You don’t need to register your new name with Consumer and Business Services (CBS) if you:
- get married in Australia and take your partner's surname
- decide to go back to your surname before marriage.
You should provide a copy of your official marriage certificate to the relevant authority (ie Australian Passport Office) as evidence of your new surname.
If you were married overseas and want to take on your partner’s surname, you should contact the relevant authority or business, such as your bank or the Australian Passport Office to see what evidence you need to give them.
To change your name on documents such as your passport or driver’s licence, you must do so directly with the relevant authority, such as Service SA or the Australian Passport Office. They'll tell you what evidence you need.
Who can register
You can register a change of name with CBS if:
- you were born in South Australia
- you were born overseas, but you are an Australian citizen or a permanent resident and have lived in South Australia for at least the last twelve months.
CBS can accept one name change every 12 months, and you can only change your name three times in your lifetime. Permission from the relevant authorities is required for:
- serious sex offenders
- serious violent offenders
- prisoners
- parolees.
What you'll need
You’ll need to provide information:
- your new name
- any previous names used
- the reason for changing your name.
We'll email you a declaration to be signed in front of a registry approved witness. Registry approved witnesses include:
- justices of the peace
- notary publics
- police officers
- practising solicitors/lawyers.
View a full list of registry approved witnesses.
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.
| 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 |
You'll need to upload the signed declaration, together with copies of your ID and evidence which have been certified by a registry approved witness.
Processing times
Check estimated processing times on the CBS website to work out how long it will take to register your change of name.
Priority service is only available in exceptional circumstances (for example urgent travel) and you must provide evidence to support your priority application.
For more information about priority applications contact Births, Deaths and Marriages.
Contact Births, Deaths and Marriages
Phone: 131 882
International: +61 8 8204 8532
Post:
GPO Box 1351
Adelaide SA 5001
Related information
On this site
Apply for a change of name certificate
Legislation
Births, deaths and marriages Registration Act 1996
