Applying for a birth certificate
You can apply for a Queensland birth certificate if you or the person you are applying for were born or adopted (and registered) in Queensland.
An official birth certificate is needed when applying to schools and for other services.
You must register the birth of your child before you can get a birth certificate. We don't automatically send a certificate when a birth is registered. You need to buy one.
Certificate options
There are 2 types of birth certificates and you must choose if sex is shown (or not) when applying:
- official birth certificate—can be used for identification purposes (showing sex is recommended)
- commemorative birth certificate package includes an official birth certificate. When you choose if sex is shown (or not) both certificates will show the same choice.
If you were born or adopted outside of Queensland, contact the interstate or overseas registering authority to get your certificate.
How to apply
Do it online
- Answer the questions—it should take you less than 10 minutes.
- Pay the fee (Mastercard or Visa).
- Review your details.
- Read the email we send you to find out how to finalise your application.
- Have your proof of ID documents certified by a Justice of the Peace or another authorised person.
- Submit your proof of ID by post or in person.
For faster service
Apply and pay online—then bring your receipt and proof of ID along with you to complete your order in person or with one of our agents.
Unable to complete online
If you can’t pay online, you can use the PDF application form:
- Download, print and complete a birth certificate application form.
- Have your proof of ID documents certified by a Justice of the Peace or another authorised person.
- Submit your completed application form along with payment and proof of ID by post or in person.
Post your completed application form along with the printed order receipt (if you paid online), your certified proof of ID and other supporting documents (if needed) to:
Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages
PO Box 15188
CITY EAST QLD 4002
We will begin to process your application when we receive your documents.
At the Brisbane registry customer service centre at Level 32, 180 Ann Street, Brisbane, you will need to use our self-serve kiosk.
For faster service apply and pay online—then bring your receipt, original proof of ID and other supporting documents (if needed) along with you to complete your order in person or with one of our agents.
If you live outside the Brisbane city area, bring your receipt number (if you paid online) or a completed application form with your proof of ID and other supporting documents (if needed) to any of the following locations:
- One of our agents at a Queensland Magistrates Court or Queensland Government Agent Program (QGAP) office (except the Brisbane Magistrates Court)
- JPs in the Community (if you paid online).
When you buy a birth certificate online, you can show your proof of ID in person by visiting a participating JPs in the Community location:
- Carindale Library
- Earlville Shopping Town
- Harbour Town
- Robina Town Centre
- Sunshine Plaza, Justice of the Peace Society Inc.
- Westfield Chermside
- Westfield Garden City Library, Mount Gravatt
- Westfield North Lakes
Bring your printed receipt (if you paid online), your original proof of ID and other supporting documents (if needed).
Processing times are the same and start when you have had your ID verified.
Our processing times apply to correctly filled out applications that have been submitted with all the required proof of ID and supporting documents (as required).
They apply once we receive applications submitted by post or in person at a Queensland Magistrates Court, QGAP office or JPs in the Community (if ordered online).
| Priority | Number of business days |
|---|---|
Non-urgent certificate applications (average processing time—no additional fee) | 10 |
| Urgent certificate applications ($33.30) | 2 |
Please allow extra time for Australia Post to deliver your birth certificate to your address.
When ordering a certificate, the total cost is calculated when you fill in the application form online. You can pay:
- online
- by credit card (MasterCard or Visa)
- at the customer service centre
- by debit card or credit card
- by post
- by credit card.
Contactless payments such as debit card or credit card preferred. We will accept cash at the customer service centre.
We do not accept:
- personal cheques
- cheques issued from outside Australia (in any currency).
Application fees
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
Commemorative birth certificate package—with sex shown (1 official birth certificate with sex shown and standard postage included) | $73.10 |
Commemorative birth certificate package—without sex shown (1 official birth certificate without sex shown and standard postage included) | $73.10 |
| Official birth certificate—with sex shown (standard postage included) | $56.20 |
| Official birth certificate—without sex shown (standard postage included) | $56.20 |
| Urgent application | $33.30 |
Postage fees
Standard postage is included in the price when you order a certificate to be sent by mail.
You can choose to have your certificate sent by express or registered post for a fee.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Express post | $8.55 |
| Registered post | $8.10 |
| International registered mail | $18.55 |
We value identity protection, so we recommend that you choose registered post. This ensures your certificate's delivery can be tracked and delivered to you more securely within Australia.
International registered mail is used for overseas deliveries. However, this can’t be tracked and signing on delivery is only available in some countries.
Fee waiver
If you are suffering financial hardship and have an immediate need for a certificate, you may be able to have your application fee waived.
Learn more in our fee waiver policy and complete a request for a fee waived certificate.
We make sure your certificates leave our office in good condition.
After it’s collected from our office, we do not have control over or responsibility for any damage done to a certificate in the post.
You need to contact Australia Post first to find out where your certificate is.
If Australia Post tells you that your certificate has been lost or not delivered, contact us.
Read our corrections policy to find out how to change incorrect or missing information from the time of the event.
The fee you pay is for you to submit your application and for us to review it.
You will lose the fee paid if we refuse your application or you cancel it after we have started to review it.
Please read our refund policy.
Contact us
Located at Level 32, 180 Ann Street, Brisbane
Opening hours
Monday to Friday: 8.30am–4.30pm
Public holidays: Closed
By phone
Local call* 13 QGOV (13 74 68) or international +61 7 3022 6100 (+10 hours UTC)—phone lines are open Monday to Friday, 8.30am–4.30pm.
*Costs may be higher from mobile phones and interstate.