Register a birth
You have to register the birth of your child with us within 60 days if it was born in Queensland.
The birth has to be registered before you can get the birth certificate. You may need your child's birth certificate when you are applying for:
- entry to day care, preschool, primary or secondary schools
- an Australian passport
- other government services.
If your baby was delivered before 20 weeks, or if the number of weeks are unknown and your baby weighed less than 400g, we are not able to register the birth. However, you can commemorate your family's loss with an early pregnancy loss recognition certificate.
In the case of female same-sex parents, only the birth mother can be named as the mother. The de facto partner must be named as the other parent. If your child was born before 1 June 2010 and you would like to add a female same-sex parent to your child's birth registration, contact us.
How to apply
To register your baby's birth and apply for a birth certificate, first choose whether you:
- will do it online
- cannot 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
You can order your baby’s birth certificate when you register online—simply fill in the online birth registration form. There are 2 submission options if you complete the online birth registration form:
- Electronic signature—you may be eligible to sign the registration with an electronic signature. If you are given the option to sign online, 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.
or
- Paper submission—if you are not eligible to sign with an electronic signature (or cannot verify your identity), download the completed form. Then print, sign and submit it to us. To complete the registration process, you will need to
- Print the registration form.
- Have both parents sign the registration form and have another adult witness your signatures.
- Submit your registration form to us, either
When applying online, only complete the registration form once. We will only process the first registration application that you submit.
If you apply for 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.
Unable to do it online
To register your baby’s birth if you can’t do it online, you will need to:
- Download and print the birth registration application form.
- Complete the form.
- Have both parents sign the registration form and have another adult witness your signatures.
- Submit your registration form to us, either
Download and print a birth certificate application to buy a birth certificate at the same time. We do not send a birth certificate when your baby’s birth is registered.
Processing times
Processing your baby’s registration application can take up to 10 business days. If you apply for 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 certificate delivery services are not available when registering your baby.
Cost
There is no fee to register your baby if it is registered within 60 days. A late registration fee of $4.95 applies for a birth registration application form received after 60 days from your baby's birth.
By post
If you did not sign the birth registration with an electronic signature, post your baby's birth registration and certificate application forms to:
Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages
PO Box 15188
CITY EAST QLD 4002
In person
If you did not sign the birth registration with an electronic signature, visit any of the following locations:
- The Brisbane registry counter 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).
Bring the completed application forms with you to register your baby and apply for a birth certificate (or both parents can complete the forms in person). Your certificate will be posted to you as soon as the birth registration has been processed.
Pay the fee
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 counter
- by EFTPOS or credit card
- with cash
- 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.
Make cheques and money orders payable to 'Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages'.
We do not accept personal cheques.
Application fees
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
Commemorative birth certificate package (1 standard birth certificate and standard postage included) | $61.00 |
| Standard birth certificate (standard postage included) | $46.60 |
Late registration fee for outside 60 day registration period | $4.95 |
Contact us
Email bdm-mail@justice.qld.gov.au, we reply to online enquiries within 2 business days.
Local call* 13 QGOV (13 74 68)
International +61 7 3405 0985 (+10 hours UTC)
(Phone lines open Monday–Friday, 8.30am–4.30pm)
*Costs may be higher from mobile phones and interstate.