How to legally change your name in Western 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 Western Australia (WA). 

What steps are involved with making a change?

You must meet certain requirements to legally change your name in WA. 

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

1. a state or territory government organisation 
   OR 

2. federal government organisation. 

See how you can change key documents below. 

Am I eligible to change my name in the WA? 

• You need to have been born in WA. 
  OR 
• If born overseas, you need to be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, not be registered in another State’s register of births, and have lived in WA 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 only change 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 responsible for issuing and regulating birth certificates.   

In Western Australia, this is the WA Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages. 

Does Age Matter?

Yes. 

Young people 18 years and older 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, unless you have a guardian who has parental responsibility.  

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). 

One parent cannot change a child’s name unless: 

• there is only one parent named on your birth certificate 
  OR 
• they have received consent from the other parent 
  OR
• the other parent has passed away 
  OR 
• 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. 

What is the application? 

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, 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 doTo change your name on federal gTo change your name on federal documents like 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 
• change-of-name certificate
  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 your passport, the relevant agency is the Australian Passport Office.  

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 the Western Australian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages (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).