Register a change of sex or gender on a birth certificate

When you register a change of sex or gender, a birth certificate will be issued showing this.

The new birth certificate will not make any reference to the fact a change has occurred unless you request it.

The old birth certificate must be returned to the Births, Deaths and Marriages office. You can request to have the old birth certificate returned to you. It will be cancelled and stamped. You will no longer be able to use it for official legal purposes.

It is an offence to produce a birth certificate that shows your previous sex or gender.

You may also want to change your name as part of this process. Read more about legally changing your name.

To register a change of sex or gender for an adult, you must be all of the following:

• born in the Northern Territory (NT)
• over 18 years old
• be an intersex person* or
• have received appropriate clinical treatment related to your sex or gender such as:
  • surgery
  • hormone therapy
  • counselling.

*An intersex person is someone born with physical sex characteristics that don't fit typical definitions of male and female bodies. To find out more, read section 28A of the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Amendment Act.

When you apply to change your sex or gender, you can choose one of the following registration options:

• male
• female
• non-binary
• unspecified.

You will need to submit all of the following to the Births, Deaths and Marriages office by mail or in person:

• completed register change of sex or gender of adult application

Register change of sex of adult application DOCX (208.0 KB)
Register change of sex of adult application PDF (161.4 KB)

• your evidence documents
• proof of identification documents
• existing birth certificate
• payment for the change of sex or gender fee - check the fee.

Evidence you need to provide

You will need to provide evidence in support of your application. This can either be:

• a statement by a medical practitioner or psychologist registered in Australia certifying that you:
  • have received appropriate clinical treatment in relation to your sex or gender or
  • are an intersex person
• a recognition certificate issued under any law certifying that a person has a sex or gender that is different to the sex or gender specified for that person in the register.

The parents of a child (or in certain cases, one parent or a legal guardian) may apply to register a change of sex or gender of the child.

To register a change of sex or gender for a child, the child must:

• have been born in the Northern Territory (NT) and
• be under 18 years old.

You must believe on reasonable grounds that changing the record or your child's sex or gender is in the child's best interests.

For a change of sex or gender to be registered, the child must also:

• be an intersex person or
• have received appropriate clinical treatment in relation to their sex or gender identity such as:
  • surgery
  • hormone therapy
  • counselling.

*An intersex person is someone born with physical sex characteristics that don't fit typical definitions of male and female bodies. To find out more, read section 28A of the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Amendment Act.

The child must also provide consent to the change if they are aware of the meaning and implication of the change.

Generally, a child aged 14 years or over is assumed to be aware of the meaning and implication of the change.

The same registration options for sex or gender are available as with adults.

Who can apply

Both parents

If both parents are named on the birth certificate, both parents must apply.

One parent

One parent can apply to change a child's sex or gender if any of the following apply:

• only one parent is named on the child's birth certificate
• the other parent of the child is deceased and no other person has legal responsibility for the child.

Legal guardians

Guardians can make an application if one or both parents are:

• deceased
• cannot be found
• cannot exercise their parental responsibility.

If you're applying as a guardian, you must supply either a court order or proof of guardianship.

How to apply

You will need to submit all of the following to the Births, Deaths and Marriages office by mail or in person:

• completed change of sex or gender of a child application

  Change of sex of a child application DOCX (221.8 KB)
  Change of sex of a child application PDF (232.5 KB)

• evidence documents for the child
• proof of identification documents for the child
• the child’s existing birth certificate
• payment for the change of sex or gender fee - check the fee.

Evidence you need to provide

You will need to provide evidence in support of your application. This can either be:

• a statement by a medical practitioner or psychologist registered in Australia certifying that your child:
  • has received appropriate clinical treatment in relation to their sex or gender or
  • is an intersex person
• a recognition certificate that is issued under any law certifying that a person has a sex or gender that is different to the sex or gender specified for that person in the register

• consent of the child (if the child is 14 years or older).