Australian Capital Territory Birth Registration

Birth registration is compulsory and parents need to register their child's birth within 60 days of birth. A birth certificate can be obtained after the birth has been registered and both processes can be done at the same time.

Birth registeration and certificates are handled by the ACT Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. Visit the site for further information and contacts.

To Register:

Fill out and lodge a birth registration form with the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. You will get one given to you by the hospital or midwife.

Now, if you'll excuse my excitement here, finally a state who has the Birth Registration Statement form available ONLINE!!!!! with an order form included for ordering a birth certificate.

There is no fee required for registering a birth.

Information Required for Birth Registration:

Given names and surname of the child.

Section 2. Here it is. The section that is required to be filled out by your care provider. Sex, Date of Birth, Weight, Born alive?, Place of Birth, Name of Medical Practitioner and/or Registered Midwife/Nurse, Other Witnesses at Birth, Multiple Birth Order, Time of Birth, and if not born alive the gestation period in weeks.

More information to come soon after I contact the Registry to find out if there is additional proof needed if the parent fills in the medical section and has an unattended birth.

The rest is pretty straightforward, the details of both parents, the details of previous children, and marriage details.

To Obtain a Birth Certificate:

Fill out the birth certificate application. You can usually get them at the same time/place as the birth registration statement, plus this application is also available online in pdf format. You can get it here: Application for full certificate or extract Online applications are also available, click here to start the application process.

Commemorative birth certificates are also available, and can be purchased by ticking the appropriate box on the application form. You can view certificate designs here.

There are fees required for obtaining birth certificates. A full certificate or extract as of January 2005 is $32.00. Commemorative certificates are $45.00 and this includes a standard full birth certificate copy as well.

Identification is also required in obtaining a birth certificate. You have to provide photocopies of identification documents. Two forms of ID are required from the following; a drivers license, photo ID, school card, diplomatic documents, or a passport.

If you do not have two forms of those, you need to provide three forms of ID from the following; medicare card, credit card, rates notice, an entitlement card issued by the government or other ID.