Change your child's name | New Zealand Government

<!DOCTYPE html> <html class="no-js" lang="en-NZ" prefix="og: http://ogp.me/ns# fb: http://ogp.me/ns/fb# website: http://ogp.me/ns/website#"> <head><script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=HxkREWBo" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("https://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/changing-your-name/changing-your-childs-name/","20240507120839","https://web.archive.org/","web","/_static/", "1715083719"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=S1zqJCYt" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />  <meta charset="utf-8"/> <link rel="preload" href="/web/20240507120839/https://www.govt.nz/resources/themes/dia-theme/fonts/subset/FiraSans-Regular-subset.woff2?m=1711332202" as="font" type="font/woff2" crossorigin> <link rel="preload" href="/web/20240507120839/https://www.govt.nz/resources/themes/dia-theme/fonts/subset/FiraSans-Bold-subset.woff2?m=1711332202" as="font" type="font/woff2" crossorigin> <style> @font-face { font-family: 'Fira'; src: url(/web/20240507120839im_/https://www.govt.nz/resources/themes/dia-theme/fonts/subset/FiraSans-Regular-subset.woff2?m=1711332202) format("woff2"), url(/web/20240507120839im_/https://www.govt.nz/resources/themes/dia-theme/fonts/subset/FiraSans-Regular-subset.woff?m=1711332202) format("woff"); font-weight: 400; font-display: fallback; } @font-face { font-family: 'Fira'; src: url(/web/20240507120839im_/https://www.govt.nz/resources/themes/dia-theme/fonts/subset/FiraSans-Bold-subset.woff2?m=1711332202) format("woff2"), url(/web/20240507120839im_/https://www.govt.nz/resources/themes/dia-theme/fonts/subset/FiraSans-Bold-subset.woff?m=1711332202) format("woff"); font-weight: 700; font-display: fallback; } </style> <script> if( "fonts" in document ) { var regular = new FontFace("Fira", "url(/resources/themes/dia-theme/fonts/superset/FiraSans-Regular-superset.woff2?m=1711332202) format('woff2'), url(/resources/themes/dia-theme/fonts/superset/FiraSans-Regular-superset.woff?m=1711332202) format('woff')"); var bold = new FontFace("Fira", "url(/resources/themes/dia-theme/fonts/superset/FiraSans-Bold-superset.woff2?m=1711332202) format('woff2'), url(/resources/themes/dia-theme/fonts/superset/FiraSans-Bold-superset.woff2?m=1711332202) format('woff')", { weight: "700" }); Promise.all([ bold.load(), regular.load() ]).then(function(fonts) { fonts.forEach(function(font) { document.fonts.add(font); }); }); } if(!("fonts" in document) && "head" in document) { var style = document.createElement("style"); // todo: v causing syntax error? style.innerHTML = "@font-face { font-family: 'Fira'; src: url(/resources/themes/dia-theme/fonts/superset/FiraSans-Regular-superset.woff2?m=1711332202) format('woff2'), url(/resources/themes/dia-theme/fonts/superset/FiraSans-Regular-superset.woff?m=1711332202) format('woff'); font-weight: 400; font-display: fallback; } @font-face { font-family: 'Fira'; src: url(/resources/themes/dia-theme/fonts/superset/FiraSans-Bold-superset.woff2?m=1711332202) format('woff2'), url(/resources/themes/dia-theme/fonts/superset/FiraSans-Bold-superset.woff?m=1711332202) format('woff'); font-weight: 700; font-display: fallback; }"; document.head.appendChild(style); } </script> <script> document.documentElement.className = document.documentElement.className.replace("no-js","js"); </script> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240507120839/https://www.google-analytics.com/" crossorigin> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240507120839/https://www.google-analytics.com/"> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240507120839/https://www.googletagmanager.com/" crossorigin> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240507120839/https://www.googletagmanager.com/">  <script>(function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src= 'https://web.archive.org/web/20240507120839/https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); })(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-MTS9PPX');</script>  <title> Change your child's name | New Zealand Government </title> <meta name="description" content="You can change your child’s name in New Zealand if they are 15 or under and a citizen or entitled to live here indefinitely. Once your child is 16, they can apply themselves with your consent."> <meta name="google-site-verification" content="BDC1GidWagtZ4CFloZKnpbnGkfer99DVp0vjNbjgRlw"/> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> <meta property="og:title" content="Change your child's name"/> <meta property="og:site_name" content="New Zealand Government"/> <meta property="og:url" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20240507120839/https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/changing-your-name/changing-your-childs-name/"/> <meta property="og:description" content="You can change your child’s name in New Zealand if they are 15 or under and a citizen or entitled to live here indefinitely. Once your child is 16, they can apply themselves with your consent."/> <meta property="og:locale" content="en_NZ"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20240507120839im_/https://www.govt.nz/assets/Images/Social/Social-share-default-Govtnz.png"/> <meta property="og:image:url" content="https://www.govt.nz/assets/Images/Social/Social-share-default-Govtnz.png"/> <meta property="og:image:type" content="image/png"/> <meta property="og:image:width" content="1200"/> <meta property="og:image:height" content="630"/> <meta property="og:image:alt" content="New Zealand Coat of Arms"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="You can change your child’s name in New Zealand if they are 15 or under and a citizen or entitled to live here indefinitely. Once your child is 16, they can apply themselves with your consent."/> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@govtnz"/> <meta name="twitter:creator" content="@govtnz"> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Change your child's name"/> <meta name="twitter:url" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20240507120839im_/https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/changing-your-name/changing-your-childs-name/"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20240507120839im_/https://www.govt.nz/assets/Images/Social/Social-share-default-Govtnz.png"/> <meta name="twitter:image:alt" content="New Zealand Coat of Arms"> <base href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240507120839/https://www.govt.nz/"> <link rel="icon" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240507120839im_/https://www.govt.nz//resources/themes/dia-theme/images/favicons/favicon.png" type="image/png"> <link rel="icon" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240507120839im_/https://www.govt.nz//resources/themes/dia-theme/images/favicons/favicon.svg" type="image/svg+xml"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240507120839im_/https://www.govt.nz//resources/themes/dia-theme/images/favicons/apple-touch-icon.png"> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/web/20240507120839cs_/https://www.govt.nz/resources/themes/dia-theme/dist/screen.css?m=1711332202" media="screen"/> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/web/20240507120839cs_/https://www.govt.nz/resources/themes/dia-theme/dist/print.css?m=1711332202" media="print"/> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/web/20240507120839cs_/https://www.govt.nz/resources/themes/dia-theme/dist/processpage.css?m=1711332202" media="screen"/>    </head> <body class="pagetype-process2" data-pagetype="ProcessPage2">  <noscript><iframe src="https://web.archive.org/web/20240507120839if_/https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-MTS9PPX" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript>  <a class="skip-to-main-content visuallyhidden focusable internal-link" href="/web/20240507120839/https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/changing-your-name/changing-your-childs-name/#toplink">Skip to main content</a> <div class="header navbar" role="banner"> <div class="container"> <div class="header-item row"> <img class="print-logo" width="318" height="72" src="/web/20240507120839im_/https://www.govt.nz/resources/themes/dia-theme/images/logo/nzgovt-logo-black.svg?m=1711332202" alt="New Zealand Government"/> <div class="header-item-wrapper col-sm-12"> <div class="logo"> <a href="/web/20240507120839/https://www.govt.nz/" data-ga-event="click" data-ga-category="Navigation" data-ga-action="Header-logo" data-ga-label="@attr:href"> <span class="sr-only"><span lang="mi">Te Kāwanatanga o Aotearoa</span> / </span> <img width="318" height="72" src="/web/20240507120839im_/https://www.govt.nz/resources/themes/dia-theme/images/logo/nzgovt-logo-white.svg?m=1711332202" alt="New Zealand Government"> </a> </div> <div class="mobile-search"> <button type="button" class="submit btn btn-black square-corners mobile-search-toggle " aria-label="Show search" aria-controls="header-search"> <svg class="icon-search-mobile" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" fill="currentColor" width="16" height="16" viewbox="0 0 32 32"> <path d="M31.008 27.231l-7.58-6.447c-0.784-0.705-1.622-1.029-2.299-0.998 1.789-2.096 2.87-4.815 2.87-7.787 0-6.627-5.373-12-12-12s-12 5.373-12 12 5.373 12 12 12c2.972 0 5.691-1.081 7.787-2.87-0.031 0.677 0.293 1.515 0.998 2.299l6.447 7.58c1.104 1.226 2.907 1.33 4.007 0.23s0.997-2.903-0.23-4.007zM12 20c-4.418 0-8-3.582-8-8s3.582-8 8-8 8 3.582 8 8-3.582 8-8 8z"></path> </svg> </button> </div> <div id="header-search" class="header-search "> <div role="search" class="header-search-form"> <form id="search-form" action="https://web.archive.org/web/20240507120839/https://www.govt.nz/search"> <div class="search-controls"> <input name="q" class="square-corners" id="searchterm" value="" type="search" autocapitalize="off" autocomplete="off" autocorrect="off"/> <label for="searchterm" class="search-label entered"> Search Govt.nz </label> <button type="submit" class="submit btn btn-orange square-corners" aria-label="Search Govt.nz"> <svg class="icon-search" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" fill="currentColor" width="16" height="16" viewbox="0 0 32 32"> <path d="M31.008 27.231l-7.58-6.447c-0.784-0.705-1.622-1.029-2.299-0.998 1.789-2.096 2.87-4.815 2.87-7.787 0-6.627-5.373-12-12-12s-12 5.373-12 12 5.373 12 12 12c2.972 0 5.691-1.081 7.787-2.87-0.031 0.677 0.293 1.515 0.998 2.299l6.447 7.58c1.104 1.226 2.907 1.33 4.007 0.23s0.997-2.903-0.23-4.007zM12 20c-4.418 0-8-3.582-8-8s3.582-8 8-8 8 3.582 8 8-3.582 8-8 8z"></path> </svg> </button> </div> </form> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="content " role="main"> <div class="banner-link breadcrumbs "> <div class="container"> <nav class="nav-breadcrumbs inline-details" aria-label="Breadcrumbs"> <ol> <li> <a href="/web/20240507120839/https://www.govt.nz/" class="ga-track-nav-breadcrumbs">Home</a> <span aria-hidden="true">/</span> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20240507120839/https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/" class="ga-track-nav-breadcrumbs">Passports, citizenship and identity</a> <span aria-hidden="true">/</span> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20240507120839/https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/changing-your-name/" class="ga-track-nav-breadcrumbs">Changing your name</a> <span aria-hidden="true">/</span> </li> <li aria-current="page">Change your child's name</li> </ol> </nav> </div> </div> <noscript> <div class="container"> <div class="row"> <div class="callout-note noscript"> Your browser currently has JavaScript turned off, which means that www.govt.nz might not display properly on your device. It's easy to turn JavaScript on - <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240507120839/https://turnonjs.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external">find out how to enable JavaScript in your browser</a>. </div> </div> </div> </noscript> <div class="container page-content"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-3 sidenav"> <div class="skip-link"> <a class="skip-to-main-content visuallyhidden focusable internal-link" href="/web/20240507120839/https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/changing-your-name/changing-your-childs-name/#toplink">Skip to main content</a> </div> <div class="block-left "> <div class="SubHubNavigationPageFeature page-feature"> <nav class="hidden-md hidden-lg mobile-sub-navigation nojs-sub-navigation--is-visible" aria-labelledby="MobileSubNavigationHeading"> <h2 id="MobileSubNavigationHeading" class="mobile-sub-navigation__heading"> <button class="mobile-sub-navigation__toggle" role="none"> <span class="mobile-sub-navigation__title">Changing your name</span> </button> </h2> <div id="mobile-sub-nav-menu" class="mobile-sub-navigation__menu"> <ul class="sub-navigation"> <li class="sub-navigation__item"> <a href="/web/20240507120839/https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/changing-your-name/change-your-own-name/" class="sub-navigation__link" data-ga-event="click" data-ga-category="Lefthand Navigation" data-ga-action="/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/changing-your-name/change-your-own-name/" data-ga-label="/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/changing-your-name/changing-your-childs-name/"> Change your own name </a> </li> <li class="sub-navigation__item" aria-current="page">Change your child's name</li> <li class="sub-navigation__item"> <a href="/web/20240507120839/https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/changing-your-name/changing-your-name-on-your-driver-licence/" class="sub-navigation__link" data-ga-event="click" data-ga-category="Lefthand Navigation" data-ga-action="/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/changing-your-name/changing-your-name-on-your-driver-licence/" data-ga-label="/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/changing-your-name/changing-your-childs-name/"> Change your name on your driver licence </a> </li> <li class="sub-navigation__item"> <a href="/web/20240507120839/https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/changing-your-name/changing-your-name-on-your-passport/" class="sub-navigation__link" data-ga-event="click" data-ga-category="Lefthand Navigation" data-ga-action="/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/changing-your-name/changing-your-name-on-your-passport/" data-ga-label="/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/changing-your-name/changing-your-childs-name/"> Change your name in your passport </a> </li> </ul> </div> </nav> <nav class="hidden-xs hidden-sm desktop-subhub-navigation" aria-labelledby="SubHubNavigationHeading"> <div class="sub-hub"> <h2 id="SubHubNavigationHeading" class="imitate-h4 sub-hub-title"> <a class="sub-hub-title" href="/web/20240507120839/https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/changing-your-name/">Changing your name</a> </h2> </div> <ul class="sub-navigation"> <li class="sub-navigation__item"> <a href="/web/20240507120839/https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/changing-your-name/change-your-own-name/" class="sub-navigation__link" data-ga-event="click" data-ga-category="Lefthand Navigation" data-ga-action="/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/changing-your-name/change-your-own-name/" data-ga-label="/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/changing-your-name/changing-your-childs-name/"> Change your own name </a> </li> <li class="sub-navigation__item" aria-current="page">Change your child's name</li> <li class="sub-navigation__item"> <a href="/web/20240507120839/https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/changing-your-name/changing-your-name-on-your-driver-licence/" class="sub-navigation__link" data-ga-event="click" data-ga-category="Lefthand Navigation" data-ga-action="/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/changing-your-name/changing-your-name-on-your-driver-licence/" data-ga-label="/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/changing-your-name/changing-your-childs-name/"> Change your name on your driver licence </a> </li> <li class="sub-navigation__item"> <a href="/web/20240507120839/https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/changing-your-name/changing-your-name-on-your-passport/" class="sub-navigation__link" data-ga-event="click" data-ga-category="Lefthand Navigation" data-ga-action="/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/changing-your-name/changing-your-name-on-your-passport/" data-ga-label="/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/changing-your-name/changing-your-childs-name/"> Change your name in your passport </a> </li> </ul> </nav> </div> <div class="NavButtonsPageFeature page-feature hidden-xs hidden-sm"> <ul class="nav-buttons"> <h2 class="imitate-h4">Contact</h2> <li class="sidelink-blue icon"> <a class="no-external-link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240507120839/https://www.govt.nz/organisations/births-deaths-and-marriages/births-deaths-marriages-offices/in-new-zealand/"> <span>Births, Deaths and Marriages</span> <i aria-hidden="true" class="fa fa-None"></i> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-7 col-md-offset-1 ga-content-container main-content hide-step-numbers"> <div class="title-row"> <h1 id="toplink" tabindex="-1">Change your child's name</h1> <p class="page-description">You can change your child’s name in New Zealand if they are 15 or under and a citizen or entitled to live here indefinitely. Once your child is 16, they can apply themselves with your consent.</p> </div> <div class="main"> <nav class="process-step-nav" aria-labelledby="process-step-nav-title"> <h2 id="process-step-nav-title">On this page</h2> <ol role="list"> <li><a href="/web/20240507120839/https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/changing-your-name/changing-your-childs-name/#78">Overview</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20240507120839/https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/changing-your-name/changing-your-childs-name/#81">How to apply if your child is under 2 and was born in NZ</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20240507120839/https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/changing-your-name/changing-your-childs-name/#84">How to apply if your child is 2 to 15 or was born outside NZ</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20240507120839/https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/changing-your-name/changing-your-childs-name/#87">Get a record of your child’s name change</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20240507120839/https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/changing-your-name/changing-your-childs-name/#90">What happens next</a></li> </ol> </nav> <div class="process-step"> <h2 tabindex="-1" id="78">Overview</h2> <p>You can apply to change your child’s name if:</p><ul> <li>they are 15 or under, and</li> <li>they were born here, they are a New Zealand citizen, or they are entitled to live here indefinitely.</li> </ul><p>Usually, all the child’s parents or legal guardians need to sign the statutory declaration section of the form to change the child’s name — even if the parents are not together.</p> <details class="accordion-item inline-accordion expander-type-accordion heading-h3"> <summary class="accordion-item-button accordion-trigger" data-ga-event="click" data-ga-category="In-page accordion" data-ga-action="If all parents or guardians cannot sign" data-ga-label=""> <h3> <span class="accordion-icon" aria-hidden="true"></span> <span class="accordion-title">If all parents or guardians cannot sign </span> </h3> </summary> <div class="accordion-content"><p>If a parent or legal guardian is not able to sign the statutory declaration section of the form, you need to explain why. You also need to provide evidence if they are:</p><ul> <li>deceased</li> <li>missing and you have tried to find them, or</li> <li>of unsound mind or unable to act because of a medical condition.</li> </ul><p>Sometimes the Family Court will allow 1 guardian to act alone to change a child’s name. In this case, include copies of the original papers issued by the court with your application. Do not post or courier original documents.</p></div> </details> <details class="accordion-item inline-accordion expander-type-accordion heading-h3"> <summary class="accordion-item-button accordion-trigger" data-ga-event="click" data-ga-category="In-page accordion" data-ga-action="Update the sex on your child's birth certificate" data-ga-label=""> <h3> <span class="accordion-icon" aria-hidden="true"></span> <span class="accordion-title">Update the sex on your child's birth certificate </span> </h3> </summary> <div class="accordion-content"><p>If you also want to update the sex marker on your child's New Zealand birth certificate, this is a different process to just changing their name. You can apply to change both using the same form.</p><p>Find out more and apply:</p><p><a href="/web/20240507120839/https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/changing-your-gender/change-the-registered-sex-on-your-birth-certificate/">Change the registered sex on a birth certificate</a></p></div> </details> <h3>What you can change your child’s name to</h3><p>You can change all or part of your child’s name.</p><p>Their new name has to consist of 1 surname and 1 or more other names. If you have religious, philosophical or cultural reasons to have only one name, you need to include a letter of explanation with your application.</p><p>The new name might not be accepted if it’s:</p><ul> <li>offensive</li> <li>longer than 70 characters, including spaces</li> <li>an official title or rank, or resembles one (for example, Justice, King, Prince, Princess, Royal)</li> <li>spelled with numbers or symbols (for example, V8).</li> </ul> </div> <div class="process-step"> <h2 tabindex="-1" id="81">How to apply if your child is under 2 and was born in NZ</h2> <h3>Complete the form</h3><ul> <li><a href="/web/20240507120839/https://www.govt.nz/assets/Documents/Family-and-whanau/Application-to-register-a-name-change-within-2-years-of-birth-BDM36.pdf">Application to register a name change within 2 years of birth BDM 36 (PDF 477KB)</a></li> </ul><h3>Cost</h3><p>It costs $55 to change your child’s name before their second birthday.</p><p>You can pay by:</p><ul> <li>credit, debit or prepaid gift card — for example, Prezzy® Card</li> <li>EFTPOS — only available when you visit an office in person</li> <li>foreign draft — only available if you apply at the Sydney or London office.</li> </ul><h3>Submit your form and payment</h3><h4>By post</h4><p>You can post or courier your application to Wellington, Sydney or London.</p><h4>In person</h4><p>You can book an appointment in Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch.</p><p><a href="/web/20240507120839/https://www.govt.nz/organisations/births-deaths-and-marriages/births-deaths-marriages-offices/">Births, Deaths and Marriages offices</a></p> </div> <div class="process-step"> <h2 tabindex="-1" id="84">How to apply if your child is 2 to 15 or was born outside NZ</h2> <p>You must provide certified copies of documents that prove the identity of all the child's parents or legal guardians.</p><p>If your child was born outside New Zealand, you must also provide documents that show when and where they were born, and that they are a New Zealand citizen or entitled to live here indefinitely.</p><h3>Complete the form</h3><p>In front of an authorised witness — for example, a Justice of the Peace — you must:</p><ul> <li>sign the statutory declaration section of the application form to declare what you have said is true, and</li> <li>show them each original photo ID.</li> </ul><p>Your witness must sign the statutory declaration section of the form to confirm they have sighted each original photo ID. They must also certify each photo ID.</p><ul> <li><a href="/web/20240507120839/https://www.govt.nz/assets/Documents/Family-and-whanau/BDM123-Application-to-register-a-name-change-aged-15-and-under.pdf">Application to register a name change aged 15 and under BDM123 (PDF 472KB)</a></li> </ul><h3>Documents you need</h3><h4>Photo identification (ID)</h4><p>All parents or guardians must provide a certified copy of 1 of the following:</p><ul> <li>passport</li> <li>driver licence</li> <li>firearms or dealer’s licence</li> <li>defence force or police service photo identity card</li> <li>NZ emergency travel document</li> <li>NZ certificate of identity (issued under the Passports Act 1992 or the Immigration Act 2009)</li> <li>NZ refugee travel document</li> <li>Kiwi Access Card or overseas proof of age card.</li> </ul><p>A certified copy is a photocopy that has been stamped or endorsed by a witness — for example, a Justice of the Peace — who confirms that the copy is a true copy of the original document.</p><p>If you do not have a photo ID, you must complete an identity referee declaration form:</p><ul> <li><a href="/web/20240507120839/https://www.govt.nz/assets/Documents/Passports-citizenship-and-identity/BDM76-Identity-Referee-Declaration.pdf">BDM76 – Identity Referee Declaration (PDF 113KB)</a>.</li> </ul><h4>Proof of your identity in the community</h4><p>All parents and guardians must provide copies of 2 different documents that show their current name. These do not need to be certified.</p><p>Accepted documents include:</p><ul> <li>bank statement</li> <li>utility bill (for example, gas, electricity, mobile phone)</li> <li>lease or tenancy agreement</li> <li>motor vehicle registration</li> <li>rates notice</li> <li>IRD tax statement</li> <li>SuperGold Card</li> <li>student or tertiary identity card</li> <li>educational certificate or school report</li> <li>trade certificate</li> <li>electoral roll record</li> <li>certificate of approval or licence issued by the Private Security Personnel Licensing Authority</li> <li>Steps to Freedom grant confirmation letter</li> <li>Immigration New Zealand confirmation of visa/permit status.</li> </ul><div class="accordion-toggle inline-accordion"> <div class="accordion-trigger"> <span class="accordion-title"> <button type="button" class="accordion-toggle__btn" hidden="">Expand all</button> </span> </div> </div> <details class="accordion-item inline-accordion expander-type-accordion heading-h3"> <summary class="accordion-item-button accordion-trigger" data-ga-event="click" data-ga-category="In-page accordion" data-ga-action="If your child was born outside New Zealand" data-ga-label=""> <h3> <span class="accordion-icon" aria-hidden="true"></span> <span class="accordion-title">If your child was born outside New Zealand </span> </h3> </summary> <div class="accordion-content"><p>You also need to provide evidence of:</p><ul> <li>the child’s legal parents or guardians</li> <li>when and where the child was born, and</li> <li>their citizenship or visa status — they must be a New Zealand citizen or entitled to live here indefinitely.</li> </ul><p>You can use a certified copy of any of the following, as long as it states your child’s name, date and place of birth, and the names of all parents or guardians:</p><ul> <li>New Zealand citizenship certificate and a birth certificate</li> <li>New Zealand passport and a birth certificate</li> <li>Australian passport (or other evidence of Australian citizenship) and a birth certificate</li> <li>other passport with a valid residence permit / visa issued by Immigration New Zealand and a birth certificate</li> <li>Cook Islands, Niue or Tokelau birth certificate</li> <li>other birth certificate and a letter or valid resident permit / visa from Immigration New Zealand confirming resident status</li> <li>Chinese notarial certificate and a letter or valid resident permit / visa from Immigration New Zealand confirming resident status</li> <li>household census register from an Asian country and a letter or valid resident permit/visa from Immigration New Zealand confirming resident status.</li> </ul></div> </details> <details class="accordion-item inline-accordion expander-type-accordion heading-h3"> <summary class="accordion-item-button accordion-trigger" data-ga-event="click" data-ga-category="In-page accordion" data-ga-action="If any of your documents are not in English" data-ga-label=""> <h3> <span class="accordion-icon" aria-hidden="true"></span> <span class="accordion-title">If any of your documents are not in English </span> </h3> </summary> <div class="accordion-content"><p>You need to get any documents that are not in English translated.</p><p>If you already have official English translations, provide these with your original documents.</p><p>If you do not have official English translations, the DIA Translation Service can do this for you:</p><p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240507120839/https://www.dia.govt.nz/Translation-Service">DIA Translation Service</a></p><p>You may also get your documents translated by:</p><ul> <li>the government agency that issued the original document</li> <li>an approved translator, or</li> <li>a court in the country that issued the document.</li> </ul><p>If your translations are not acceptable, the Births, Deaths and Marriages Office will contact you. </p></div> </details> <h3>Cost</h3><p>It costs $170 to change your child’s name.</p><p>You can pay by:</p><ul> <li>credit, debit or prepaid gift card — for example, Prezzy® Card</li> <li>EFTPOS — only available when you visit an office in person</li> <li>foreign draft — only available if you apply at the Sydney or London office.</li> </ul><h3>Submit your form, documents and payment</h3><h4>By post</h4><p>You can post or courier your application to Wellington, Sydney or London.</p><h4>In person</h4><p>You can book an appointment in Auckland, Manukau, Wellington or Christchurch.</p><p><a href="/web/20240507120839/https://www.govt.nz/organisations/births-deaths-and-marriages/births-deaths-marriages-offices/">Births, Deaths and Marriages offices</a></p> </div> <div class="process-step"> <h2 tabindex="-1" id="87">Get a record of your child’s name change</h2> <p>To change your child’s name on other forms of ID, like their driver licence, you may need evidence to show you have officially changed their name.</p><h3>If they were born in NZ</h3><p>Order a new birth certificate to prove their name has changed. This will show their new name and all their previously registered names.</p><p>You can apply for a new birth certificate on the name change form, or request one later.</p><p><a href="/web/20240507120839/https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/proving-and-protecting-your-identity/order-a-birth-certificate/">Order a birth certificate</a></p><div class="accordion-toggle inline-accordion"> <div class="accordion-trigger"> <span class="accordion-title"> <button type="button" class="accordion-toggle__btn" hidden="">Expand all</button> </span> </div> </div> <details class="accordion-item inline-accordion expander-type-accordion heading-h3"> <summary class="accordion-item-button accordion-trigger" data-ga-event="click" data-ga-category="In-page accordion" data-ga-action="If they were born outside NZ" data-ga-label=""> <h3> <span class="accordion-icon" aria-hidden="true"></span> <span class="accordion-title">If they were born outside NZ </span> </h3> </summary> <div class="accordion-content"><p>You need to get a name change certificate to prove you have changed their name.</p><p>You can order a name change certificate:</p><ul> <li>on the name change form, or</li> <li>after you have changed their name.</li> </ul><p><a href="/web/20240507120839/https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/proving-and-protecting-your-identity/name-change-certificate/how-to-order-a-name-change-certificate/">How to order a name change certificate</a></p></div> </details> <details class="accordion-item inline-accordion expander-type-accordion heading-h3"> <summary class="accordion-item-button accordion-trigger" data-ga-event="click" data-ga-category="In-page accordion" data-ga-action="If they are on the HART Register" data-ga-label=""> <h3> <span class="accordion-icon" aria-hidden="true"></span> <span class="accordion-title">If they are on the HART Register </span> </h3> </summary> <div class="accordion-content"><p>If your child was born as a result of a sperm or egg donation, you can update their name on the Human Assisted Reproductive Technology (HART) register at the same time as the name change.</p><p><a href="/web/20240507120839/https://www.govt.nz/browse/family-and-whanau/fertility-issues-and-assisted-reproduction/finding-a-child-or-parent-on-the-sperm-and-egg-donor-list/">Add or update your child's details on the HART Register</a></p></div> </details> </div> <div class="process-step"> <h2 tabindex="-1" id="90">What happens next</h2> <h3>After you apply</h3><p>If you ordered a new birth certificate or name change certificate for your child, this will be posted to you.</p><p>If you didn’t order a certificate, you will get a confirmation email.</p><p>Check this page for regularly updated timeframes:</p><p><a href="/web/20240507120839/https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/proving-and-protecting-your-identity/service-timeframes/">BDM service timeframes</a></p><h3>Change your child’s name on their official ID</h3><p>Your child’s name will not automatically be changed on their other documents — this is a separate process.</p><p><a href="/web/20240507120839/https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/get-or-renew-a-new-zealand-passport/">Get or renew a New Zealand passport</a></p><p><a href="/web/20240507120839/https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/changing-your-name/changing-your-name-on-your-driver-licence/">Change your name on your driver licence</a></p><h3>Tell people about your child’s name change</h3><p>Government agencies and other organisations will not automatically be notified about your child's change of name. It’s up to you to update your child’s information with places like Inland Revenue, their bank, RealMe, and KiwiSaver.</p> </div> <div class="block-bottom "> <h2 class="sr-only">Utility links and page information</h2> <div class="PrintPageFeature page-feature"> <div class="print-container"> <button type="button" id="print-page-button" hidden> Print </button> </div> </div> <div class="SharePageFeature page-feature"> <div class="social"> <p class="social__heading">Share by</p> <ul class="social__list"> <li class="social__list__item"><a class="social__list__link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240507120839/mailto:/?subject=I%20wanted%20to%20share%20this%20page%20with%20you%20from%20www.govt.nz%20&body=Change your child's name%20%0D%0Ahttps://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/changing-your-name/changing-your-childs-name/" target="_self" rel="noopener">Email</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="PageLastUpdatedPageFeature page-feature"> <p>Last updated <time datetime="2023-06-15">15 June 2023</time></p> </div> </div> <div class="block-hidden hidden "> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="footer" aria-label="Footer" role="contentinfo"> <div class="container container__links"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-4"> <div class="info-section"> <h2>Contact NZ government</h2> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20240507120839/https://www.govt.nz/organisations/"> A-Z of government agencies</a> </li> <li><a href="/web/20240507120839/https://www.govt.nz/about/contact-details-by-topic/"> Contact details by topic</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-4"> <div class="info-section"> <h2>About this website</h2> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20240507120839/https://www.govt.nz/about/about-this-website/"> About Govt.nz</a> </li> <li><a href="/web/20240507120839/https://www.govt.nz/about/about-this-website/feedback-about-the-govt-nz-website/"> Feedback about Govt.nz</a> </li> <li><a href="/web/20240507120839/https://www.govt.nz/about/about-this-website/govt-nz-scope/"> The scope of Govt.nz</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-4"> <div class="info-section"> <h2>Using this website</h2> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20240507120839/https://www.govt.nz/about/about-this-website/accessibility-statement/"> Accessibility </a> </li> <li><a href="/web/20240507120839/https://www.govt.nz/about/using-this-website/copyright-and-attribution/"> Copyright</a> </li> <li><a href="/web/20240507120839/https://www.govt.nz/about/using-this-website/privacy/"> Privacy</a> </li> <li><a href="/web/20240507120839/https://www.govt.nz/about/using-this-website/terms-of-use/"> Terms of use</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="container container__logo"> <div class="footer-logo"> <a href="/web/20240507120839/https://www.govt.nz/" class="ga-track-logo-footer-aog" data-ga-event="click" data-ga-category="Navigation" data-ga-action="Footer-logo" data-ga-label="@attr:href"> <span class="sr-only"><span lang="mi">Te Kāwanatanga o Aotearoa</span> / </span> <img width="318" height="72" src="/web/20240507120839im_/https://www.govt.nz/resources/themes/dia-theme/images/logo/nzgovt-logo-white.svg?m=1711332202" alt="New Zealand Government" loading="lazy"> </a> </div> <a href="/web/20240507120839/https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/changing-your-name/changing-your-childs-name/" id="shielded-logo" aria-label="Shielded" hidden> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" aria-hidden="true" width="40" height="40" viewbox="0 0 192 192"><circle cx="96" cy="96" r="96" fill="#445e5c"></circle><circle cx="96" cy="95" r="87" fill="#fff"></circle><path fill="#445e5c" d="M96 11a84 84 0 0 0 0 168z"></path><g fill="none" stroke="#fff" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-width="3"><path stroke-dasharray="6" d="M96 50.5H48a2.5 2.5 0 0 0-2.5 2.5v70a2.5 2.5 0 0 0 2.5 2.5h48"></path><path stroke-dasharray="7 6" d="M99.76 135.5h-43a2 2 0 0 0-1.76 1.11l-4 8a2 2 0 0 0 .08 1.94c.37.6 1 .95 3.71.95h44.79"></path></g><g fill="none" stroke="#445e5c"><path stroke-width="6" d="M96 52h47a1 1 0 0 1 1 1v70a1 1 0 0 1-1 1H96"></path><path stroke-width="3" d="M96 135.5h39a2 2 0 0 1 1.79 1.11l4 8a2 2 0 0 1-1.79 2.89H96"></path><path stroke-width="2" d="M96 141h43m-37-5v5m8.5-5 .5 5m8-5 1 5m7-5 4 11"></path></g></svg> </a> </div> </div> <script type="application/javascript" src="/web/20240507120839js_/https://www.govt.nz/resources/themes/dia-theme/dist/scripts.min.js?m=1711332202"></script> <script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20240507120839js_/https://staticcdn.co.nz/embed/embed.js"></script> <script> (function () { window.onload = function(){ var frameName = new ds07o6pcmkorn({ openElementId: "#shielded-logo", modalID: "modal", }); frameName.init(); } document.getElementById('shielded-logo').removeAttribute("hidden"); })(); </script> <p id="print-date" class="print-date print-only"><span class="print-date__title">Date printed</span> 08 May 2024</p> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

Change your child's name | New Zealand Government