Postnatal Care › Register your baby
Register your baby
Registering the birth is how your baby gets their legal name. It is free, and it is something you do yourselves, the hospital does not do it for you.
Last reviewed May 2026 by Dr Sarah Koffmann
In NSW you register a birth online with the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, ideally within 60 days. You can apply for your baby's birth certificate at the same time.
A birth certificate is the proof of identity your baby will need for Medicare, childcare and school, a passport, and government payments such as parental leave. It is worth having sorted early.