Change your child's name (child born overseas)

If your child is under the age of 18 and lives in Victoria, you can register with us to change their name.

What is this application for?

Use this application to register a legal change of name for your child.

Who can apply?

This page explains how to change your child's name if they are:

  • Under 18 years old
  • Born overseas and:
    • Living in Victoria for most of the time in the last 12 months
    • Have the legal right to live in Australia.

Apply to change your child's name(opens in a new window)

What you’ll need

In most cases, both parents on the birth certificate need to complete the application. When you apply:

  1. Parent 1 completes their part
  2. Parent 1 attaches consent from the child, if applicable
    If the child is 12 years or older, you can't change their name without their consent. Attach the child’s consent to your application. Learn more about how to digitise and upload documents
  3. We will email Parent 2 to complete their part.

If you can’t apply online, contact BDM and request a paper change of name form.

We'll ask you for the following:

About you and your child

At minimum, we'll ask you for:

  • Your child's name, date of birth and place of birth
  • Your name and address
  • Name and address of the second parent (if applicable)
  • A clear reason for the change of name
  • Any previous names your child has been known by.

Child's chosen name

  • Chosen family name(s)
  • Chosen given name
  • Chosen other given name(s).

Generally, we accept most names. However, both parents need to agree on the name and there are some names that aren’t allowed. See Naming restrictions.

When you apply, please take care to provide correct details.

Enter details exactly as you want them on the certificate. This includes spelling and capitalisation (e.g. Name).

Remember to review the sections before you submit.

You may have to pay to correct a mistake or get a replacement certificate. Additional wait times will apply.

Original certificate(s)

Has your child had their name changed before in Victoria? If so, we ask you to return any previous change of name certificates for your child before we can issue a new one.

If you don't have the original, you need to provide a statutory declaration(opens in a new window) explaining why. Learn more about how to digitise and upload documents.

Proof of your identity

Proof of your child’s identity

Your child’s overseas birth certificate is all you need. You need to send us a certified copy (with certified translation if it isn't in English).

If you can’t provide this, please contact us.

Proof of parentage

One of the easiest ways to do this is with your child’s overseas birth certificate. For other options, read more about evidence of parentage or applications from different types of applicants.

Proof of residence

You'll need to prove that your child:

  1. Has the right to live in Australia
  2. Has been living in Victoria for most of the time in the last 12 months.

You must provide one document from each list below. At least one of the documents must state your child’s place of birth.

a. The child’s right to live in Australia

A document issued by the Department of Home Affairs, for example:

  • Australian Citizenship Certificate
  • Australian visa (with overseas passport)
  • ImmiCard
  • Document for Travel to Australia

b. Proof of living in Victoria

You only need to provide one of these documents once. If you’ve already provided a document as part of applying or proving your identity, you don’t need to provide it again.

Processing times

When you apply for a certificate or registration, we email you details of documents you need to provide. Our processing times start when we receive all required documents.

If you didn’t receive an email after applying, contact us.

Type of applicationProcessing time
Change of name registration and certificateUp to 42 days (6 weeks)

Allow extra time for public holidays and postage.

Change of name certificate

When you change your child's name, you get a change of name certificate. It shows your child's:

  • New name
  • Former name.

The back of the certificate shows a history of the changes.

The certificate is valid for all legal and official purposes. You will need this certificate to update identity documents such as your driver licence and passport.

Get a certificate later

You can order another certificate later – for example if you lost it and need a replacement. Get a change of name certificate.

Certificate fees and postage

The fees are non-refundable except as set out on our Refunds page. A fee waiver may be available in certain circumstances of financial hardship.

Certificate fees

Type of certificatePrice

Application fee.

Includes:

  • Registration of change of name
  • Certificate
$140.40

Postage

We send legal certificates by express post, for security.

For commemorative certificates, you may only choose standard post. This is because they're not official identity documents. Legal and commemorative certificates will arrive separately.

Postage typePrice
Express post (within Australia)$10.20
Express post (International)$55.50

Payment methods

Pay via credit card, Paypal or BPAY.

Payment methods are Visa, Mastercard, PayPal or BPay

After your application is submitted

You‘ll receive an email after submitting your application.

If you didn’t receive an email after applying, first check your spam inbox. If you still don’t have the email, read about common causes of delay.

Once we have everything we need, we’ll complete your application within processing timeframes. We’ll email to let you know when we’ve posted your certificate.

Update your child's documents

Once your child's name has been changed, you must update all your child's identity documents and records with their new name. These may include:

  • Passport
  • Bank accounts
  • School enrolment
  • Visa travel documents.

Learn more about updating your child's identity documents after you've changed your child's name.

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