Register a birth

Information on how to register a birth and apply for a birth certificate.

This page also provides information regarding recognition of early pregnancy loss, adoptions and the most popular baby names in Western Australia.

All births occurring in Western Australia must be registered within 60 days of the birth to enable your newborn to be officially recognised for a range of services.

The hospital or midwife will provide you with a Birth Registration Form which must be completed and signed by both parents. If only one parent has signed, they must provide an explanation why the other parent has not signed. In cases of twin or triplet births, a separate Birth Registration Form must be completed for each child.

Home (free) birth

If the birth occurred at home or in a location other than a hospital and the child is taken to a hospital within 24 hours of the birth, the hospital will provide you with a Birth Registration Form.

If the birth occurred in a location other than a hospital without a registered doctor or midwife in attendance and the child was NOT taken to a hospital within 24 hours of the birth the Registry:

requires written notification of the birth occurring in Western Australia including parent/s name and home address.
will provide further instruction and a list of requirements upon receipt of the written notification before a Birth Registration Form is issued.
requires the Birth Registration Form to be completed and signed by the parent/s and returned within 60 days of the child's birth.

Same sex parents

From September 2002, women in a same sex relationship, who have undergone artificial fertilisation, may be recorded on their child’s birth registration provided both parents consented to the fertilisation procedure. A standard Birth Registration Form is used and provided by the hospital or midwife.

A recognition certificate for early pregnancy loss is available to commemorate the loss of a child which occurred before 20 weeks gestation, or if gestation weeks are unknown, the baby weighed less than 400 grams.

Recognition certificates are only available to the parent/s of the child. If only one parent signs the application the other parent's name will not appear on the recognition certificate.

The certificate will be issued free of charge however there is a limit of three certificates per child. A recognition certificate cannot be used for official purposes.

If you were legally adopted in Western Australia, a copy of your post-adoption birth certificate is available from the Registry.

If you are a party to an adoption or a relative of an adopted person and would like to know how to access other information relating to the adoption please contact the Department for Child protection - Post Adoption Services.

Position in 2019	Name	Occurence	Position in 2018	Position in 2017	Position in 2016
1	Olivia	190	3	4	6
2	Isla	186	5	1	4
3	Charlotte	175	1	3	1
4	Ava	171	1	6	2
5	Amelia	160	4	5	5
6	Grace	146	7	9	9
7	Mia	143	2	2	3
8	Harper	137	6	7	8
9	Ella	124	12	10	7
10	Lucy	118	21	18	19
11	Ivy	117
11	Willow	117
12	Lily	116
13	Sophie	109
14	Emily	105
15	Chloe	101
16	Ruby	98
17	Zoe	95
18	Evelyn	94
18	Matilda	94
19	Layla	90
20	Scarlett	89
20	Georgia	89
21	Isabella	85
22	Evie	79
23	Sienna	78
24	Sophia	77
25	Hannah	76
26	Abigail	72
27	Aria	71
28	Alice	68
29	Elsie	65
30	Mila	64
31	Violet	61
32	Aurora	59
33	Eva	58
33	Ellie	58
34	Summer	55
34	Hazel	55
35	Emma	53
36	Sofia	52
37	Florence	51
37	Emilia	51
37	Jasmine	51
37	Elizabeth	51
37	Frankie	51
38	Penelope	49
38	Zara	49
39	Isabelle	48
39	Poppy	48
39	Imogen	48
39	Billie	48
40	Audrey	47
40	Ayla	47
40	Eleanor	47
41	Lola	45
42	Riley	44
42	Maddison	44
43	Sarah	43
44	Freya	42
44	Maya	42
44	Thea	42
45	Daisy	41
45	Olive	41
46	Bonnie	40
47	Mackenzie	39
48	Indiana	38
49	Sadie	37
50	Lilly	36
50	Rosie	36
50	Holly	36
50	Eloise	36
50	Millie	36
50	Rose	36

Position in 2019	Name	Occurence	Position in 2018	Position in 2017	Position in 2016
1	Jack	228	2	2	2
2	Noah	218	3	4	4
3	Oliver	209	1	1	1
4	Lucas	181	10	6	7
5	Leo	160	5	13	15
6	James	156	6	5	6
7	William	149	4	3	3
8	Thomas	148	7	8	6
9	Mason	143	12	15	12
10	Charlie	137	9	9	8
11	Henry	134
12	Liam	131
13	Ethan	126
14	Hudson	119
15	Oscar	114
16	Hunter	113
17	Levi	112
18	Theodore	109
19	Elijah	108
20	Harrison	107
21	Logan	106
22	Lachlan	102
23	Max	101
24	Archer	97
25	Joshua	94
26	Cooper	92
27	Samuel	91
27	Alexander	91
27	Riley	91
28	Finn	89
28	Jaxon	89
29	Archie	88
30	Harry	87
31	Xavier	86
31	Harvey	86
32	Jacob	85
33	Isaac	81
34	Lincoln	80
34	Benjamin	80
34	Kai	80
35	Eli	76
36	Luca	75
36	George	75
36	Sebastian	75
37	Theo	69
38	Michael	67
38	Ryan	67
39	Beau	65
40	Arlo	64
41	Jackson	62
41	Daniel	62
42	Flynn	60
43	Jake	57
43	Connor	57
43	Dylan	57
43	Austin	57
44	Jordan	54
44	Jasper	54
45	Ezra	53
46	Louis	52
47	Carter	50
48	Bodhi	49
48	Hugo	49
48	Matthew	49
48	Aiden	49
49	Joseph	48
49	Tyler	48
50	Arthur	47
50	Jayden	47

You can apply for a certified birth certificate if the birth was registered in WA. This certificate is for everyday use such as a passport application, opening a bank account and evidence-of-identity. If the event occurred in another State or Territory, contact the relevant Registry Office.

Commemorative Birth Certificates

These certificates are available for anyone born and registered in Western Australia and make the perfect gift to celebrate the birth of a newborn child or to preserve your family history. A certified birth certificate is issued with each commemorative birth certificate.

Note: Commemorative birth certificates cannot be used for official purposes.

commemorative birth certificate - Our Golden Past

Our golden past - capture the excitement of Paddy Hannan and the days of the gold rush.

Hands - a contemporary design
capturing the sentiment of the bond
between parent and child.

Floral - Western Australian wildflowers in a classic, timeless design.

Wildlife - a beautiful water colour capturing some of our State's unique wildlife.

commemorative birth certificate - Baby prints

commemorative birth certificate - Landscape

Bears - soft antique hues portraying the classic teddy bear.

Baby prints - parents can place their child’s hand or foot prints on the document. Illustrated is a sample of the certificate with an infant's foot prints .

Landscapes - a montage of
stunning landscapes which highlight the rugged beauty of our vast State.

Access Type

Applicant

Specific Requirements

Historical

Anyone (must be 16 years or over)

For births 100 years or more

Family

Person named on the certificate

Children under 16 years of age must have written consent from a parent named in the certificate.

Parent

Must be named on the certificate. If the child is 18 yrs. old and has registered a name change since turning 18 - Restricted unless the applicant can provide:

Written Authority from the person named on the certificate; or
Evidence that the person is deceased; or
Evidence that the certificate is required for some legal right or entitlement

Non-parental custodian or guardian

Document establishing legal custody or guardianship.

Child, Current Spouse (incl. defacto), Brother, Sister or
Grandparent.
Other relative - see also 'Other Agent'.

Restricted, unless the applicant can provide:

Written authority from the person or parent named in the certificate; or
Evidence that the person is deceased and spouse/defacto is named on the death certificate; or
Evidence that the certificate is required for some legal right or entitlement.

Access to original information from an adoption record.

Must have written authority from the Department for Communities.

Deceased Estate

Executor or Administrator
Public Trustee

Application must be on business letterhead, or must show evidence of applicant's executor, administrator or trustee status.

Welfare

Government or non-Government Welfare Agency

Application must be on business letterhead and must be acting in the interests of or with the written authority of the person named in the certificate.

Court - State or Federal

Application must be on Court letterhead or a Court order provided.

Law Enforcement

Any Government body dealing in law enforcement eg Police, Anti-Corruption Commission, Courts etc.

Application must be on business letterhead and must be made in pursuance of an investigation or preparation of a prosecution or pursuant to a valid warrant or Court order. (Does not include debt collectors or private investigators).

Medical

Medical organisations or government body requiring to contact persons with a potentially life threatening medical condition.

Applications must be made on business letterhead and referred to the Registrar for consideration.
For general medical research enquiries refer to Registrar for consideration.

Government Bodies - Statutory Access

Government body having right of access under Federal or State legislation, eg Child Support Agency, Centrelink, Department of Communities.

Application must be on business letterhead or approved form eg Child Support Agency verification form.

Solicitor

Application must be on business letterhead and Solicitor must be acting for a person entitled to access under 'Family' or 'Deceased Estate' and subject to the same requirements.

Other Agent (including Consulates)

Any person with written authority from the person named in the certificate or a person entitled to the certificate as identified in this policy document

Identification documents of the person named in the certificate or other person entitled to the certificate as stated under ‘Family’.

Power of Attorney

Documentary evidence of Power of Attorney required:

must be referred to Manager Registry Services and Policy to check if Power of Attorney extends beyond the person’s property and/or financial affairs.

Before accepting payment Courthouses must forward certificate applications with a copy of the accompanying Power of Attorney evidence to the Manager Registry Services and Policy for consideration.

Current as at 24 January 2018 and subject to change without notice.

Forms

Fees

The fees for applying for a birth certificate:

$50 - Certified Birth Certificate
$60 - Commemorative Birth Certificate
$35 - Reduced Fee Birth Certificate (+75 yrs. old)
$20 - Uncertified Birth copy of a Registration (births +100 yrs.)
$35 - Priority Service (not payable when applying in person)

The following payment methods are accepted:

Credit Card - MasterCard or Visa only
EFTPOS Debit Card or Cash - When paying in person
Cheque or money order - Payable to Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages. When paying at a WA court payable to the Department of Justice
Overseas applicants - $AUD via credit card (MasterCard or Visa only) or international money order or bank draft payable to Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages.

Applicants are required to provide at least three forms of evidence-of-identity documents before being eligible to receive certificates.

One from List 1, 2 and 3. At least one containing a photograph

One from List 1 and two from List 2. At least one containing a photograph

Two from List 2 and one from List 3. At least one containing a signature.

List 1 – Link between photo and signature

Australian Driver’s Licence
Australian Passport
Australian Firearm Licence
Defence Force/Police Id Card
Australian Citizenship Certificate (with evidence of residential status)
Western Australia Photo Card, Over 18 or Proof of Identity Card
Australian learner driver’s permit card

List 2 – Evidence of Operating in the Community

A financial institution Debit or Credit card
Document of identity issued by the Passport Office
Centrelink/Veterans Affairs Entitlement Card
Birth Certificates (birth extracts are not accepted)
Medicare Card
Naturalisation, citizenship or immigration papers issued by the Department of Home Affairs
Australian Security or Crowd Control Licence
Student Identity Document or Statement of Enrolment

List 3 – Proof of Residency

Drivers licence renewal notice
Financial institution statement less than 6 months old
Motor vehicle registration
Property Lease or Tenancy Agreement
Shire/Water rates notice
Student Report or Certificate less than 12 months old
Utility Account less than 6 months old

For overseas applicants, the Registry will consider overseas equivalent evidence-of-identity documents.

Certificate applications can be submitted:

In person

At the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages in Perth or at any court location in Albany, Armadale, Broome, Bunbury, Busselton, Carnarvon, Collie, Derby, Esperance, Fremantle, Geraldton, Joondalup, Kalgoorlie, Karratha, Katanning, Kununurra, Mandurah, Manjimup, Merredin, Midland, Morra, Narrogin, Northam, Rockingham and South Hedland.

By post

Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages
PO Box 7720
Cloisters Square
PERTH WA 6850

By email

Email your completed and signed application and all other required documentation to bdm@justice.wa.gov.au

Page reviewed 25 May 2020

Apply for a Birth Certificate
Forms and Fees
Popular baby girl names
Popular baby boy names
Past baby names
Regional baby name

Registry opening hours

Open from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm

Getting to the Registry

Lift and wheelchair access and facilities are available within Westralia Square.

If you are deaf, or have a hearing impairment or speech impairment, contact us through the National Relay Service on 133 677.

AUSLAN Auslan service is available upon request.

Transperth Public Transport near Westralia Square:

Elizabeth Quay Station (Joondalup-Mandurah line)
Perth Busport, Mounts Bay Road, Perth (opposite Westralia Square, 38 Mounts Bay Road, Perth)
Blue CAT bus - stops on St Georges Terrace at Cloisters or William Street
Green CAT bus - stops at Perth Busport, Mounts Bay Road, Perth.

Public Car parks in close proximity (fee payable):