Introduction
From 16 November 2020, adopted people in NSW will be issued with 2 birth certificates from the Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages (BDM):
- a post-adoptive birth certificate
- an integrated birth certificate (IBC).
Either birth certificate can be used for legal identification purposes.
The IBC supports an adopted person’s right to know their origins and includes information about their:
- birth parents and older siblings at birth
- adoptive parents and siblings after adoption.
IBCs are available retrospectively, and adopted people and family members who are entitled can apply.
Eligibility
Adoptions that occurred after 1 January 2010
You can apply directly to BDM if you're:
- an adopted person 18 or older
- the adoptive parents
- the birth parents.
If you're an adopted person under 18:
- you'll need the written consent of your adoptive parents
- your birth parents will first need to obtain an Adoption Information Certificate (AIC).
Adoptions that occurred before 1 January 2010
You can apply directly to BDM if you have the:
- pre-adoption birth certificate, or
- post-adoption birth certificate issued by BDM before October 1998.
If you don't have one of the above documents, you'll need an Adoption Information Certificate (AIC) before you can apply to BDM. Adoptive parents will also need the adopted person's consent.
If you're an adopted person under 18, you'll need written consent from your adoptive parents and your birth parents before you can apply for an Adoption Information Certificate (AIC).
Note: If it's not possible to obtain the required consent from adoptive and/or birth parents, contact the Adoption Information Unit (AIU) on 1300 799 023, or email Adoption.Information@facs.nsw.gov.au.
What you need
- your personal details
- 3 current identification documents as specified on the form
- a copy of the original post-adoptive birth certificate (if possible)
- a recent utility bill (within the last 3 months) with your current residential address
- written consent documents (if applicable)
- payment (if applicable).
In addition:
- for adoptions that occurred after 1 January 2010:
- for adoptions that occurred before 1 January 2010, one of the following:
- an Adoption Information Certificate (AIC)
- pre-adoption birth certificate, or
- post-adoption birth certificate issued by BDM before October 1998.
Note: If you're a company applying on behalf of a person you'll need:
- a Letter of Authority giving permission to apply – PDF
- 3 current forms of identification from the person giving permission.
Adoption Information Certificate (AIC)
You need an AIC if you want:
- information on a past adoption, or
- an IBC for an adoption that occurred before 1 January 2010, if you don't have a:
- pre-adoption birth certificate, or
- post-adoption birth certificate issued by BDM before October 1998.
The AIC provides you with a copy of the memorandum of an adoption order. This document contains particulars of the adoption.
To get an AIC, you must lodge one of the 'application to obtain adoption information' forms with the AIU. The form you lodge depends on whether you want adoption information, or adoption information and an IBC.
How to apply
Adoptions after 1 January 2010, or applicants who have one of the following:
- an AIC
- pre-adoption birth certificate, or
- post-adoption birth certificate issued by BDM before October 1998.
- Download and complete Integrated birth certificate (IBC) application form – PDF.
- Make sure you have all the required documents.
- Lodge your application with payment (if applicable):
- in person at a Service NSW Centre, or
- via post to:
NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages
ATTN: Adoptions Section
GPO Box 30
Sydney NSW 2001
Adoptions before 1 January 2010 where applicants do not have one of the following:
- an AIC
- pre-adoption birth certificate, or
- post-adoption birth certificate issued by BDM before October 1998.
- Download and complete the appropriate form:
- Make sure you have all the required documents.
- Lodge your application via:
- email to Adoption.Information@facs.nsw.gov.au, or
- post to:
Adoption Information Unit
Department of Communities and Justice
Locked Bag 5000
Parramatta NSW 2124
More information
- If information on the adopted person's birth family is not available, BDM will record a dash or 'unknown' in the relevant fields on the IBC.
- If you're a relative (grandparent, son, daughter, grandchild, brother, sister, aunt or uncle) of an adopted person, or a spouse, de facto or another person who had a close relationship with a now deceased birth parent or deceased adopted person, you can apply to inherit their rights to adoption information – PDF. This may include their IBC.
- IBCs are available where the adoption order was made or registered in NSW.
- Intercountry adopted people can obtain an IBC provided the adoption is registered under the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1995. This may occur when the NSW Supreme Court:
- makes an intercountry adoption order, and/or
- grants a declaration of validity in relation to an overseas adoption.
- For more information, visit the Department of Communities and Justice website.