How to register a birth in Australia, state by state
Hospitals do not register your baby for you. Registration is free, usually due within 60 days, and it unlocks your Parental Leave Pay and the birth certificate.
Updated October 13, 2026 · sources checked October 13, 2026
In short
In Australia, parents must register their baby's birth with the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages of the state or territory where the baby was born. In NSW, Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia the limit is 60 days, and registering is free in NSW, Victoria and Queensland. The birth certificate is a separate document you order.
Registration and the birth certificate are not the same
- Registration creates the official record of your baby's birth. It is required by law and it is the parents' responsibility.
- The birth certificate is a document issued from that record. It is optional, you order it, and there is usually a fee. You cannot get a certificate until the birth is registered.
Time limits by state (as of October 2026)
| State or territory | Time limit | Cost to register | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | Within the first 60 days (180 days if the baby's sex characteristics are hard to assign) | Free | "It's never too late to register and you won't get in trouble if you do it late." Hospitals will not register for you |
| Victoria | Within 60 days of the birth | No fee | Registration gives access to services such as school, Medicare and Centrelink |
| Queensland | Within 60 days of the birth | Free | Apply online, by post or in person; you can order and pay for a certificate at the same time |
| Western Australia | Form lodged within 60 days of the birth | Check with the Registry | Allow 30 business days for registration; help on 1300 305 021 |
| South Australia, Tasmania, ACT, Northern Territory | Check with your registry | Check with your registry | Your hospital or midwife explains how to register in your territory |
We could not consult the South Australian, Tasmanian, ACT and Northern Territory registry pages for this update; their rules are given by your hospital or midwife and on each registry's website.
What you will usually need
- your baby's full name, date and place of birth;
- details of both parents;
- the information the hospital or midwife gives you about registering (in WA, the hospital or midwife provides it).
Each registry's online form tells you exactly what to provide.
Home births
If your baby is born at home or anywhere other than a hospital, the steps may differ. In Western Australia, if the baby is taken to a hospital within 24 hours, the hospital explains how to register; if not, and no registered doctor or midwife was present, you must contact the registry yourself within 60 days. In NSW, the registry has a separate page for home births. Ask your midwife what applies in your state.
What registration unlocks
- Parental Leave Pay: for a newborn, you must have registered or applied to register the birth (see how to claim).
- The birth certificate, and access to public services such as school, Medicare and Centrelink, as the Victorian registry puts it.
- Medicare does not need the certificate for a baby under 52 weeks: the Newborn Child Declaration is enough (see Medicare for your baby).
Your registration checklist
Questions parents ask
Does the hospital register my baby's birth?
No. The NSW registry states that hospitals will not register your baby for you: registration is the parents' responsibility. The hospital or midwife gives you the information you need to do it.
How long do I have to register a birth in Australia?
Within 60 days of the birth in NSW, Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia (NSW allows 180 days when a baby's sex characteristics are hard to assign). Check your registry in other states and territories.
Is a birth certificate free?
Registration is free in NSW, Victoria and Queensland, but the birth certificate is a separate document you order and usually pay for. In Queensland you can order it at the same time as you register.
Do I need to register the birth to get Parental Leave Pay?
Yes. For a newborn, Services Australia requires that you have registered or applied to register the birth with your state or territory registry.
Sources
- NSW Government — Register a birth checked October 13, 2026
- Births Deaths and Marriages Victoria — Register a birth checked October 13, 2026
- Queensland Government — Register a birth checked October 13, 2026
- Government of Western Australia — Birth Registration and Certificates checked October 13, 2026
- Services Australia — Who can get Parental Leave Pay (birth registration requirement) checked October 13, 2026
Mamavela explains; it does not replace your midwife, doctor or pediatrician, who know your situation. If something worries you, call them. In an emergency, call 911 (US), 999 (UK) or 112.