Change of name if born in Australia

Change of name by marriage

If you were married overseas and wish to have your married name in your passport, please contact the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages (RBDM) in the state you were born to apply for a RBDM name change certificate. You cannot use a foreign marriage certificate to change your passport name. Once you have obtained your name change document from RBDM, you can apply for a passport in this new name using the PC8 Overseas application form.

Please ensure all your previous name are listed on your change of name certificate.

If you were married in Australia, and wish to have your married name in your passport, please contact the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages (RBDM) in the state you were married to apply for a RBDM marriage certificate. You cannot use the ceremonial certificate you received on the day of your marriage. Once you have obtained your marriage certificate from RBDM, you can apply for a passport in this new name using the PC8 Overseas application form.

Divorce and other name changes

If you wish to change your name on divorce or for any other reason, you can choose from any of the options in the table below. If you want a name that is not on any of the documents listed below, you will need to apply for a RBDM certificate in your desired name. You can then application for a passport using the PC8 Overseas application form.

Gratis name change

If you have more than two years validity remaining on your current passport, you can replace it free of charge if you are changing your name due to:

marriage
divorce
entering into or ceasing to be in a registered or de facto relationship
the death of a spouse of partner
transitioning to a new gender

The passport showing your new name will be issued with the same expiry date as the passport being replaced. You will need to provide evidence of your change in status - eg. marriage certificate, divorce decree, etc. You will still need to pay the postage fee to have your new passport sent to you.

Alternatively, you can choose to pay the full application fee to have a new passport issued for 10 years.

If you are changing your name for other reasons, you can have a replacement passport issued (fee applies) or choose to have a new 10 year passport issued at full price.

Approved name change documents

Choose from one of the following options	Notes
The name exactly as it appears on your full Australian birth certificate.	The certificate must not have been superseded by registering a new name with the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages (RBDM).
The name exactly as it appears on your most recent Australian passport that had a validity of two years or more, if that passport was issued after 20 August 1986.	This applies only if you have not subsequently registered a different name with an Australian RBDM or the Australian Department of Home Affairs (i.e. on a citizenship certificate). It is ok if you have had an emergency/temporary passport issued after your most recent regular passport that had a validity of two years or less.
The name that appears on a valid certificate issued by an Australian RBDM - for example, a RBDM marriage certificate, a RBDM change of name certificate, a RBDM revised birth certificate or a RBDM registered relationship certificate.	The name on the certificate must not have been replaced by a different name registered with a RBDM. Foreign marriage certificates and court orders are not acceptable for name change purposes.
The name exactly as it appears on a citizenship certificate issued by the Australian Department of Home Affairs (DHA).	Please also provide documents that show the link between the name on your birth certificate to the name on your citizenship certificate - e.g. a marriage certificate or court order.
In limited circumstances, an Australian deed poll document can be accepted for name change purposes. To see if this applies to you, please contact your lodging office.	A Deed Poll document registered in South Australia is not acceptable.