What to do when you lose a birth certificate in Australia
You may have lost your birth certificate and you’re wondering what to do next. You don’t need to worry as we are about to guide you fully on the issue and help you know what to do when you lose a birth certificate in Australia.
According to the Australian Registry for births, deaths, and marriages, you can have your certificate replaced for absolutely free if you come from an area struck by disaster.
However, you will first need to confirm by heading over to the official website and filling in a disaster recovery replacement certificate request form.
You will then be able to apply for a replacement certificate either online or download a printable form and fill it out.
However, in case you lost yours in other circumstances, there might be a charge against the replacement. You can also file for recovery if your certificate was stolen and yours may be traced and recovered.
You can apply for a replacement certificate if;
- You lost your original one
- If your original one was damaged
- If yours was stolen
- If you need a change on the certificate details. (request for a certificate correction form)
So, how do you replace your birth certificate in Australia?
How to replace a birth certificate in Australia
It’s important to know something about how you can go about the replacement process for your birth certificate.
Depending on the circumstances under which you are replacing your certificate, the processes might slightly vary as well as the cost where needed.
The following is a step-by-step guide on how to replace your birth certificate in Australia;
Time needed: 30 minutes
how to replace your birth certificate in Australia
- Visit the registry’s official website to access the replacement form.
- Download it and print it if you want to fill it out and send it via post. Fill it out online if you
- want to apply online.
- Review the details you’ve entered to make sure they are okay.
- An email is sent to you from the registry.
- Have all the documents required.
- Submit or attach your proof of identity documents.
- Submit it online or mail it via post to the NSW registry service. You can also drop them off at any NSW service office near you.
Note that the service above is payable if you did not lose your birth certificate in a disaster. If you lost it in a disaster, you should declare so by filling out a separate form for recovery as we mentioned above.
Birth certificate replacement charges in Australia
If you lost your birth certificate in different circumstances other than a disaster, you are very likely to pay some charges for the replacement process.
It is important to know how much you expect to pay for your birth certificate replacement.
The charges are as specified below;
| Certificate | Cost |
| Standard | $52.60 |
| Commemorative | $68.35 |
| Priority/urgent service | $31.15 |
What to do if your birth certificate is stolen
Identity fraud is on the rise in Australia. You might find someone misusing your identity documents in one way or the other.
Most of them either steal it from you or make a copy of a submission you made online. That is why we need to be careful about how we handle the certificates and to who we give access.
Now, if your birth certificate is lost or you suspect someone has stolen it from you, be sure to do the following;
- Contact the police on 131444 and report the issue.
- Email the registry of births, marriages, and deaths of Australia and report. The email to use is [email protected]
- Alert the police if you’re in NSW on the NSW police community portal.
Doing any of the following will trigger action by the authorities to try and safeguard your information from identity fraud.
When writing an email to the NSW for help with such issues, be sure to include your complete details for you to be helped quickly.
Errors with birth certificates in Australia
Sometimes the delivery and issue of birth certificates in Australia might take longer than expected.
In many situations, you need to follow up and know whether yours has been issued or there is an error. Such situations are not considered loss of the certificate and you need to confirm first before applying for another one.
Please check through the following if you have not received the birth certificate within the anticipated time frame;
- Check your email for a confirmation from NSW
- Ensure the turnaround time has passed fully
- Make sure you submitted the correct information when applying.
Note that these issues are handled separately from the lost certificate cases.
If you do not find help by doing any of the above, it might be more helpful to visit the NSW service center to launch your report for a lost birth certificate.
From there you will be guided accordingly by the relevant authorities.
What to do when you lose a birth certificate in Australia-FAQs
It costs anywhere between $31-$68 to replace a birth certificate in Australia. The birth certificate replacement charges vary according to the way the kind of service you want and the type of birth certificate you need to be replaced. It might take a bit longer to replace the birth certificate at times especially when you want it delivered to you via post.
You can get an Australian birth certificate by applying online on the registry of births, deaths, and marriages website online. You can also get a replacement birth certificate if you happen to lose yours. Under some circumstances, you can get a replacement for free but most of the time, you have to pay for it. Please confirm the replacement charges before you submit your application because they do vary from the normal application charges.
Contact the police on 131444 and report the issue.
Email the registry of births, marriages, and deaths of Australia and report. The email to use is [email protected]
Alert the police if you’re in NSW on the NSW police community portal.
A replacement birth certificate is just as good as the original birth certificate. It contains all the necessary details and it is not a photocopy. It is just as good as the original birth certificate. Therefore, it is a valid and legal birth identification document like your birth certificate. You do not have to worry about anything as long as your replacement is successful and you receive it as provided.
If you need to replace your birth certificate, you should visit the registry of births, deaths, and marriages to apply for a replacement birth certificate. The process is a little different from the normal application. After the application and processing time goes through, you will have it delivered to you on the post you registered on. Remember there are charges for the service, which are quite different but about the same as the ones for application.
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