What is this application for?
Use this application to order a replacement change of name certificate. The change of name must have been registered in Victoria.
Who can apply?
This page is for people who:
- Have previously registered a change of name in Victoria
- Need a replacement change of name certificate
- The person (adult or child) whose name was changed was born overseas.
If the person whose name was changed was born in Victoria, visit Get a birth certificate.
If the name was changed interstate, contact the Registry in that state or territory.
What you’ll need
We'll ask you for the following information during the application process.
Details of the person named on the certificate
At minimum, you'll be asked for:
- Given name
- Family name
- Date of birth
Proof of identity
You can prove your identity two ways.
The easiest way to prove your identity is online.
You can use this proof of identity questionnaire if you are not sure which option is best for you.
Get someone else's certificate
Applying for a certificate on behalf of someone else is similar to applying for your own certificate. The only difference is that you need to prove you're authorised to do so.
You don't need authorisation if you're applying for:
- Your own child's certificate if they're under 18 years of age
- The certificate of a deceased person born over 100 years ago.
Certificates for adults (over 18)
You can apply for another adult's certificate if you have their authorisation.
This includes your own children if they're over 18 years of age. At 18, children are legally recognised as adults and access to their records is restricted.
To apply, you'll need:
- Your own proof of identity
- Proof of identity for the person whose certificate it is
- A letter from the person whose certificate it is, authorising you to apply on their behalf. This letter must include their:
- Residential address
- Daytime telephone number
- Signature.
Requirements when applying for someone else’s certificate
If you're applying for someone else's certificate, you must prove that you're authorised to do so. Read how to get someone else’s birth certificate.
Carers of children under a Children’s Court order: find out how to get the birth certificate of a child protection client.
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 application | Processing time |
|---|---|
| Certificate | Up to 14 days (2 weeks) |
Allow extra time for public holidays and postage.
Types of certificates
Legal certificates
All change of name certificate applications include a legal change of name certificate. This can be used as official proof of identity.
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 certificate | Price |
|---|---|
| Legal certificate | $55.80 |
Postage
We send legal certificates by express post, for security.
| Postage type | Price |
|---|---|
| Express post (within Australia) | $10.20 |
| Express post (International) | $55.50 |
Payment methods
Pay via credit card, 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.
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