How to legally change your name in the Northern Territory

What do I need to know to change my name on formal documents?

You must meet certain requirements to legally change your name in the Northern Territory (NT).

Applying to change your name on formal documents is different depending on whether the document you want to change is issued by a:

1. State or territory government organisation; or

2. Federal government organisation.

How do I change my name on my birth certificate?

Birth certificates are issued and regulated at a state and territory level. This means that the approach to changing the recorded name on your birth certificate will depend on the process used by that state or territory’s Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. These government agencies responsible for issuing and regulating birth certificates.

• NT: NT Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages

Please note that you may only change your name once in a 12-month period and 3 times in your lifetime. There are exceptions but they are subject to the Registrar’s personal approval. 

Does age matter?

Yes. Young people over the age of 18 can make an application directly.

If you are under 18 years of age, your parents or guardians will need to make the application on your behalf.

What if I’m under 18?

If you are under 18, you will need to ask your parents to make the application.

As a young person under 18 years old, you can change your name on your birth certificate through an application made by your parents or guardians (it’s not possible for you to make an application to change your name by yourself until you are over 18 years old).

The application must be submitted in the state/territory that you were born in, or the one where you have lived for the most part immediately before your application.

If your parents are separated, one parent cannot change a child’s name unless they have:

• received consent from the other parent, or

• obtained a relevant order approving the name change, or

• been granted sole parental responsibility by a court order.

Am I eligible?

To be eligible to change your name in NT, you need to: 

1. Have been born in NT, or

2. If born overseas, have lived in the territory for at least 12 months prior to making the application.

If you were born in Australia in another state or territory, you must apply to the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages in that state or territory.  

How do I apply? How does my parent or guardian apply?

You can apply by filling out the change of name application form attaching the necessary supporting documents (e.g. proof of identity) and paying the required fee. You might be able to apply to have the fee waived or reduced.

If you are under 18 both parents must fill out the application form unless:

• There is only a sole parent named on your birth certificate,

• The other parent has passed away, or

• The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, or another Australian court or tribunal, has made an order approving the proposed name change on application by one parent.

If you have a guardian who has parental responsibility, they will need to fill out the application form.

How do I change my name on federal government documents?

To change your name on federal documents like your passport, and Centrelink or Medicare records, you’ll need:

• an updated birth certificate that has your new name, or

• a change-of-name certificate, or

• a citizenship certificate.

You’ll need to provide these documents to the agency that looks after the relevant document or record you want to change.

This means you will need to have first successfully changed your name by applying to the NT Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages (or a legalised foreign equivalent).

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