Self-insemination

A donor is a person who is a donor for the purposes of a self-insemination procedure undertaken by the birth parent.

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Self-insemination is artificial insemination not carried out through an Assisted Reproductive Treatment (ART) clinic or by a doctor.

If your child is born in Victoria, the law requires you to register the birth within 60 days.

Who can apply?

  • The birth parent, or
  • Their partner/spouse (if applicable).

What you’ll need to do

To do this, go to Register a birth.

Evidence required

You must provide evidence about:

  • the parent(s) to be named on the child's birth certificate
  • the donor.

From the parent(s) to be named on the child’s birth certificate

Evidence required from the parent(s) depends whether there are two parents or one parent
Number of parentsWhat the parents must do
Two parents

Each parent must complete the statutory declaration for two parents, declaring that:

  • They each consented to the self-insemination procedure that resulted in the birth of their child; and
  • They were married or living together on a genuine domestic basis at the time of the self-insemination procedure.
One parentThe birth parent must complete the statutory declaration for one parent, declaring that the child’s birth was the result of a self-insemination procedure.

From the donor

A donor is a person who is a donor for the purposes of a self-insemination procedure undertaken by the birth parent.

Any information provided to BDM identifying the donor is collected only for the purposes of ensuring the accuracy of the child’s birth registration. The donor’s details do not appear on the child’s birth certificate.

The donor should complete the donor's statutory declaration, declaring that they are the donor for the birth parent.

If you can’t provide a statutory declaration from the donor, you can provide a separate statutory declaration(opens in a new window) declaring:

  • that you are unable to provide a statutory declaration from the donor and the reasons for this
  • any donor details (e.g full name, date of birth) known to you.

You can also provide any other documentation proving the donor’s intention to be a donor only, and not be recognised as your child’s parent.

Birth registration and certificate

BDM will:

  • Register the birth parent and their partner/spouse (if applicable) as the child’s parent(s) on the child’s birth registration. These parental details will appear on the child’s birth certificate. Donor details do not appear on the child’s birth certificate.
  • Attach the statutory declaration/s you provided to your child’s birth registration.

Amending your child’s birth registration

If the evidence required (see above) has been provided to BDM to register the parent/s of your child under this policy, BDM will only amend the details of parent/s on your child’s birth registration if a court order can be provided. BDM can accept a court order from any Victorian state court or other court (including a court of another State or the Commonwealth).

Alternatively, an application can be made to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT)(opens in a new window) for a review of the decision made by the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages (the Registrar). An application must be made to VCAT within 28 days of the Registrar making their decision.

Contact details for VCAT are:

55 King Street
MELBOURNE VIC 3000
Telephone (03) 9628 9755
Fax (03) 9628 9891

Further information

For more information:

Updated

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