Register a birth

Register the birth of a baby born in Victoria.

All births in Victoria need to be registered with the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. Births must be registered within 60 days of the child being born. There is no fee to register.

Registering your baby's birth:

  • Creates an official record of their identity
  • Allows access to public services like school, Medicare and Centrelink
  • Helps you exercise your rights and responsibilities as a parent
  • Enables the child to access their records once they're 18.

Do I need to register a birth or get a birth certificate?

Registering a birth and a getting a birth certificate are two different tasks.

Registering a birth is required by law. Getting a birth certificate is optional. However, it is a primary form of identification for many official purposes. You can buy one during registration or order it later.

Register a birth(opens in a new window)

Who can apply?

You can register a birth if you are a parent of a baby born in Victoria.

If you are a carer and need a birth certificate for a child in your care, the birth must be registered first. Read Carers and Child Protection clients: register a birth or get a birth certificate.

What you'll need

We'll ask you for the following information during the application process.

The law requires people to notify us about certain life events. These include births. Learn about why you must give us correct data.

Protecting your safety

Your safety is our priority. We can support you if you have experienced family violence.

If you tell us that you have concerns for your safety, we can protect your information from the other parent.

For example, we don’t have to tell the other parent your address or contact details without your consent.

We may ask you to provide some documents to support your concerns.

Learn more about Protecting your safety at BDM.

Processing times

Current estimated times are:

Turnaround times for birth registrations and certificates
Type of applicationProcessing time
Birth registration and certificate for newbornsUp to 28 days (4 weeks)
Commemorative birth certificateUp to 28 days (4 weeks)

Allow extra time for public holidays and postage.

Types of certificates

When you register the birth, you don't automatically get a birth certificate. You can order a certificate at the time of registration or order one separately later.

A legal birth certificate can be used as official proof of identity.

Victorian Birth Certificate

Commemorative certificates

Commemorative birth certificates are decorative keepsakes that celebrate the birth of your child. They are not legal documents. They can’t be used for official purposes, such as proving your identity.

If you want a certificate for display purposes, order a commemorative birth certificate.

Fees

There is no fee for registering a birth.

When registering a birth you may also wish to purchase a birth certificate. Refer to Get a birth certificate for fees and postage.

Register a birth(opens in a new window)

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