How to legally change your name in South Australia

What is this resource?

This is a resource for trans and gender diverse young people and their families in South Australia.

This resource answers some common questions trans and gender diverse young people, and their families, have about changing their name.

It includes:

• changing your name on your birth certificate
• changing your name on federal documents, like passports, or Centrelink and Medicare records

Can you legally change your name?

Yes, but there are requirements you need to meet.

By reading this resource we hope you will get a better understanding of what’s involved with legally changing your name in South Australia.

What steps are involved with making a change?

The steps for applying to change your name on formal documents differs depending on whether the document you would like to change is issued by:

1. a state or territory government organisation
   OR
2. a federal government organisation

See how you can change key documents below.

How to change the name on your 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 (which is the government agency issuing and regulating birth certificates).

In South Australia, Births, Deaths & Marriages are registered with Consumer and Business Services. 

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 Consumer and Business Services’ approval. 

Does Age Matter?

Yes.

Young people over the age of 18 can make an application directly whereas if you are under 18 years of age, your parents or guardians will need to make the application on your behalf.

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 court order approving the name change;
  OR
• been granted sole parental responsibility by a court order.

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

• Have been born in South Australia
  OR
• If born overseas, have lived in the state for at least 12 months prior to the application
• If you were born in Australia but not in SA then you must apply to the Registry for Births, Deaths and Marriages in the State or Territory where you born to change your name. 

How can you, or your 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. For a link to the form and details of costs, see ‘Where to Get Help and Information’.

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 to change your name on federal government documents, such as your passport, and on records with Services Australia

You will need to provide an updated birth certificate that has your new name, change-of-name certificate, or citizenship certificate to the agency that looks after the relevant document or record that you want to change.

This means you will need to have first successfully applied to Births, Deaths and Marriages within SA’s Consumer and Business Services (or a legalised foreign equivalent) to change your name.  

Where to get help and more information

• You can access the Change of Name Application form at SA.GOV.AU – Apply for a change of name certificate (www.sa.gov.au)  
• You can find out more information on how to change your name in your passport at https://www.passports.gov.au/getting-passport-how-it-works/documents-you-need/names-and-name-change.   
• For information on how to change your name with Medicare you can go here https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/how-you-update-your-name-date-birth-or-gender-for-medicare?context=60092#a2
• For information on how to change your name with the Australian Taxation office please refer to their website which can be found here https://www.ato.gov.au/Individuals/Tax-file-number/Update-your-TFN-registration-details/Update-your-name/ 
• Parents of Gender Diverse Children provides peer support nationally to parents and those parenting trans and gender diverse children. To access their resources or make an enquiry, visit their website at https://www.pgdc.org.au.   
• Shine SA provides primary care services and education for sexual and relationship wellbeing: https://www.shinesa.org.au 
• Trans Health SA offer the South Australian gender diverse community a resource operated, and influenced, by the community.
• Uniting Communities provides mental health support & counselling to the LGBTQIA+ community.