Registering a birth in the Northern Territory

When do you have to register a birth in the NT?

You must register the birth of a child in the Northern Territory, including a stillbirth, within 60 days of the date of birth. Registering is free. You can submit the registration online or on a paper form.

Registering does not get you a birth certificate automatically. That is a separate application with its own fee, and a certificate can't be issued for a baby who isn't registered. Under the Territory's Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1996, the Registrar must accept a birth registration statement lodged after the 60 days, so if you have missed the deadline, register now. The Australia-wide guide covers what every state has in common.

What does the hospital do?

Under the same Act, if your baby was born in hospital or brought to hospital within 24 hours, the hospital's chief executive officer must notify the Registrar of the birth within 10 days; otherwise the doctor, midwife or health worker responsible does it. That notice records that the birth happened; it does not register your baby. Health professionals will also give you the paper birth registration statement and a reply-paid envelope after the birth.

How do you register online?

Complete the online birth registration statement. If both parents are to appear on the birth certificate, upload identity documents for each parent, such as a driver's licence, passport or Medicare card. You'll also need:

• the date and place of birth, and your baby's birth weight
• the mother's full details
• the father's or co-parent's full details
• the parents' marriage details
• details of any previous children

Using the paper birth registration statement

The paper statement asks for your baby's name and sex, whether it was a multiple birth, the date and place of birth, the parents' details and previous children, and a postal address. Your signature must be witnessed by someone aged over 18. Be as accurate as possible. If you make a mistake, cross it out, and everyone completing the form must initial the change. Post it in the reply-paid envelope or deliver it in person to a Births, Deaths and Marriages office.

Same-sex parents use a separate birth registration statement, which also asks for each parent's preferred title on the certificate.

What if only one parent can register?

One parent may register the birth, but must include a letter explaining why. A valid reason is that it is impossible, impractical or inappropriate for the other parent to join in. If neither parent can sign, the person who has custody of the child is responsible for registering the birth.

What does it cost?

Fees as published by the Northern Territory Government, checked 10 October 2026.

How do you get the birth certificate?

Apply online with your credit card, email address, phone number and scans or photos of current ID. You can also apply in person at the Births, Deaths and Marriages offices in Darwin or Alice Springs (Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm), at the Katherine or Tennant Creek court houses, by mail with certified copies of your ID, or by fax.

If your application is complete and the birth is fully registered, the certificate is usually issued within 10 business days. Registration can be delayed while the Registry waits for information from third parties such as hospitals or health clinics, and you'll be told if that is the case. Give a mobile number and you'll get an SMS when it's ready. Collect it from the Darwin or Alice Springs office with ID, or have it sent by person-to-person registered mail and collect it from an Australia Post branch, showing ID. For urgent requests, email bdm.nt@nt.gov.au.

Changing your baby's name

The Territory has a simpler route for young babies. If your baby was born in the NT and is under 12 months old, you change their name with a statutory declaration: a double statutory declaration if both parents are on the birth certificate. It must give the child's full old name, full new name and a reason, and be signed in front of a witness aged 18 or older. Submit the original declaration, proof of identity, the existing NT birth certificate and the $74 amendment fee.

After 12 months, it is a formal change of name, with a total fee of $148. If both parents are named on the birth certificate, both must apply, a child over 14 must also sign, and you need a detailed reason: statements like "we want to" or "personal" aren't accepted. A name can be legally changed once every 12 months. For ideas before you register, see the most popular baby names in Australia.

Where to get help

Births, Deaths and Marriages NT has offices in Darwin and Alice Springs, and its email is bdm.nt@nt.gov.au. If your baby was born before 20 weeks or weighed less than 400g, you can apply for a free early pregnancy loss commemorative certificate; baby loss support in Australia lists further help. Once the birth is registered, enrol your baby in Medicare, and see your baby's first passport if you plan to travel.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to register my child's birth in the NT?

Yes. Every birth in the Northern Territory, including a stillbirth, must be registered within 60 days of the date of birth. It is free, and you can do it online or on the paper statement health professionals give you. Without registration, your child can't be issued a birth certificate.

How much is a birth certificate in the NT?

A birth certificate costs $74. A commemorative certificate is $59 on its own or $104 as a package with a standard certificate, and the priority fee is $39. Registered person-to-person mail costs $17, or you can collect the certificate from the Darwin or Alice Springs office.

How long does it take to get a birth certificate in the NT?

Usually within 10 business days of the Registry receiving a complete application, once the birth is fully registered. It can take longer if the Registry is waiting on information from a hospital or health clinic. If you gave a mobile number, you'll get an SMS when the certificate is ready.