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 fact sheet 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 change your gender status on formal documents?

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, that is the SA Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages.

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 or guardians 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).

You can apply to change your name in SA if you were born in SA or if you were born overseas and have been residing in SA. If you were born overseas, an application can be made so long as your birth is not registered in another State or Territory in Australia and you have been a resident in SA for at least 12 consecutive months immediately before making the application.  

If your parents are separated, one parent cannot change a child’s name unless they have received consent from the other parent, obtained a relevant court order approving the name change, or sole parental responsibility has been granted to that parent by a court or any other law.

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 South Australian Civil & Administrative Tribunal or an Australian court 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.

How to change your name on federal government documents, such as your passport, and Medicare or Centrelink records

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 the SA Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages (or a legalised foreign equivalent) to change your name.

Where to get help and more information

• Consumer and Business Services (SA Gov) provide the Change of Name Application form online.

• 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 the PGDC website.

• Shine SA provides primary care services and education for sexual and relationship wellbeing.

• 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.

More self-help resources