three months.

You can upload scanned or photographed images of your ID documents.

If you're applying online, you must include a document from list 1, or your Medicare card, if agreeing to be verified by the online Document Verification Service (DVS). If you live overseas, you can use your overseas driver’s licence or passport.

You can pay for your certificate:

• in person - cheque, money order, credit card
• by post - cheque, money order, credit card
• online - credit card.

Make cheques payable to Births, Deaths and Marriages.

Occasionally CBS can't find a record to match an application. If this happens, a 'no record' certificate is issued and a search fee of $72.00 for each ten-year period is charged.

Processing times can vary depending on the date of the certificate.

Check estimated processing times on the CBS website to work out how long it will take to get your certificate.

You can't apply for a certificate over the phone.

Fast track option

You can fast track your application by paying a priority fee of $50.00

Priority service processing times for online, posted or regional Service SA applications - processed within 1 business day.

Processing time doesn't include delivery by Australia Post. Visit Australia Post for delivery information.

Fast tracking isn't available for commemorative certificates, unregistered births or birth certificates more than 100 years old.

You can apply for a photocopy of a birth registration statement that was lodged to register a birth if you're the registered person, the person's parents, or a child of the registered person.

A photocopy of a birth registration statement is only available if the birth occurred after July 1948.

This document isn't a certified copy and can't be used for identification purposes.

You'll need to supply some information about the person whose birth registration statement you want and prove your identity.

To apply, complete and sign the form - Birth Registration Statement (PDF 821KB)

Fee: $72.00