Registered Relationship / Domestic Partnership Registration (State BDM)

Issuing authority

State Births, Deaths and Marriages Registries (VIC: BDM Victoria; NSW: NSW Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages; QLD: Queensland Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages)

Official source

How to apply

1. Confirm eligibility: both partners must be 18+, not married or in another registered relationship, not closely related, and at least one must reside in the relevant state
2. Choose your state portal — VIC: bdm.vic.gov.au; NSW: nsw.gov.au/family-and-relationships/relationship-register; QLD: qld.gov.au/law/births-deaths-marriages-and-divorces/marriage-weddings-and-civil-partnerships/civil-partnerships
3. In VIC: Partner 1 completes their section of the online application, then the registry emails Partner 2 to complete their section; both supply identity documents and statutory declarations
4. In NSW: Apply online, by post, or in person at Service NSW; provide three forms of ID (one each from Categories 1, 2, and 3); pay $190 registration fee
5. In QLD: Complete the online or PDF 'Application to Register a Civil Partnership' form and submit to a Magistrates Court or QGAP office, or post to RBDM; pay $164.50 (registration) plus $56.20 if a certificate is required
6. Observe the mandatory cooling-off period: 28 days in VIC and NSW; 10 days in QLD — the relationship cannot be registered before this period expires
7. After the cooling-off period, the registry issues a registration confirmation; request a certificate if needed (additional fee applies in some states)
8. Use the certificate as evidence of registered relationship status for Centrelink, superannuation, partner visa applications, and next-of-kin purposes

Related topics

Related forms

• Divorce Application
• Parenting Orders ApplicationInitiating Application
• Application for Consent OrdersApplication for Consent Orders
• Child Support Assessment
• Enduring Power of Attorney