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How to change your name on your Passport, Medicare Card & Drivers License (by state)

The first step when changing your name is to update your records with government departments and get new official documents such as your drivers license, passport and medicare card with your new details.

We have included information and links below to help get you started.

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Once you have these updated documents and signed up to Name Genie, simply upload these to our platform to fast track the process of informing all of the organisations with which you have an account of your new details.

Click here to jump to any of the following organisations:

  1. Australian Passport

  2. Medicare

  3. Driver’s License - ACT

  4. Driver’s License - NSW

  5. Driver’s License - VIC

  6. Driver’s License - QLD

  7. Driver’s License - SA

  8. Driver’s License - WA

  9. Driver’s License - TAS

  10. Driver’s License - NT

Australian Passport

Process Overview

To get a passport in your new name, you have to provide:

  1. Proof of Citizenship

  2. Proof of Identity

  3. Documents that link your new name to your old name (which will depend on the reason for change of name). These could include:

    • Change in Marital Status

      • your Australian birth certificate or Australian citizenship certificate, and

      • a marriage, registered relationship or name change certificate issued by Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages in Australia.

    • Gender Transition / Personal Preference

      • Name change certificate issued by the Registry of Birth, Deaths, and Marriages unless:

        1. your new name is already reflected in a re-issued Australian birth certificate or Australian citizenship certificate, or

        2. you were born and live overseas and the name change happened overseas. (in this case, a foreign change of name certificate will be accepted)

 

View the Australian Passport Office Brochure On Changing Your Name.

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Please visit this link to check for the latest information from the Australian Passport Office.

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Additional information to get a free replacement passport.

If you’ve changed your name because of a change in your marital status, you can choose to get a free replacement passport if:

  • your current passport expires more than two years from now, and

  • your current passport hasn’t been lost or stolen or suffered major damage, and

  • you’ve changed your family name, and

  • this was your most recent name change, and

  • you can show us that the name change related to a change in your marital or de facto relationship status.

You’re not eligible for a free replacement passport if you’ve only changed your given name(s) and not your family name.

 

To get a free replacement passport, you need to prove that your name change related to a change in your marital status by providing:

  • a marriage or registered relationship certificate

  • a divorce order

  • a revocation of registered relationship certificate

  • evidence of the death of your spouse or partner – this could be a death certificate, a coroner’s report, a medical certificate, a cremation certificate, or an Australian birth certificate that records the death

  • a B11 form (PDF 127KB) affirming the circumstances of a de facto relationship

  • evidence of a de facto relationship, such as property or lease documents in both names.

For the purpose of proving that you’re eligible for a free replacement passport, the passport office accepts foreign certificates. They don’t have to be legalized.

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Any documents that aren’t in English have to be translated in full by an approved translation service.

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Aus Passport

Medicare Card

Process Overview

If you need to make a spelling correction to the name on your medicare card (Eg. Brown to Browne or Marie to Maree) you can do it via the phone by calling 132 011.

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For full name changes you should call Medicare by phone to obtain the latest information and documents required.

After that, you can update your name by sending a request and a copy of proof of change by:

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Documents don’t need to be certified.

If you email Medicare, please include "Update personal details" in the subject line.

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Please visit this link to check for the latest information

 

Medicare
Drivers - ACT

Driver’s License - Australian Capital Territory

Process Overview

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To change your name in the ACT you must either have had your birth registered in the ACT or be a permanent resident of the ACT. You may apply to change your name by completing an Application to register a change of name for an adult (DOC 193KB) or (PDF 211KB) and paying the prescribed fee.

 

Access Canberra will not register changes of name unless satisfied of the identity and age of the applicant and that the change of name is not being sought for a fraudulent or other improper purpose.

 

In order to assess your application, you must provide:

 

  • your original birth certificate;

  • if born overseas a current Australian Passport, Australian Citizenship Certificate or permanent residency visa;

  • if born in another State or Territory of Australia two forms of evidence demonstrating ACT residency. Acceptable proof of residency documentation include:

  • a contract of purchase, current lease or rental document for relevant premises (a receipt only is not acceptable) prepared by a real estate agency or ACT Government;

  • a current ACT Revenue Office rates notice or land tax valuation notice;

  • an Australian Taxation Office assessment dated within the last or current financial year or an Australian Taxation Office tax file number notice issued within the last 12 months mailed to your physical address;

  • utility accounts relating to your physical address such as electricity, gas, landline telephone or water paid within the last six months;

  • subscription television account relating to your physical address paid within the last six months;

  • a home contents insurance policy relating to your physical address dated within one year of your application;

  • a motor vehicle insurance policy dated within one year of your application; and,

  • a current health or life insurance policy or renewal notice dated within one year of your application

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Where applying in person or by mail at least three forms of identity must be provided with your application.

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Please visit this link to check for the latest information

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Driver’s License - New South Wales

Process Overview

If you've changed your name, you'll need to visit a service center within 14 days to record your new name on your license, vehicle and vessel details.

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Requirements:

  • your proof of identity

  • your original change of name document, for example one of the following:

    • marriage certificate

    • change of name certificate

    • birth certificate showing your name at birth and your new name

    • divorce document showing the name you're changing back to

  • your licensee card and registration papers (if applicable)

  • your Change of Records form (you can prefill this or complete at your Service Centre).

 

 

Please visit this link to check for the latest information

 

 

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Drivers - NSW

Driver’s License - Victoria

Process Overview

If you have changed your name you must notify VicRoads within 14 days to update your driver license and vehicle registration records.

 

Change your name at a VicRoads Customer Service Centre

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Download and complete a change of personal details form [PDF 63 Kb] and visit a VicRoads Customer Service Centre in person to present original documentary evidence of your change of name.

 

Your existing license and/or learner permit will need to be handed in at the VicRoads Customer Service Centre. A new photo and signature will be recorded and a new license and/or learner permit card will be issued free of charge and mailed to you in approximately 7 to 10 days. If you are unable to hand in your existing license and/or learner permit card, a replacement fee will be applicable.

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Requirements:

 

  • your photo license and/or learner permit card, or evidence of identity documents

  • a completed change of personal details form [PDF 63 Kb]

  • original documents depending on the circumstances of your name change.

    • Marriage (Country of marriage is Australia) - Marriage certificate issued by a Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages in Australia

    • Marriage (Overseas, Category A documents such as passport and birth certificate have not been amended):

      • Born in Victoria - Marriage certificate issued by a Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages in Australia

      • Not born in Victoria but can prove that you have been a resident of Victoria for 12 months - change of name certificate issued by a Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages in Australia

      • Not born in Victoria and cannot prove that you have been a resident of Victoria for 12 months - evidence of identity document amended by the issuing authority

    • Marriage (Overseas, Category A documents such as passport and birth certificate have been amended) - Overseas Marriage Certificate and Category A and B documents that shows new name provided a link between both names can be established. (An overseas marriage certificate must be in English or accompanied by an approved English translation.)

 

  • Reverting to a previous name

    • Change of Name Registration (issued after November 1986 in Victoria) and Vicroads doesn’t have information on your previous name - Change of Name registration certificate issued by a Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages in Australia

    • Deed poll (issued prior to November 1986 in Victoria) - original Deed Poll certificate or a Change of Name Registration certificate issued by a Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages in Australia

    • Change of given name / surname – change of name registration certificate

        • Julie Smith to Julie Jones

        • Peter Williams to Peter

        • Giovanni D'Angelo to John D'Angelo

        • Mary Anne Evans to Maryanne Evans

        • John Paul Johnson to Paul John Johnson

        • John Brown to J Brown

        • John Smith to Peter Jones

    • Adding Junior or Senior as a suffix. Evidence of Identity Category B document that indicates the name is being used.

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Please visit this link to check for the latest information

Anchor 1

Driver’s License - Queensland

Process Overview

If you hold a Queensland driver license, you must tell the Department of Transport and Main Roads within 14 days if you change your name or address.

 

You must visit a transport and motoring customer service center with:

  • Change of name form

  • Evidence of identity – can show your old name

  • Evidence of your name change (you must show an original, official document)

    • Australian marriage certificate (not a ceremonial certificate) issued by relevant Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages

    • Australian civil partnership/relationship certificate issued by relevant Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages

    • Australian Change of Name certificate issued by relevant Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages

    • Australian birth certificate (amended with/without notations) issued by relevant Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages

    • Divorce papers (must show the name being reverted to) issued by relevant court

    • Deed Poll issued before 1 February 2004

    • Overseas Marriage Certificate provided that you also submit:

      • 1 category A document in your married name

      • OR

      • 2 category B documents in your married name.

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Please visit this link to check for the latest information

Drives QLD

Driver’s License - South Australia

Process Overview

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If you have changed your name, take the completed form Advice of change of name/address (121.2 KB PDF) to a Service SA customer service center with evidence of identity and pay the prescribed fee.

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Please visit this link to check for the latest information

Drivers - SA

Driver’s License - Western Australia

Process Overview

You will need to visit a Driver and Vehicle Services Centre in person to update your details and get a new drivers license.

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You will need to complete a Change of personal details form and take along the necessary supporting documents. You will need to provide originals of any documentation relating to your name change.

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Customers who have already established their identity with DoT, are no longer required to provide a category A document (i.e. birth certificate or citizenship certificate) to change their name.

 

This includes holders of a WA Photo Card, driver’s licence or learner’s permit issued by DoT; or issued by an Indian Ocean Territory (Christmas and Cocos (Keeling) Islands) on or after 16 January 2018.

 

In these cases, one or more of the following as required to establish your name change:

 

  • Present an original marriage certificate or change of name certificate issued by an Australian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages (RBDM). Overseas and commemorative certificates are not accepted.

  • Where a person has been married multiple times (i.e. known by more than two different names), a certificate of divorce (decree nisi, or decree absolute) showing a clear link between the identities will be required.

  • A person who is married overseas must apply through the WA RBDM for a change of name certificate.

 

Customers who have not already established their identity with DoT (i.e. where a customer makes application for a WA driver’s licence or WA Photo Card and provides documentation in a name that differs to the name displayed on their category A document - refer to Proof of identity requirements below), must provide further evidence to support how the change in name has occurred.

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In these cases, one or more of the following as required to establish your name change:

 

  • A marriage certificate issued by an Australian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages (overseas certificates and commemorative certificates are not accepted).

  • A divorce decree (bearing the name being reverted to).

  • A change of name certificate issued by an Australian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages (overseas certificates are not accepted).

  • A birth certificate showing the name at birth and the new name (commemorative certificates are not acceptable).

  • A new 'Certificate of registration on change of name' (if changing the name of an organisation).

 

AND for individuals who are changing their name:

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  • One Category A document (refer to Proof of identity requirements below) or

  • Your WA driver's license, learner's permit or WA Photo Card, (issued by WA DoT or the IOT).

  • In addition to an acceptable change of name document, you must provide the original driver's license document.

 

Notes:

 

  • Your identity and change of name documents should show a clear link between your names.

  • At least one of the documents should contain your signature.

  • Change of name documents are not accepted via fax.

  • A person who is married overseas must apply through the WA Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages for a change of name certificate.

  • The WA Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages no longer accept change of name applications for people who were born in another State or Territory of Australia. Applicants will need to apply through their birth State.

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Please visit this link to check for the latest information

Drives -WA

Driver’s License - Tasmania

Process Overview

You will need to go to Service Tasmania and bring a copy of your Tasmanian license or other evidence of identity and evidence of your change of name from the following:

  • marriage certificate (issued by Births, Deaths & Marriages - not a church or celebrant issued certificate)

  • divorce paper (issued by Court, showing name being reverted to)

  • deed poll certificate

  • change of name registration (issued by Births, Deaths & Marriages)

  • guardianship order (issued by Court)

  • adoption paper (issued by Court).

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Please visit this link to check for the latest information

Drivers -TAS

Driver’s License - Northern Territory

Process Overview

If you change your name or address, you must contact the Motor Vehicle Registry (MVR) and update your information. You can change the name on your license by supplying certain documents to the MVR.

 

If your contact details change, you must notify the MVR within 14 days of changing to a new residential address.

Requirements:

  • Due to Marriage

    • Current NT driver’s license

    • At least one Category A and one Category B document

    • One of the following documents issued by an Australian Births, Deaths and Marriages office:

      • marriage certificate - if you are changing your name to your partner's surname

      • change of name certificate - if you are changing your surname to a name that is not your partner’s surname.

 

Overseas marriage certificates, statutory declarations and commemorative marriage certificates will not be accepted as documents for evidence for name change.

 

  • Due to Separation or Divorce

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Please visit this link to check for the latest information

Drives -NT
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