• Fill out the whole application form
• Sign your application in front of a qualified witness, who must also sign your application
• Submit all required proof of identity documents (see the application form or proof of identity page for more details).
  • By mail: Mail the certified photocopies of each document. See the proof of identity page for advice on how to get your photocopies certified to Melbourne Customer Service Centre (CSC) or at selected Victorian Justice Service Centres (JSCs).
  • In person: Submit either original proof of identity documents or certified photocopies at Melbourne Customer Service Centre (CSC) or at selected Victorian Justice Service Centres (JSCs). .
• Pay the application fee. You can pay by:
  • By mail: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, money order or bank cheque
  • In person: Cash, EFTPOS, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, money order or bank cheque.
  • We do not accept personal or business cheques for name changes.

Unsuccessful applications

• There are a number of reasons why your name change application may be unsuccessful, including (but not limited to):
• Your application is incomplete or does not meet our requirements
• Your new name:
  • is considered to be obscene or offensive
  • includes numbers or symbols without phonetic significance (such as 1 or @ or !)
  • resembles an official title or rank recognised in Australia, or
  • is considered to be against the public interest
• The Registrar is not satisfied with the information provided.
• If your application is unsuccessful, we will refund the certificate fee. See the form for more details.

Successful applications

• If your name change application is successful, you will receive either a new birth certificate (if you were born in Victoria) or a change of name certificate (if you were born outside Victoria).
• Your certificate will show your original birth name, your new name, and a history of your name changes.

If you born outside Victoria, You must provide four identity documents in your current name, one from each list below.

LIST 1 Your right to reside in Victoria

• Birth certificate issued in Australia
• Australian citizenship certificate
• Australian visa in overseas passport which authorises residency for 12 months or more

LIST 2 Your place of birth/photo and signature

• Australian passport
• Current overseas passport (or expired within the last five years)
• Overseas birth certificate
• Australian driver licence or learner permit
• Australian firearm licence
• Certificate of Identity (issued by the federal government for one-time use by Australians travelling overseas)
• Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) official statement or Certificate of Evidence of Resident Status (CERS) which confirms your place of birth
• Travel document

LIST 3 Your operation in the community

• Change of name certificate issued in Australia
• Marriage certificate (issued by an Australian state or territory registry office, not a church or celebrant)
• Australian divorce papers
• Credit card or ATM card
• Student or tertiary identity card
• Australian security guard or crowd control licence
• Department of Veterans Affairs card
• Medicare card
• Working with Children Check card
• Deed Poll certificate

LIST 4 Proof of Victorian residency and current residential address You must provide documents from the below list that prove you have lived in Victoria for the last 12 months.

• Lease or tenancy agreements
• Bank statements (including savings, credit, passbook or cheque accounts - must show Victorian transactions.)
• Rates notices
• Utility accounts (including gas, water, electricity, mobile or home phone)

If you born in Victoria, you must provide four identity documents in your current name, one from each list below.

LIST 1 Proof you were born in Victoria

• Victorian birth certificate

You must return all original Victorian birth certificates to the Registry. A name change cannot take place until all original certificates are returned. If this application is approved, you will receive an updated birth certificate.

LIST 2 Your photo and signature

• Australian passport
• Australian driver licence or learner permit
• Australian firearm licence
• Certificate of Identity (issued by the federal government for one-time use by Australians travelling overseas)

LIST 3 Your operation in the community

• Change of name certificate issued in Australia
• Marriage certificate (issued by an Australian state or territory registry office, not a church or celebrant)
• Australian divorce papers
• Credit card or ATM card
• Student or tertiary identity card
• Australian security guard or crowd control licence
• Department of Veterans Affairs card
• Medicare card
• Working with Children Check card
• Deed Poll certificate

LIST 4 Your current residential address

• Lease or tenancy agreement(s)
• Bank statement (including savings, credit, passbook or cheque accounts)
• Rates notice
• Utility account (including gas, water, electricity, mobile or home phone)

Note:

• Do not send original identity documents by mail (except when returning your original Victorian birth and/or change of name certificates).
• All documents must be current (except overseas passports) and show current residential address, where applicable.
• If your lease or tenancy agreement is more than 12 months old you must provide a letter from your real estate agent which confirms you are a tenant at the same address.
• If you supply printed online bank or utility statements they must be stamped and approved by the bank or utility company.
• The statements must show your name and residential address.
• If your identity documents are not in English, you must attach a translation by an accredited translator.
• Failure to correctly submit your proof of identity documents will delay your application.

If you are unable to meet these requirements, please contact the Registry via www.bdm.vic.gov.au or on 1300 369 367

Postal Address

Certificate applications:

GPO Box 5220, Melbourne VIC 3001

General mail:

GPO Box 4332, Melbourne VIC 3001

Call Centre^

Local: 1300 369 367 (from within Australia)

International: + 61 3 9613 5111 (from outside Australia only)

Customer Service Centre (CSC)^

Ground floor, 595 Collins Street Melbourne

(near Southern Cross Station)

^Opening hours 8.30 am to 4.30 pm Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays)

Justice Service Centres (JSCs) http://online.justice.vic.gov.au/CA2574F700805DE7/page/About+Us-Contact+us-Justice+Service+Centres?OpenDocument&1=70-About+Us~&2=70-Contact+us~&3=05

You are eligible to apply change your name in Victoria:

• you must be 18 years of age or older
• you must be born in Victoria
• if not born in Victoria, you must prove you have been a resident in Victoria for the past year (12 months).

• A fee of $93.50 must be paid when submitting the application form. The fee includes:
  • an application fee of $64.90 (non-refundable)
  • a standard certificate fee of $28.60.
• If your application is successful, you will receive a standard birth certificate which shows the name change, or a change of name certificate (if you were not born in Victoria).

Explain the time until which the certificate/document is valid.
e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

Please attach documents which can be used by people who would like to follow this procedure.    

Please attach sample completed documents which would help other people who would like to follow this procedure.    

The certificate will be issued in approximately 20 working days, provided your application is complete and you have submitted the required supporting documents. The certificate may be used as proof of your name change for legal and other official purposes.

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications. 
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type="website">video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites.
Please remove the "&" inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver, 
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.g In the following url "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M" Video ID is "Y0US7oR_t3M". 

• You can apply to change your name if you are 18 years of age or older, and were born in Victoria or have lived in Victoria for at least the last 12 months.
• Download and complete the application form with following instructions
  • Write clearly and use blue or black ink and BLOCK letters
  • Press firmly when writing
  • Do not use correction fluid or tape
  • Keep each number, letter or X within the boxes, for example:
  • If you need to make an alteration, cross out the mistake and initial the change
  • Leave answer boxes blank where you have no response or data to enter
• If your name change application is successful, you will receive either a new birth certificate (if you were born in Victoria) or a change of name certificate (if you were born outside Victoria).
• Your certificate will show your original birth name, your new name, and a history of your name changes.

After changing your name

• Use your certificate to update all of your identity documents and records to show your new name. This includes your driver licence, passport, bank account, electoral enrolment, utility accounts (water, electricity, gas, etc), superannuation and insurance.
• If you have already changed your name in Victoria and want a replacement certificate, you can simply apply online for a birth certificate (if born in Victoria) or a replacement change of name certificate (if born outside Victoria).
• You can also apply by mail, or in person at Melbourne Customer Service Centre (CSC) or at selected Victorian Justice Service Centres (JSCs). To apply by mail or in person, you will need to download and complete a birth certificate application form.
• We recommend you keep all Registry-issued documents safe and secure.

• Family name
• Given Names
• Name at Birth
• Proposed New Name
• Reason for Changing Name
• Date of Birth
• Place of Birth
• Sex
• Current Residential Address
• Daytime Telephone Number
• Email Address
• Fathers and Mothers Name
• If Previously Married Date and Place of Marriage

You can apply to change your name by following the below instructions and procedure.

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Please explain what are other uses of obtaining this document/certificate.
e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

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