How to change your gender on formal documents in Victoria

What is this resource? 

This resource is for trans and gender-diverse young people and their families in Victoria.  

We answer some common questions about updating your gender on formal documents, such as your: 

• birth certificate issued in Victoria 
  • If you are living in Victoria but your birth was registered outside Victoria, we also explain how to get a recognised details certificate, which can help you update your gender on other documents. 
• driver’s licence records 
• federal documents: 
  • passport 
  • Centrelink 
  • Medicare records. 

To find out more, click on the hyperlink above for the document or record you want to update. 

Can you update your gender on formal documents? 

On most formal documents, yes. However different documents have different requirements and different gender identity options. 

The steps involved depend 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. 

How to update the sex marker on your Victoria birth certificate  

Birth certificates are issued and regulated at a state and territory level. This means that the approach to updating your birth cerBirth certificates are issued and regulated at a state and territory level. This means that the approach to update your birth certificate to match your gender identity will be different depending on which state or territory issued your certificate. In Victoria, this is managed by Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria. 

In Victoria, you can apply to ‘change your record of sex’ if you have not changed your record of sex in the last 12 months and you: 

• were born in Victoria, or 

• have been living in Victoria for at least 12 months, or 

• are under 18 years old and were not born in Victoria, but you have a court order waiving (removing) the requirement of having lived in Victoria for at least 12 months. 

You do not need to have had gender-affirming surgery before you can update your sex marker in Victoria.  

Recognised details certificate

If you have been living in Victoria for at least 12 months, you can get a recognised details certificate which shows your current name and affirmed sex. The recognised details certificate can help you update your gender on other documents.  

You do not need to have had gender-affirming surgery before you can apply for a recognised details certificate.   

How to apply? 

What if you are under 18 years old?  

If you are under 18, both parents named on your birth certificate must apply on your behalf. If you only have one parent or have a guardian or permanent carer, you will need to provide additional documents together with your application – see here for further information. 

If you want to change your name at the same time, your parent(s) or guardian(s) can choose this option when completing the online form.  

If you were born outside of Victoria, Births, Deaths and Marriages recommends that you first change your name in the state or territory you were born in, and then apply for a recognised details certificate in Victoria. 

How do you apply if you are under 18 years old? 

1. Complete the online application form here. Your parent(s) or guardian(s) must complete the online form on your behalf. To complete the online form, they will need to make an online account with Births, Deaths and Marriages. They can also apply in person at a Justice Service Centre, or if they can’t apply online, they/you can email bdmvictoria@dgs.vic.gov.au to get a printable form.
   • You’ll also need to complete a consent form and upload this as part of the application.   
2. Get statutory declarations. Your parent(s) or guardian(s) must each make a statutory declaration saying that you consent to changing your record of sex and that they believe this update is in your best interests. The declaration must be signed in front of an authorised witness (see the list of people here).  
   • If you were born in Victoria, they must use this template statutory declaration.  
   • If you were born outside of Victoria, they must use this template statutory declaration. They’ll also need to declare that you have lived in Victoria for at least 12 months, or have a court order waiving (removing) this requirement. 
3. Get a supporting statement. Unless you have a court order, you’ll need to include a supporting statement from an authorised person as part of your application. An authorised person is an adult who has known you for at least 12 months and who is not your parent or guardian. An authorised person may be a doctor or psychologist. 
   • If you were born in Victoria, use this supporting statement template.  
   • If you were born outside of Victoria, use this supporting statement template.  
4. Get identity documents. Your parent(s) or guardian(s) will need to prove their identity by either verifying their identity online (see details here) or providing certified copies of their identity documents (see details here).   
   • If you were born in Victoria, you’ll also need to post back any original Victorian birth certificate(s) that you have. If you don’t have the original(s), you must provide a statutory declaration explaining why.  
   • If you were born outside Victoria, your parent(s) or guardian(s) will need to provide:  
     • documents to prove that you have lived in Victoria for at least 12 months (see list here), unless you have a court order saying this isn’t required; and  
     • a certified copy of your overseas birth certificate (with a certified translation if the certificate isn’t in English). If you can’t provide this, you can contact Births, Deaths and Marriages (contact details are here).  
5. Submit your application and associated documents. The application and supporting documents can be submitted online using the online form, or in person at a Justice Service Centre.  
   • If you have original Victorian birth certificate(s) to return, you must post these to:  
     Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria
   • GPO Box 4332 
   • MELBOURNE VIC 3001  
6. Pay the application fee. Fees can change. Current fees can be found at: https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/fees. 

How do you apply if you are over 18 years old?   

1. Complete the online application form. You will need to make an online account with Births, Deaths and Marriages. If you can’t apply online, you can email bdmvictoria@dgs.vic.gov.au to get a printable form.  
   
   The form you need to complete depends on if you were:  
   • born in Victoria, in which case you should use the online ‘Change record of sex (adult born in Victoria)‘ form.  
   • born outside Victoria but have lived in Victoria for at least 12 months, in which case you should use the online ‘Change record of sex (adult born outside Victoria)‘ form.  
     
     If you want to change your name at the same time, you can choose this option when completing the online form.  
2. Prepare your statutory declaration. You must make a declaration that you believe your sex to be the one nominated in your application. The declaration must be signed in front of an authorised witness (see the list of people here).  
   • If you were born in Victoria, you must use this template statutory declaration.  
   • If you are born outside of Victoria, you must use this template statutory declaration. Your statutory declaration must also state that your birth is registered outside Victoria, and that you have lived in Victoria for at least 12 months. 
3. Prepare your supporting information.  
   • If you were born in Victoria, you need a supporting statement from an adult who has known you for at least 12 months (use this template). 
   • If you were born outside Victoria, you need either a supporting statement from an adult who has known you for at least 12 months (use this template) or a current certificate issued by another Australian state or territory that recognises your sex. 
4. Prepare your identity documents. You will need to prove your identity, either by verifying your identity online or by providing certified copies of your identity documents. In addition:  
   • if you were born in Victoria, you’ll need to post back any original Victorian birth certificate(s) that you have. If you don’t have the original(s), you must provide a statutory declaration explaining why.  
   • if you were born outside Victoria, you must also provide documents to prove that you have lived in Victoria for at least 12 months (see list here). 
5. Submit your application and associated documents. The application and supporting documents can be submitted online using the relevant online form, or in person at a Justice Service Centre.  
   • If you have original Victorian birth certificate(s) to return, you must post these to:  
     
     Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria 
     GPO Box 4332 
     MELBOURNE VIC 3001  
6. Pay the application fee. Fees can change. Current fees can be found at: https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/fees. 

How to update the gender on your driver’s licence records 

The steps involved with updating the records associated with your driver’s licence depend on the state or territory that issued your licence. 

What you need to do in Victoria 

There is no sex/gender marker on physical driver’s licence cards issued in Victoria. However, VicRoads records the gender of each person when they apply for a licence.  

If you only want to update your gender on your records, you will need to visit a VicRoads Customer Service Centre with your new, original birth certificate issued by Births, Deaths and Marriages.  

If you want to update your name and gender on your records, you will need to visit a VicRoads Customer Service Centre with your new, original birth certificate and an original letter of verification issued by Births, Deaths and Marriages. 

You won’t need to provide any supporting documents if you only want to update your title. 

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

You can update your gender on federal documents or records by applying to the agency that looks after the document or record that you want to change. 

There are Australian Government Guidelines on recognising gender. This means that: 

1. Federal departments and agencies must take all reasonable steps to correct the gender information in their records to make sure it is accurate, up-to-date, and not misleading. 
2. You can apply to federal agencies directly, such as the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Services Australia, to update your gender on your personal record, or as shown on your passport. 

Do you need to provide supporting documentation? 

Under the Australian Government Guidelines, you need to provide one of the following with your request for a change of your recorded gender: 

• A statement from a registered medical practitioner or registered psychologist which specifies your gender. 
• A state or territory gender recognition certificate or recognised details certificate showing a change in sex marker. 
• A valid Australian government travel document, such as a valid passport, which specifies your gender. 
• A state or territory birth certificate which specifies your gender, or a document from an Australian Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages recognising an update of gender. 

Where to get help and more information 

Updating documents: 

• The Australian Government Guidelines on the Recognition of Sex and Gender. 
• The Department of Justice provides guidance on what constitutes a statutory declaration in NSW. 
• For more information on updating your gender on your driver’s licence, visit VicRoads. 

Support: 

• The Department of Foreign Affairs offers travel advice for LGBTIQA+ travellers on its Smart Traveller website. 
• Parents of Gender Diverse Children provides peer support nationally to parents and those parenting trans and gender-diverse children. 
• Transgender Victoria educates organisations and workplaces on how to provide better services for trans and gender-diverse people, and seeks ways to provide direct services to the trans community. 
• Drummond Street Services provides social support, counselling, and other community services for LGBTIQA+ people. 
• Switchboard Victoria is a peer-led confidential counselling and support service for LGBTIQA+ people in Victoria.