Order a birth certificate

For births that happened at least 100 years ago, use:

Birth, Death and Marriage Historical Records

You can also see information about:

Search the Human Assisted Reproductive Technology Register

To get a birth certificate for your new baby, you’ll need to register their birth first.

You can register your child and order a certificate at the same time.

Register your baby

If you’ve already registered the birth, you can order a birth certificate at any time.

When you need to use a New Zealand birth certificate in another country, you might be asked to get the document apostilled or authenticated. Some countries call this legalisation.

An apostille or authentication is an official government certificate that proves the signature, stamp or seal on a document is genuine.

You can make a request to get your birth certificate apostilled or authenticated by phone or post.

Use your NZ documents overseas

You might be asked to get your birth certificate translated into another language.

Translating official documents

You can choose a standard or a decorative certificate which has an image on it.

It costs:

• $33 for a standard birth certificate
• $35 for a decorative birth certificate
• $55 for a pack with a standard and a decorative birth certificate.

From 30 April 2024 we don't offer the All Blacks decorative birth certificate.

Standard certificate

Forest certificate

Beach certificate

 

Standard certificates are folded. Decorative certificates are sent in a flat pack.

Deliver to an NZ address

• Standard post is free.
• Courier $5.

Deliver to an overseas address

Standard post is free.

Overseas courier costs:

• Australia, Asia, Pacific $15
• USA $20
• Europe, UK $25
• rest of the world $30.

Request for NZ birth certificate or printout form BDM93B (PDF 265KB)

Request for NZ birth certificate or printout form BDM93B accessible alternative (TXT 5.5KB)

Post the completed form to:

Births, Deaths and Marriages
PO Box 10526
Wellington 6140
New Zealand

You can order certificates in person in Auckland, Manukau, Wellington or Christchurch. You'll need photo ID.

To save time, book an appointment online before you visit a BDM office.

Births, Deaths and Marriages offices

You can order a birth certificate by phone. You can pay by credit or debit card.

Call Births, Deaths and Marriages

If there’s a mistake on your birth certificate, contact Births, Deaths and Marriages by phone to talk about making a change.

You may need to pay for a replacement certificate. You can pay over the phone by credit or debit card.

Call Births, Deaths and Marriages

To check the surname used on your birth certificate, you have to apply and pay for the birth certificate.

If you were born before 1972

Children born before 1972 were not registered with surnames. Records were updated in 1995 to assign the mother’s surname if the parents were not married, and the father’s name if they were.

Most people will not be affected, but some people may find their record is not in their preferred surname and needs to be amended.

The amendment is free of charge.

If there’s a record of your parents’ marriage

You need to write and ask for your surname to be amended.

Postal address and email details

If there’s not a record of your parents’ marriage

You need to write and ask for your surname to be amended and provide two types of evidence:

• something recent, and
• something from as early in life as possible.

Types of evidence you can use:

• Bank statements
• Baptismal record
• Community Services Card
• Educational certificate or school report
• Electoral roll record
• Inland Revenue tax number
• Lease or tenancy agreements
• Motor vehicle registration
• Rates notices
• School records
• Steps to Freedom form
• Student identity card
• Trade certificate
• Utility accounts — for example, power or phone bills.

Postal address and email details