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Change your name as an adult

If your birth was registered in the ACT or you live in the ACT, you can change your name by applying to Access Canberra.

If you are 18 or older you can change your full name, whether it’s your given names (first and middle names), your surname (last name), or both.

You can only apply for one change of name to be registered within a 12-month period.

Apply to change your name

If you were born in the ACT

If you were born in the ACT you will need to:

  1. complete an Application to register a change of name for an adult (PDF 266KB) (DOCX 100KB)
  2. provide 3 forms of proof of identity, with at least one being a Primary proof of identity.
  3. submit it:
    • by email to BDM@act.gov.au. Access Canberra will contact you to pay the fee.
    • by post to GPO Box 158, Canberra City ACT 2601. Access Canberra will contact you to pay the fee.
    • in person at an Access Canberra Service Centre. Pay the fee when you apply.

View the acceptable forms of identification.

If you were born outside the ACT

If you were born in another Australian state or territory, you may apply to the relevant authority in that jurisdiction. However, under certain circumstances, you may also apply to ACT births, deaths and marriages

You can apply to Access Canberra to change your name if you:

  • are a resident in the ACT
  • were born in another country, and you are a resident in the ACT.

You’ll need to:

  1. complete an Application to register a change of name for an adult (PDF 266KB) (DOCX 100KB)
  2. provide 3 forms of proof of identity, with at least one being your original birth certificate
  3. if born overseas, provide one of either a current Australian Passport, Australian Citizenship Certificate or current Australian visa
  4. provide 2 forms of proof of residency
  5. submit it:

You also have the option to apply to the relevant authority in the state or territory you were born in.

View:

Changing your name after marriage

In Australia, there is no expectation or requirement to change your surname when you get married.

It is a personal choice whether to replace your surname with your partner’s.

Marriage in Australia

If you want to use your spouse’s surname after getting married in Australia, you typically do not need to apply to register a change of name.

Generally, you can provide your standard marriage certificate (issued by an Australian registry of births, deaths and marriages) to support the change on key identity documents like driver licences and passports.

Read about marriage certificates.

Marriage overseas

If you want to change your name after marriage overseas, you may experience difficulties in using your foreign marriage certificate to support the change. You may be asked to register a change of name. If this is the case, you will need to follow the application process that applies to you:

  • if you were born in the ACT
  • if you were born outside the ACT.

People who can’t change their names

If you are serving a sentence of imprisonment, or you are on parole, then you are considered a ‘restricted person’ under the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1997.

If you are a restricted person, you will need to apply to the Director-General of the Justice and Community Safety Directorate for approval to change your name.

The Director-General may allow you to apply if your request is necessary or reasonable.

Your application is unlikely to be approved if changing your name could:

  • be a threat to prison security
  • risk anyone’s health or safety
  • be used to commit a crime
  • be used to prevent or obstruct your supervision or parole
  • offend a victim of crime or a large portion of the community.