Order a name change certificate in person

How to order a name change certificate in person.

  1. 1

    Find a Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM) office

    You can order certificates in person at a BDM office in:

    • Auckland
    • Manukau
    • Wellington, or
    • Christchurch.

    Location of a BDM office

  2. 2

    Book an appointment at a BDM office online or visit a BDM office

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

    Book an appointment at a BDM office

  3. 3

    Complete the form at the BDM office and pay

    What you’ll need to know

    Information about the name change

    You need to know the:

    • full names of the people whose certificate you’re ordering
    • date of the name change.

    Information about yourself

    Even if you’re ordering someone else’s certificate, you need to provide:

    • your full name, names at birth, and the date and place of your birth
    • a referee’s declaration — this will be someone at the BDM office.

    BDM use the information to check who you are, then record your name in the Access Register. The register is a record of who orders certificates.

    More about the Access Register

    Cost

    $33 for an official name change certificate.

    How to pay

    You can pay in person by:

    • Credit, debit or prepaid gift card (for example Prezzy card).
    • EFTPOS.
  4. 4

    Getting the name change certificate

    The BDM office may be able to give you the name change certificate on the day you apply.

    If it needs to be delivered

    You need to provide a delivery address.

    Most people get their certificates delivered in 1-2 weeks.

    Delivery cost to an NZ address

    Standard post

    Free delivery to an address inside NZ.

    Courier

    $5 for a courier to an address inside NZ.

    Delivery cost to an address outside NZ

    Standard post

    Free delivery to an address outside NZ.

    Overseas courier costs

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

    If we can not find the record

    You’ll be refunded $8 if BDM can not find the record of the name change.

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