Australian-Translation-Services
Home 9 Birth Certificate 9 How To Apply For An Australian Birth Certificate Replacement?
8 min read

Oct 17, 2024 | Birth Certificate

A birth certificate is a prerequisite for various reasons, including but not limited to applying for a driver’s licence, getting married, proving citizenship, opening a bank account, availing healthcare benefits, and getting an Australian passport. Therefore, losing a birth certificate might land a person in hot waters. To avoid such scenarios, an individual’s first and foremost duty is to apply for an Australian birth certificate replacement. Australia birth certificate replacement policies and practices are straightforward. In this blog, we will explain how to replace lost birth certificates, what commemorative birth certificates are, how to register a birth and much more.

What Is A Commemorative Birth Certificate?

The Births, Deaths, and Marriages Victoria department issues commemorative birth certificates, which are decorative mementos that are issued at birth. These commemorative certificates are not for official use. Local artists design these, and the design formats are usually among Victorian Fauna, Victorian Birds, Victorian Flora, Australian Pink, Australian Blue, Victorian Footprints, Victorian Aboriginal Heritage, and Rainbow commemorative birth certificates. This certificate celebrates the newborn uniquely and beautifully. The cost for a commemorative birth certificate of a child starts from $88.40.

How To Register The Birth Of Your Child In Australia?

In Australia, a newborn must be registered by the parent. Hospitals do not register the birth. Parents or guardians must register the birth of the child within 60 days with the Consumer and Business Services (CBS). Though registration for birth is free in Queensland and Australia, the cost of getting a standard birth certificate is $60.50. To register a baby’s birth and buy a birth certificate (optional), one can do it online for free by filling out the birth registration form. There are two ways to submit the online form: Electronic signature and Paper submission. Parents must submit the form once. In case the form is submitted twice, the Queensland government will accept the initial submission.

What Documents Do I Need To Get The Birth Certificate Replacement?

A girl thinking what documents she needs to get her birth certification replacement

For replacing lost or destroyed documents, in Australia, one first needs to provide certain documents to prove that the lost document is theirs! When applying for a birth certificate replacement, here are the documents you need to deliver:

Proof of Identity: Any document proving the person’s identity like a driver’s licence, passport, state-issued picture ID card, or National Identity Card

Complete Birth Name

Names of Parents

The Birth Date and Birthplace

Hospital of Birth

Baby’s Gender

Previous birth certificate PNG format 

One needs to provide these because a birth certificate is an important document that includes the parents’ name, proves one is a legal citizen and so on. Furthermore, the certificate of birth of children is essential for every person. This holds especially true for those involved in the Guinea National Identity Project or those requiring Civil Registration Act documents. Also, if you have the previous registration number of your South Australian birth certificate, you should share it for identification purposes to get the replacement birth certificate fast. 

How To Get A Replacement Australian Birth Certificate?

Infographics showing 8 steps to get a Australian Birth Certificate Replacement

When applying for certificate replacement in Australia, one you have to must follow these steps:

1. Identify the Issuing Authority:

First, check which state, territory or country issued the birth certificate. Be it South Australia (SA), Queensland, Victoria, or any other state or another , or country issued the birth certificate. The process varies depending on the birthplace, which is South Australia (SA), Queensland, Victoria, or any other state or territory within Australia or the country, the process varies depending on the birthplace. 

2. Check Eligibility:

Next, you must meet the eligibility criteria to obtain a replacement birth certificate. The government can and will not provide a replacement certificate unless the person applying is either the person named on the certificate, a parent of the certificate holder, a registered person, or a legal representative. Therefore, you must have the necessary permission. 

3. Gather Required Information:

Collect related information, such as the full name at birth, parents’ names, date and place of birth, and any other relevant information. Remember, the documents should be in English therefore, translate all required documents from native language to English to avoid hassles. Hire NAATI-certified translators to get birth certificate translation services.

4. Complete Application Form:

When applying online or offline, one must complete an application form. For the replacement of the birth certificate, the form must be filled out from the relevant state or territory’s registry office. 

5. Provide Identification:

The organisation must be provided with some government-issued ID proof or related documents, such as a passport, driver’s licence, or NIC. Here, one who does not have documents translated in English, they must get their documents translated in English for the Australian government to accept them. Get translations done by authentic Australian translation service providers.

6. Pay Fees:

Getting a replacement certificate is not free of charge. The fee structure changes from time to time. Therefore, check the official website for current fees and acceptable payment methods. 

7. Submit Application:

Submit the completed replacement application form along with any and all required documents and payment. This can be done online, by mail, or in person depending on the registry office’s procedures.

8. Wait for Processing:

Processing times vary, but one can track the status of application online or by contacting the registry office.

Finally, once the certificate is processed, depending on the preference mentioned during the application and the procedures of the issuing authority, the replaced birth certificate will be mailed or sent to the applicant’s possession. Furthermore, this is general information; send an enquiry to the respective authority of the state or territory to get the exact procedure.

How Long Does It Take To Get A Birth Certificate Replaced For Queensland (QLD)?

The processing times to replace a birth certificate in Australia depend on a few variables. Like:

– filling out the form correctly,

– submitting all supporting documents properly;

– State of application; and 

– The chosen application method.

Once everything is done according to the rules, Australian birth certificate replacement QLD may take up to 10 business days for Non-urgent certificate applications and 2 business days for Urgent certificate applications. You have to pay an additional $32.20 fee to replace the birth certificate QLD on an urgent basis.

Processing Time Taken By Birth, Death, And Marriage Victoria

According to the official website of BDM Victoria, the processing time varies depending upon certain factors like:

  • Public Holidays
  • Postage Time: 6 business days for standard post whereas 2 business days for express post

The law mandates a 28-day waiting period after registering a marriage. Therefore, the organisation cannot provide a certificate until the 28-day period has elapsed and the relationship has been officially registered.

Type of application Processing time (Up to/Business Days)
Any Legal Certificate 14
Registration of Birth and certificate for newborns 28
Registration of Death and certificate in the last 3 months 7
Registration of Marriage and Certificate for newlyweds 28
Relationship registration and certificate 35
Name Change registration and certificate 42
Gender Change of record and certificate 42
Corrections 28
Commemorative Birth Certificate 28

When And Why Is It Necessary To Get Australian Birth Certificate Replacement Victoria?

Whether it is Western Australian Birth Certificate Replacement, Victoria, or Queensland, getting a replacement birth certificate is necessary. Here are some significant reasons to get a replacement birth certificate VIC:

If Case of Lost or Damaged Birth Certificate

In situations where the original birth certificate is lost, stolen, or too damaged to use, one will need a birth certificate replacement because it works as an identity document while:

  • Applying for a passport or driver licence
  • Enrolling in school
  • Claiming government benefits
  • Medicare card

In Case of Incorrect Information

  • In case the person’s name is misspelt or requires change of name, certificates must be replaced. 
  • Another instance is when the date of birth is incorrect; the correct details must be replaced.

As for the Birth Certificate Replacement Vic Cost:

Type of certificate Purpose Price
Standard Legal Birth Certificate Prove Your Identity: Australian official birth certificate. $54.40
Legal with Commemorative Certificate: A Package One can apply for a legal and commemorative certificate. Starting from $88.40
Point To Note: The government of Australia posts certificates on requests. Also, the postage fee is additional. The express post and International express post for legal certificates costs $10.00 and $54.10 respectively. 

To learn more about the Victorian Births, Deaths, and Marriages (BDM) certificate application and replacement, follow the link: Births Deaths and Marriages Victoria – Get a birth certificate.

How Can One Report A Lost Standard Birth Certificate?

A birth certificate is one of the most crucial identity documents. For instance, if you have lost proof of your identity or your birth certificate, you first need to inform the nearest State’s Bureau of Vital Statistics to get your certificate replaced. Now, for Australia, the Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages initiates Australian Birth Certificate Replacement WA. One may be able to apply for a replacement birth certificate WA online or call 131 882 to get help. Recently, the Australian government has encountered scams involving some fraudulent private companies charging fees to offer them PDFs of application forms. However, it is essential to note that the RBDM provides free replacement of life certificates, including birth certificates, to people whose certificates have been damaged, lost, or destroyed during a natural disaster.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Get A Copy Of My Replaced Birth Certificate In South Australia?

To get an Australian birth certificate replacement SA, contact Consumer and Business Services (CBS). The process to replacement birth certificate SA is the same as mentioned above, except you must have been born in South Australia.

What Is The Australian Birth Certificate Replacement Cost?

The replacement cost varies from state to state. South Australia’s standard birth certificate is $62.50, and the standard and commemorative certificates are $88.00. However, expedited processing will cost $47.00. New South Wales (NSW) charges $67 for a standard birth certificate and $44 for a commemorative certificate only. It will cost you $99 for expedited processing.

How Do I Get A Replacement Birth Certificate In NSW?

To get an Australian birth certificate replacement NSW, you must apply for the replacement via the NSW website. Also, your birth must be registered in NSW. The application must be submitted by post with the document, or you can submit it in person. However, remember that you either have to be the parent or a person granted the necessary permission to get it for someone else. Someone outside family history or permission cannot obtain a birth certificate. Lastly, you must provide 3 supporting documents as proof of identity and birth registration details.

Kylie Smith

Our Categories

Request A Free Quote

=

Top Posts