Queensland - Change your Name

ProcedureEdit

To apply to change your name, you must:
- complete the Change of name (adult over 18 yrs) application (Form 4a), (view the Change of name (adult over 18 yrs) application (Form 4a) - Guidelines) or
- complete the Change of name (child under 18 yrs) application
- provide proof of your identity
- provide additional required documents
- pay the scheduled fee (payment includes a change of name or amended birth certificate)
Your application is a legal document. We cannot accept it if changes have been made by using correction fluid or tape. If you make a mistake, put a single line through it and sign your initials next to the changes.
You can lodge your form by post or in person at our Brisbane Registry.
Applications cannot be faxed or emailed.

Required DocumentsEdit

Proof of identity for registering a relationship

Before a certificate, information or source document is released, an applicants entitlement to the document must be established and proof of identity produced in accordance with the eligibility criteria.
Photocopies must be certified by a qualified witness as being "a correct copy of the document".
Applicants are required to provide:
- One form of identification from each list (containing a signature, proof of age of both partners and current residential address in Queensland); or
- Two forms of identification from List 2 and one form of identification from List 3 (containing a signature, proof of age of both partners and current residential address in Queensland), if unable to provide identification from List 1.

List 1: Linkage between identity and person

Current Australian photo drivers licence, front and back
Current Australian passport
Current overseas passport
Current Australian Firearms licence
Current Defence Force or Police Service photo ID card
Adult Proof of Age Card

List 2: Evidence of identity operating in the community

Current Medicare card
Current financial institution debit or credit card with your signature and full name or passbook
Current entitlement card issued by the Commonwealth or State Government
Educational institution student identity document (must include photo and/or signature) or statement of enrolment
School or other educational report, less than twelve months old
Current document of identity issued by the Passport Office
Naturalisation, citizenship or immigration papers issued by the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs
Full birth certificate
Security guard/crowd control licence.

List 3: Evidence of residential address

Recent utility account (gas, electricity, home phone, etc) with current residential address
Recent financial institution statement with current residential address
Rent/lease agreement with current residential address
Rates notice with current residential address
A renewal notice for vehicle registration showing current residential address; or a renewal notice for driver licence showing current residential address
Recent official correspondence from Government Service Providers (not from this agency) with current residential address.

Proof of identity documents are to be in the English language, otherwise these must be translated by an accredited translator. The official translation document is to accompany the original documents.
The Registrar-General's discretion in deciding acceptable proof of identity documents is not exhausted by the above lists. Decisions may be made by the Registrar-General on any unusual case that may fall outside the requirements of the above table.

Certification of photocopies of proof of identity documents

As part of establishing proof of identity, copies of documents submitted to the Registry in support of an application must be certified as a true and correct copy by a qualified witness.
The following persons are considered to be qualified witnesses and are able to certify photocopies of documents as being a correct copy of the document:
- Justice of the Peace
- Commissioner for Declarations
- Barrister/Solicitor
- Notary Public.
If you are submitting your application at the Brisbane Registry, a Magistrates Court or a Queensland Government Agent Program (QGAP) office, client service officers are able to sight original proof of identity documents submitted in support of your application. Contact us for further information on certification.

Office Locations & ContactsEdit

Lodge completed form in person to
110 George Street Brisbane QLD 4000

Send completed form to
PO Box 15188 City East QLD 4002

Office hours: Monday - Friday; 8.30 am-4.30 pm

Phone: 1300 366 430 (local call charge within Australia, mobiles charged at applicable rates)

Overseas Callers Only
International Access Code + 61 7 3404 3343 (call charges will apply)

Email: [email protected]

EligibilityEdit

You can only change your name at the Registry if you were born in Queensland or if you were born overseas and have resided in Queensland for the past 12 months.

FeesEdit

Registering a change of name for an adult or child $150.00
Priority processing of a certified copy/search in addition to any other fee) $ 24.00

Payment options

If you are lodging your form in person, you may pay by cash, cheque, credit card (Visa or MasterCard only) or money order.
If you are posting your form, you may pay by cheque, credit card (Visa or MasterCard only) or money order.
Make cheques or money orders payable to the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.

ValidityEdit

Explain the time until which the certificate/document is valid.
e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

Documents to UseEdit

Please attach documents which can be used by people who would like to follow this procedure.

Sample DocumentsEdit

Please attach sample completed documents which would help other people who would like to follow this procedure.

Processing TimeEdit

Please explain the processing your application.

InstructionsEdit

You can only change your name at the Registry if you were born in Queensland or if you were born overseas and have resided in Queensland for the past 12 months.
If you were born in another Australian state or territory, you will need to apply to the registering authority to legally change your name.
Adults can only register a change of name once every 12 months.
For children, you can only register one change of given name between ages 1 and 18, and change of surname once every 12 months.
For a child less than 1 year old, you can register one change of given name before the childs first birthday.
The requirements of a change of name application are complex. We suggest you contact us if you have any questions regarding the completion of your application.
You can lodge your form by post or in person at our Brisbane Registry.
Applications cannot be faxed or emailed.

Priority processing

Change of name applications will only be processed urgently to meet passport or visa requirements. In these cases, evidence of travel, such as a travel itinerary or photocopies of fully paid airline tickets, must be submitted with your completed change of name application.
You will be required to pay the priority processing fee. Priority requests for changes of name will be processed within five working days of the receipt of a correct application.

Required InformationEdit

Applicant details for Child under 18 yrs

First and Sur Name
Current residential address
Relationship to child
Reason for Name change
Postal address
Daytime Telephone Number
Mobile Number
Email

Child Details

First and Sur Name
Date of Birth
Place of Birth
Child Parents name

Need for the DocumentEdit

You can legally change your name so long as you are not doing so for criminal purposes, such as committing fraud. You can also change a childs name in certain circumstances.

Information which might helpEdit

Enter other informations which might help

External LinksEdit

Queensland Government Change your Name http://www.justice.qld.gov.au/justice-services/births-deaths-and-marriages/change-of-name/change-your-name

Registering Authority http://www.justice.qld.gov.au/justice-services/births-deaths-and-marriages/other-jurisdictions

Magistrate Court http://www.justice.qld.gov.au/justice-services/births-deaths-and-marriages/change-of-name/?a=7680

Queensland Government Agent Program (QGAP) office http://www.qld.gov.au/about/contact-government/contacts/government-service-offices/

OthersEdit

Further requirements for adults and children born overseas:

A certified copy of your birth certificate. If you do not have a copy of your birth certificate, you will need to obtain one from your country of birth. Refer to Australian Government - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade - Index of Foreign Embassies in Australia .
Evidence you have lived in Queensland for at least the past 12 months. This may be in the form of one of the following:
- a letter of confirmation of enrolment from the Australian Electoral Commission, if you have been enrolled to vote in Queensland at your current address for at least the past 12 months
- a letter from a medical practitioner who has t