Change of name certificates are usually needed when people want to prove their identity for things like passports and claiming government benefits after they have registered a change of name.
If you were married in Australia and wish to take on your partner's surname, you should apply for a marriage certificate to use as evidence of your new surname.
1. Check eligibility
2. Application form
Complete and sign the form - Apply for a change of name certificate (184.9 KB PDF).
3. Supporting evidence
Attach copies of the required ID to your application - what you'll need.
4. Payment
Include payment of $55.50 - payment options
5. Lodgement
Post your application to:
Births, Deaths and Marriages
Consumer and Business Services
GPO Box 1351
Adelaide SA 5001
If your application is urgent it can be lodged at the CBS Customer Service Centre. There's an additional fee for urgent applications.
What you'll need
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 are applying online, you must include a document from list 1, or your medicare card, to be verified by the online Document Verification Service (DVS). If you live overseas, you can use your overseas driver’s licence or passport.
| List 1 | List 2 | List 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Australian passport | Government employee photo ID card | Bank statement |
| Australian driver’s licence | Overseas driver’s licence | Council rates notice |
| Centrelink concession card | Tertiary student ID card | Utility account statement (electricity, gas, water) |
| Overseas passport | Proof of age card | |
| Aviation/maritime security ID card | Tenancy or lease agreement | |
| Medicare card | Motor vehicle registration papers | |
| Australian firearms licence | Telephone or mobile account | |
| Security guard or crowd control licence | ATO notice of assessment | |
| Mortgage documents | ||
| Australian Electoral Commission enrollment | ||
| Seniors card | ||
| Superannuation fund statement | ||
| Certified academic university transcript | ||
| Credit or debit card |
Payment options
Fees for certificates cover the search of the register - $55.50
You can pay for your certificate:- in person - cash, cheque, money order, credit or debit card
- by post - cheque, money order, credit card.
Cheques should be made 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 $55.50 for each ten-year period is charged.
Estimated processing times
Check estimated processing times on the Consumer and Business Services (CBS) website to work out how long it will take to get your certificate.
Fast track option
Your application can be fast-tracked by paying a priority fee of $42.25. Certificates can be picked up from the CBS Customer Service Centre in Adelaide or sent by express post. There is no extra postage cost to have your fast-tracked certificate sent by express post.
Priority service processing times:
- CBS Customer Service Centre applications – 30 minutes
- posted applications – available for collection or posted within 24 hours.
Contact Births, Deaths and Marriages
Phone: 131 882
Post:
GPO Box 1351
Adelaide SA 5001
