Registering a birth in NSW: the form, the fees and the 60 days

When do you have to register a birth in NSW?

You should register your baby's birth with the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages within 60 days, or within 180 days if their sex characteristics are hard to assign. Registration is free, and it is the parents' job: the Registry states plainly that hospitals will not register your baby for you.

The 60 days is not a cliff edge: the Registry says it is never too late to register and you won't get in trouble for doing it late. But registration is what gives your baby a legal name and identity, and you can't get a birth certificate until it is done. The Australia-wide guide to registering a birth covers what is common to every state.

How do you register a birth in NSW?

The quickest route is the Registry's online form, and you can order a birth certificate in the same application. Once you start it you have 14 days to finish, and you can save your progress at any time.

If you can't apply online, download the paper birth registration form (Service NSW service centres also have copies) and lodge it with your supporting documents:

• By post to NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, GPO Box 30, Sydney NSW 2001. Never post original identity documents.
• In person at a Service NSW centre, where staff check and scan your form, documents and proof of identity.

Paper forms take longer because they are processed by hand. If you order a certificate on a paper form, the Registry emails you a secure payment link after reviewing the application.

What you need to hand

For the baby: full name; date, time and place of birth; birth weight in grams; and sex. For each parent: proof of identity, full name, address and contact details, place of birth, job at the time of the birth, address for most of the pregnancy, the date and place of marriage if married, and the full names, dates and places of birth of any earlier children.

Who can register, and do both parents have to sign?

Parents usually register the birth, but NSW also accepts registration from a court-appointed guardian, a government casework practitioner, or anyone else who knows the relevant information.

To record two parents, both must jointly complete the birth registration statement and declare it correct. If that isn't possible, the second parent's details can only be included if one parent signs and the Registrar is satisfied there is a lawful basis, if a court has ordered it or found who the parent is, or if the Registrar can rely on a legal presumption, such as one arising from a marriage. Parents can choose to be recorded as mother, father or parent, whatever their legal sex.

What does it cost?

Registering is free. The certificate is the part you pay for.

Processing times don't include delivery: the Registry suggests allowing 5 to 7 days for the certificate to arrive, and international postage costs an extra $10. Fees as published by the NSW Registry, checked 10 October 2026.

Do you get a birth certificate when you register?

Not automatically. Registration is required by law; a certificate is optional. You can buy one during registration or order it later online, where the standard service is also $70. The certificate shows your child's name, sex, date and place of birth, details of the parents, the names and ages of older siblings, and the date of registration and registration number.

What does the hospital do?

Hospitals have 7 days to inform the Registry about the birth, and your registration is matched to that notice. The hospital's notice is not a registration. If your baby was born outside a hospital or birthing centre, the Registry may contact you for more information, and it publishes separate homebirth and freebirth requirements.

What if you register late?

You can still register after 60 days. If you are registering more than 12 months after the birth, you also need one identity document showing your child's name, such as a Medicare card, a Centrelink concession card, a letter from a doctor or hospital showing the child's date of birth and full name, or a utility bill from the last 3 months in the child's name.

Choosing, changing or adding to the record later

The Registry cannot register a name that is offensive, longer than 50 characters per name, includes diacritical marks or accents, includes numbers or symbols such as 1st or Jnr, could be confused with a title or rank such as judge, saint or prince, or isn't in the English alphabet. Check before you lodge, because changing a name afterwards costs money. For ideas, see the most popular baby names in Australia.

• Changing a child's name (aged 13 and under) costs $161 to register, plus $70 for a new certificate. Both parents or guardians must consent, each completing their part within 14 days of the application being started. A name can be changed only once in 12 months and 3 times in a lifetime.
• Adding a missing parent costs $88, or $158 including one updated certificate, with up to 6 weeks' processing.
• Fixing a mistake goes through a separate correct-an-entry application.

Born in Wodonga but living in Albury?

If you live in postcode 2640 or 2641 and your baby was born in Wodonga, you may be able to register in NSW rather than Victoria, as long as at least one birth parent's proof of identity shows a NSW address in those postcodes. A birth cannot be registered in both states. Otherwise you register in the state of birth: for a Victorian birth, see registering a birth in Victoria.

Where to get help

The NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages handles registration, certificates and name changes, and Service NSW centres take paper forms in person. Once the birth is registered, the next steps are usually enrolling your baby in Medicare and, if you plan to travel, your baby's first passport. If your baby was stillborn or died after birth, the Registry has a separate process, and baby loss support in Australia lists where to get help.

Frequently asked questions

How do I register a birth in NSW?

Use the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages online form, which you have 14 days to finish once started and can save as you go. It is free, and you can order a $70 certificate at the same time. If you can't apply online, post the paper form to GPO Box 30, Sydney, or take it to Service NSW.

What is a birth registration statement in NSW?

It is the form, online or on paper, that registers your baby's birth. To record both parents, both must complete it jointly and declare it correct. It is separate from the hospital's notice of the birth, which the hospital sends within 7 days and which does not register your baby by itself.

How long does a newborn birth certificate take in NSW?

Ordered with the registration, a standard certificate takes up to 3 weeks if you applied online, up to 4 weeks through Service NSW and up to 5 weeks by post. Those times don't include delivery, so allow another 5 to 7 days for the certificate to arrive.

Can you register a birth anywhere in Australia?

No. You register with the registry for the state or territory where your baby was born, not where you live. NSW makes one exception for families in Albury postcodes 2640 and 2641 whose baby was born in Wodonga. A birth cannot be registered in both states.