How to register an adult's change of name

Eligibility

• You must be 18 years of age or older;
• You were born and/or your birth is registered in Western Australia (WA); or
• If not born in WA, you must be a permanent resident or an Australian citizen and ordinarily residing in Western Australia for twelve (12) months immediately preceding your application. See proof of residency information;
• You can only change your name once in any 12 month period unless there are exceptional circumstances such as personal safety issues.  This does not apply if you are reverting to your immediate past name.

For full instructions and detailed requirements regarding identification, supporting documentation and residency requirements refer to the downloadable Application to Register a Change of Name (BDM400) below.

Certification requirements

Photocopies of identification will only be accepted if they are certified by a qualified person as being "true copies" of the original documents.  Do not post original documents.

Information about who can certify documents can be downloaded from this page.

Family applications

Family applications that are lodged together, i.e. legally married or de facto couples (whether of different or same sex) and sole parents and their children under 18 years of age, only need to pay one fee.  A separate Application to Register a Change of Name must be completed for each family member and a change of name certificate will be provided for each person.

How the change of name is registered

If your application is approved, you will receive a change of name certificate which authorises the use of your new name.

If you were born in Western Australia, your original name will remain on your birth certificate and your new name will also appear on the certificate as a notation. A birth certificate including the change of name notation is available on payment of an additional fee. 

If you were born interstate, the Registry will notify the birth state of the name change.

Name changes may be notified to other organisations, for example the Police Department, Passport Office, Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) and the Department of Transport.

Legalising documents for use in overseas countries

Note: Some overseas countries require Australian documents to be authenticated. Refer to Smartraveller - Legalising Documents for further information on this requirement.

Last Updated: 30-Aug-2012