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Registering a new baby and getting a birth certificate

How to register your baby

Every baby born in New Zealand must be registered, normally within 2 months of being born. It’s free, and you can apply for the baby’s birth certificate and IRD number at the same time.


Registering a birth in NZ is a legal requirement.

Both parents have to complete the birth registration together, unless one of them is:

  • unknown
  • dead
  • missing
  • of unsound mind
  • unable to complete the form because of a medical condition
  • overseas and has no delivery address or contact details
  • a danger to you or your child.

If the other parent is unknown, you can still register the birth online. If the other parent is known, but they cannot complete the form, you must complete a paper form and post it to Births, Deaths and Marriages.

Notification of Birth for Registration of child born in New Zealand form BDM 27 (PDF 676KB)

Notification of Birth for Registration of child born in New Zealand form BDM 27 - accessible alternative (TXT 48KB)

If you do not want to name the baby’s other parent

If you name the other parent on the birth registration and you’re not in a relationship now, you can apply for a child support assessment.

Even if you’re not together now, naming the other parent generally means they’ll be one of the child’s legal guardians if you were:

  • married or in a civil union at any time from when the baby was conceived until its birth, or
  • living together in a de facto relationship when the baby was born.

If they’re a legal guardian, they’re entitled to:

  • have contact with the child (unless a court rules otherwise)
  • have a say in how the child is raised
  • take over as main caregiver if something happens to you.

If naming the other parent would put you or your child in danger

If naming the baby’s other parent would put you in danger or cause you distress, complete a PDF birth registration form. Include the other parent’s details and an explanation of the situation — you do not have to get the other parent to sign the form.

Notification of Birth for Registration of child born in New Zealand form BDM 27 (PDF 676KB)

Notification of Birth for Registration of child born in New Zealand form BDM 27 - accessible alternative (TXT 48KB)

Anyone can request a copy of a New Zealand birth certificate once a birth is registered. If you think this could put you or your child in danger, you can apply to have a non-disclosure direction put on the baby’s records.

Access to your birth, death, marriage and name change records

What it means for you if you do not name the baby’s other parent

If you know who the baby’s other parent is but do not name them:

  • they may not have to pay child support unless you can prove they’re the mother or father another way (for example, with a DNA test).

What it means for the other parent

If you’re the biological parent of a child but you’re not named on the birth certificate, and you were not in a relationship with the child’s other parent around the time of the birth, you:

  • can apply to the Family Court to be appointed a legal guardian — you’ll probably need to prove you’re the baby’s mother or father, for example, with a DNA test
  • may be able to be added to the child’s birth certificate later — contact Births, Deaths and Marriages to find out more.

If you want to name the other parent but you do not have their consent

You can:

  • complete their details without consent if you have evidence that they’re the biological parent, for example, a DNA test or statutory declarations from family members
  • choose to give the baby their last name if you want to.

Complete the PDF birth registration form and include any contact details you have for the other parents — Births, Deaths and Marriages will attempt to contact them for their signature on your behalf.

Notification of Birth for Registration of child born in New Zealand form BDM 27 (PDF 676KB)

Notification of Birth for Registration of child born in New Zealand form BDM 27 - accessible alternative (TXT 48KB)

Contact Births, Deaths and Marriages to find out more.

If you’re a New Zealand citizen and your baby is born overseas

If you’re a New Zealand citizen by birth or grant and your baby is born overseas:

  1. You must register the birth and get a birth certificate in the country your baby was born in.
  2. You can register them as a New Zealand citizen by descent — you can apply for their New Zealand passport at the same time.

Get your child an NZ passport when born overseas

If the baby was stillborn or has died

You still need to register the birth. If you do not want to give the baby a first name, you can choose to leave that field blank by adding a dash (-) into the field.

If you had your baby with the help of a sperm or egg donor

If you:

  • have a partner who is not the sperm or egg donor, you can name them as the baby’s legal parent
  • are not in a relationship, you’re the baby’s only legal parent — complete a paper birth registration form and leave the other parent’s details blank.

If you’re adopting the baby out

You need to register the birth — not the adoptive parents. Once the baby is legally adopted, they’ll be issued a new birth certificate that shows their adoptive parents’ details. The original pre-adoptive birth certificate is kept on file and the baby can apply for a copy of it once they turn 20.

Putting a baby up for adoption

When you register your baby, you can also apply for:

  • your baby’s birth certificate — this costs $33.00 for a standard certificate, $35.00 for a decorative certificate or $55.00 for a pack including 1 standard and 1 decorative certificate
  • an IRD number for the baby — you’ll need this to claim Working for Families payments for the child, or to open a KiwiSaver or bank account in their name.

If you receive a benefit, you can get Birth, Deaths and Marriages to tell the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) about your child’s birth — you’ll need to tell MSD so they can check how this changes your benefit.

If you’ve already applied for Working for Families payments for your baby

Make sure you include your own IRD number on the birth registration form — Inland Revenue needs this to give you the payments.

When your baby is given an IRD number, IR will add it to your Working for Families registration details for you.

Changes to same-sex parents listed on birth certificates

2 female parents can now be listed as ‘mother’ on a birth certificate, where human assisted reproductive procedures were used. This change does not affect birth records only the wording on birth certificates.

Accessing donor and preadoptive information

Details of sperm and egg donors, and children conceived from sperm or egg donation are kept on the Human Assisted Reproductive Technology (HART) Register.

Finding a child or parent on the sperm and egg donor list

If you were born in NZ and you’re adopted, once you turn 20 you can request your original birth certificate, and any information about your adoption records held by Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children.

Finding your birth parents

Naming your child

Birth registration is when you officially give your child a legal name.

The baby’s name must:

  • include a last name and one or more first names, unless your religious or cultural beliefs require the baby to only have one name
  • not be:
    • offensive
    • longer than 100 characters, including spaces
    • an official title or rank, or resemble one (eg Justice, King, Prince or Princess, Royal) unless you can justify why your baby should be allowed that name
    • spelled with numbers or symbols (eg V8).

What happens next

You will not be notified when the birth is registered.

If you applied for:

  • a birth certificate, you’ll receive it from Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM) after about 8 working days
  • an IRD number for the baby, you’ll receive it from Inland Revenue after about 15 working days.

If you gave BDM permission to tell the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) about the birth of your child, MSD may contact you to talk about any changes to your benefit.

If you did not apply for a birth certificate or IRD number when you registered your baby’s birth, you can do this separately.

Order a birth certificate

Get an IRD number for your child

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