Register a birth
You have to register the birth of your child with us (the hospital doesn’t do it for you). It’s free to do and you can order and pay for a certificate at the same time.
Register your baby before they’re 8 weeks old (that's within 60 days) if they were born in Queensland.
The birth must be registered before you can get a birth certificate. You may need your child's birth certificate to apply for:
- access to healthcare and other government services
- entry to childcare, kindy or school
- an Australian passport.
If your baby was delivered before 20 weeks, or if the number of weeks is unknown and your baby weighed less than 400g, we cannot register the birth. However, you can commemorate your family's loss with an early pregnancy loss recognition certificate.
Prohibited names
Parents have the right to choose the name of their child. However, when considering names, the Registrar-General must refuse to register a name that:
- is obscene or offensive
- is too long
- includes symbols without phonetic significance—for example, brackets (), colons (:), question marks (?), quotation marks (“), numbers, at symbols (@), plus signs (+)
- includes or resembles an official title or rank—for example Duchess, Sergeant, Doctor, MP (Member of Parliament)
- is a statement—for example, Save Mother Earth
- is a political slogan
- is otherwise contrary to the public interest.
The prohibited name policy includes detailed advice about what kinds of names are prohibited.
How to apply
To register your baby's birth and buy a birth certificate (optional), choose whether you:
- will do it online
- can't do it online.
If you don't have access to a printer to print the birth registration and birth certificate application forms, contact us or visit us in person.
Do it online
To register online (which is free), simply fill in the online birth registration form. You may also choose to order and pay for a certificate at the same time. There are 2 submission options when you complete the online birth registration form:
- Electronic signature
- Paper submission
Make sure you only complete the registration form once. We will process the first registration application that you submit.
If you choose to order a birth certificate when you register your baby’s birth (you can do this online), we will post the certificate to you as soon as the registration has been processed.
Electronic signature
To sign the registration electronically, you will need your wallet or purse to help you verify your identity.
You will not need to submit any forms if you sign electronically.
Paper submission
If you can't verify your identity online (or don't want to), download the completed form. To complete the registration process, you will need to:
- Print the completed registration form.
- Have both parents complete and sign the declaration section of the form, and another adult (18 or older) witness your signatures.
- Submit your registration form to us, either
Register your baby's birth online
Unable to complete online
If you can't do it online, to register your baby’s birth, you need to:
- Download and print the birth registration application form.
- Complete the registration form.
- Have both parents sign the declaration section of the form, and another adult (18 or older) witness your signatures.
- Submit your registration form to us, either
If you want to purchase a birth certificate at the same time, download and print the birth certificate application form.
We don't send a birth certificate unless you order and pay for one when you submit your baby’s birth registration.
If you are unable to print the form, email bdm-mail@justice.qld.gov.au with your postal address.
Processing times
Processing your baby’s registration form can take up to 10 business days. If you order a birth certificate when you register your baby’s birth, we will post the certificate to you as soon as the birth registration has been processed.
Urgent processing of a registration is not available when registering your baby. We do suggest secure certificate delivery services if you order a birth certificate.
Submit by post
If you didn't sign the birth registration with an electronic signature, post the registration and certificate application forms to:
Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages
PO Box 15188
CITY EAST QLD 4002
Submit in person
If you didn't sign the birth registration with an electronic signature, take the completed and signed application forms to either:
- the Brisbane registry customer service centre at Level 32, 180 Ann Street, Brisbane
- one of our agents at a Queensland Magistrates Court or Queensland Government Agent Program (QGAP) office (except the Brisbane Magistrates Court).
If you applied for a certificate, it will be posted to you as soon as the birth registration has been processed.
Pay the fee
When ordering a certificate, the total cost is calculated when you fill in the application form online. You can pay:
- online
- by credit card (Visa or MasterCard)
- at the customer service centre
- by EFTPOS or credit card
- with a business account cheque
- with a bank cheque
- with a money order
- through the mail
- by credit card
- with a business account cheque
- with a bank cheque
- with a money order.
We will accept cash at the customer service centre, but prefer contactless payments, such as EFTPOS or credit card.
Make cheques and money orders payable to 'Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages'.
We do not accept personal cheques.
Application fees
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
Registering a birth before baby is 8 weeks (before 60 days) | Free |
Commemorative birth certificate package (1 official birth certificate and standard postage included) | $66.70 |
| Official birth certificate (standard postage included) | $51.30 |
Late registration fee may apply if outside 60-day registration period | $5.30 |
Register your baby's birth online
Contact us
Online: Our general enquiry form.
By phone: Local call* 13 QGOV (13 74 68)
International +61 7 3328 4811 (+10 hours UTC)
(Phone lines are open Monday–Friday, 8.30am–4.30pm)
*Costs may be higher from mobile phones and interstate.