How to legally change your name in South Australia

Can I legally change my 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.  

Am I eligible to change my name in SA? 

• You need to have been born in South Australia 
  OR 
• If born overseas, your birth is not registered in another State or Territory, and you have lived in the state for at least 12 months before making the application 

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

Please note that you may be limited to changing your name once in a 12-month period and 3 times in your lifetime.  

How to change the 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 government agency issuing and regulating birth certificates. 

In South Australia, this is the SA Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages which sits within Consumer and Business Services.   

Does Age Matter?

Yes. 

Young people 18 years and older can register their name change directly whereas if you are under 18 years of age, your parents or guardians will need to register the change on your behalf (it’s not possible for you to register the change to your name by yourself until you are over 18 years old). All children must consent to their name being changed, unless they are unable to understand what it means to change their name. 

If you are under 18, you will need to ask your parents or guardians to register the change. 

One parent cannot change a child’s name unless  

• they are the only parent on the child’s birth certificate 
  OR 
• the other parent has passed away 
  OR 
• the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, the SA Civil and Administrative Tribunal or another Australian court or tribunal has made an order approving the proposed name change on application by one parent. 

What is the application? 

You can register your name change by signing a declaration in front of a registry approved witness,  attaching certified copies of your ID, and paying the required fee.  

For a link to the form and details of costs, see ‘Where to Get Help and Information’. 

As to who fills out the application, see Does age matter? above.  

How do I change my name on federal government documents? 

To change your name on federal government documents like your passport, and Services Australia records (including Centrelink or Medicare), you will need: 

• a reissued birth certificate that has your new name 
  OR 
• a change-of-name certificate issued by the relevant Registry for Births, Deaths and Marriages 
  OR 
• a reissued citizenship certificate that has your new name.  

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

For Services Australia records, you may need to update your name with each service individually. For example, updating your name with Medicare may not automatically update your name with Centrelink or the Australian Taxation Office. 

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

If you have changed your name while overseas, the requirements may vary. You can find more information on the websites for the Australian Passport Office, Medicare, the Australian Taxation Office or Centrelink (see links below).