Victorian law allows a person to change their record of sex.
A parent who has changed their record of sex (and name, if applicable) may apply to have their child’s Victorian birth certificate changed accordingly.
Changes can only be made to the child’s birth certificate if the child was born in Victoria.
Parental descriptors are:
- Mother
- Father
- Parent.
The updated birth certificate will show the parent’s current name and parental descriptor.
The law does not enable a parental descriptor to be changed on a death certificate, unless an error was made.
You may correct the child’s Victorian birth certificate only once in 12 months.
The Registrar cannot correct a parent’s name on their child’s birth certificate if the parent:
- Changed their name only after their child’s birth (no change of sex); or
- Corrected their record of sex using a process other than Change a record of sex (e.g. by using the correction process under s. 43 of the Act).
We assess all corrections before making them.
Who can apply?
Correct your own birth certificate
If you are an adult (18 or older), you can apply to correct your parent’s details on your Victorian birth certificate.
You will need the parent’s consent to correct their details.
Correct your child’s birth certificate
If you are a parent of a child (under 18), you can apply to correct their Victorian birth certificate in relation to your details.
If you have more than one child, you must apply separately for each child.
Child’s consent
- If your child is under 12, their consent is not needed
- If your child is 12 or older (and under 18), they must provide written consent to the correction
- If your child is an adult (18 or older), you can’t apply on their behalf. Only they may apply.
What you’ll need to do
Return the original birth certificate
We ask you to return the original certificate before we can issue a new, corrected version.
If you return the original certificate
Post the original certificate to our mailing address. Please include your order number.
Once we’ve corrected the record, we’ll send you a new certificate free of charge.
If you can't return the original
You’ll need to provide a Statutory Declaration(opens in a new window) explaining why. Learn more about how to digitise and upload documents.
Once we've corrected the record, you'll need to apply for a new birth certificate. There is a fee for the new certificate.
We recommend that you don’t order a new certificate until we’ve corrected the record.
Notify the other parent
Once we’ve corrected a birth certificate, all previous birth certificates are invalid.
Therefore, if one parent applies on their own, it is important that they notify the other parent (if any) named on the birth certificate.
If one parent applies on their own, BDM will contact the other parent (if there is a second parent on the child’s birth registration). We will ask them to return their child’s birth certificate as there has been an amendment.
Evidence required
Depending on the correction, you may need to provide further evidence (see below).
| Type of correction | Acceptable evidence |
|---|---|
| The birth certificate of a child who is under 12 | No written consent from the child is needed |
| The birth certificate of a child who is 12 or older (and under 18) | Written consent from the child to the correction |
| The details of a parent born in another Australian state or territory | The parent’s interstate birth certificate |
| The details of a parent born overseas | The parent’s citizenship certificate |
BDM will check that a parent altered their record of sex under Part 4A of the Act.
Proof of identity
You will need to provide certified copies of proof of identity for:
- The parent whose details the application is seeking to correct; and
- The child named on the birth certificate (if the child is 12 or older).
Fees and payment
| Whereabouts of original certificate | Comments | Price |
|---|---|---|
| If you return the original birth certificate | No fee for certificate. (There may be a postage and handling fee for the new certificate. Check Postage, below) | $0.00 |
| If you do not return the original birth certificate | The price of a legal birth certificate applies | $55.80 |
Postage fees are additional. Refer to Correct a birth certificate.
Certificate
When you correct a Victorian legal birth certificate you get a new birth certificate. You will also get a new commemorative birth certificate if BDM must also correct the one you already have.
The birth certificate shows the parent's:
- Current name
- Parental descriptor.
There’s no history of changes to that parent’s sex or any previous names on the certificate.
The history on the back of the legal birth certificate will note that the parent’s details have been corrected and the date of the correction, without any details.
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