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Verifying a change in name – change of name certificate

How to verify a name change with a change of name certificate so you can verify your ID in myID.

Why you need to verify a change in name

When setting up your myID, your name needs to match across your Australian ID documents.

If your name doesn’t match because you’ve changed your name, you may be able to verify this using a change of name certificate.

Eligibility

A change of name certificate can only be used if your date of birth is shown in full and the certificate was issued in:

  • Australian Capital Territory 
  • Northern Territory 
  • South Australia 
  • Tasmania.

If your change of name certificate was issued in a different state, or your certificate cannot be used to verify your change of name online, see Your name is different for alternative options.

Information you need to provide

The information you need to enter varies depending on the state or territory that issued your certificate. Check Change of name certificates by state and territory.

Generally, you’ll need to enter the following details in your myID app:

  • Current given name or names
  • Current family name
  • Previous given name or names (enter ‘no registered given names’ if that’s how it appears on your document)
  • Previous family name (enter ‘no registered surname’ if that’s how it appears on your document)
  • Date of birth
  • Registration number (do not include any letters).

Change of name certificates by state and territory

A change of name certificate cannot be verified online if it was issued in:

  • New South Wales
  • Queensland
  • Victoria
  • Western Australia.
Australian Capital Territory Press enter to expand or collapse section

Name

If you only have a family name for either your previous or new name on your certificate, enter it in the Family name field and leave the Given name/s field blank for that name.

If you only have a given name for either your previous or new name on your certificate, it cannot be used to verify your change of name online.

Location of required information

Example of change of name certificate for ACT, NT and SA
Northern Territory Press enter to expand or collapse section

Date of issue

If your certificate was issued before 1 January 1947, it cannot be used to verify your change of name online.

Registration number

Registration numbers on NT change of name certificates can be made up of numbers and letters.

Enter only the numbers after the last letter or punctuation character in the Registration number field. For example, for the registration number:

  • NT 123/45, enter 45
  • 136 book 40, enter 40.

Name

If you only have a family name for either your previous or new name on your certificate, enter it in the Family name field and leave the Given name/s field blank for that name.

If you only have a given name for either your previous or new name on your certificate, it cannot be used to verify your change of name online.

Location of required information

Example of change of name certificate for ACT, NT and SA
South Australia Press enter to expand or collapse section

Date of issue

If your certificate was issued before 1 January 1990, it cannot be used to verify your change of name online.

Name

If you only have a family name for either your previous or new name on your certificate, enter it in the Family name field and leave the Given name/s field blank for that name.

If you only have a given name for either your previous or new name on your certificate, it cannot be used to verify your change of name online.

Issuing registry

If your change of name certificate won’t verify, it may have been issued by one of the South Australian districts that can’t be verified online. In this case you need to contact the SA Registry of Births, deaths and marriages for a new certificate.

Location of required information

Example of change of name certificate for ACT, NT and SA
Tasmania Press enter to expand or collapse section

Date of issue

If your certificate was issued before 1 January 2000, it cannot be used to verify your change of name online.

Name

If you have only one name (either your given or family name) for either your previous or new name on your certificate, it cannot be used to verify your change of name online.

Location of required information

Example of a tasmania change of name certificate