Why do you need a registered relationship certificate in New South Wales (NSW), Australia?
You need a registered relationship certificate so that NSW laws will recognise your domestic relationship. The proper term for a registered relationship in NSW is “de facto relationship.” Read more about this here.
According to NSW law, couples in registered relationships are subject to a number of duties and/or limitations. Moreover, registered relationship certificates are used to gain access to benefits, services, and records.
Furthermore, service providers may decide to accept relationship registration as evidence of the validity of a relationship in circumstances where it is not required by law.
Let us now dive into the essentials of relationship registration in NSW.
Relationships Register Act 2010
This Act is the primary law that governs relationship registration in NSW. Section 6 of the Act sets out the following requirements for application for registration:
- Must be the form approved by the Registrar and must be include the following attachments:
- a statutory declaration by each person in the relationship stating the following:
- that the person wishes to register the relationship,
- that the person is in a relationship as a couple with the other person,
- that the person is not married,
- that the person is not registered under this Act or a corresponding law as being in a registered relationship or an interstate registered relationship,
- that the person is not in a relationship as a couple with a person other than the other applicant,
- that the person does or does not reside in New South Wales,
- that the person is not related to the other applicant by family,
- evidence of the identity and age of each person in the relationship,
- the fee prescribed by the regulations,
- any other documents and information prescribed by the regulations.
Getting Your Registered Relationship Certificate NSW
Before you proceed to the application process, check with yourselves first if you’re eligible to get this registered relationship certificate:
- Your relationship is/was registered on the NSW Relationship Register.
- You’re one of the people listed on the register as being/having been in the relationship.
This means that before you can get a certificate, you must register your relationship first. You have two options:
- Online application
- In person or by post application
To register your relationship, there are eligibility requirements for you to comply with:
- You are over 18 years of age.
- You are not married to each other or anyone else.
- You are not already in a registered relationship under this Act or in
- another state or territory in Australia;
- You are not in a relationship with another person;
- You are not related by family; and
- At least one of you resides in NSW.
READ: Application to Register a Relationship

Modes of Registration
For the first option, go to the online application portal and completely and thoroughly answer the questions in the online form. For the second option, here’s the form that you need to download. Complete this form and visit any service centres and submit your application in person, or by post to:
Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages | GPO Box 30 | Sydney NSW 2001 |
NOTE: Attach photocopies of your identification certified by an approved witness. Do not include the originals.
Finally, the Registry will send your registered relationship certificate to you by registered post because they don’t allow personal collection at the service centres.
IMPORTANT: Keep your certificates unlaminated. For identity documents to be accepted by government agencies, they must be preserved in their original form.
Civil Partnership
Registering a civil partnership is also possible in NSW, QLD, Victoria, the ACT and Tasmania.
Registered Relationship Certificate Payment Options
For payment options:
- Credit or debit cards – Mastercard, Visa, American Express, UnionPay or Diners Club (a merchant fee may apply)
- PayPal
- In person payment methods include EFTPOS, cash, cheque (personal or bank), money order, credit or debit card.
However, some service centres and mobile services don’t accept cash:
- Mobile Service Centres
- Eastgardens Service Centre
- Edmondson Park Service Centre
- Engadine Service Centre
- Glenmore Park Service Centre
- Macquarie Fields Driver Testing Centre
- Merrylands Service Centre
- North Rocks Service Centre
- North Sydney Service Centre
- Roselands Service Centre
- St Mary’s Testing Centre
- Woy Woy Service Centre.
Here’s the list of the fees depending on the type of request you make:
Relationship registration (includes 1 standard certificate) | AUD 244 |
Revocation of relationship (if required) | AUD 90 |
Standard (relationship or revocation) certificate | AUD 65 |
Commemorative package (1 standard and 1 commemorative certificate) | AUD 95 |
Commemorative certificate on its own | AUD 44 |
Relationship ceremony package fee (includes registration, certificate and ceremony) | AUD 477 |
By way of exception, the Registry will not require you to pay for the withdrawal of application if:
- The relationship registration withdrawal was done within the 28-day cooling-off period.
- The relationship revocation was done within the 90-day cooling-off period.
What’s the Cooling Off Period?
However, after submitting the application, the Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages will give you a 28-day cooling off period. This means that the Registry will give you time to decide whether to push through with your application or cancel it instead. If, after such period, no Notice of withdrawal was lodged, they will issue a registered relationship certificate.
Filing a Notice to Withdraw
As long as the relationship is not registered yet, you can file a Notice to Withdraw to cancel your application to register the relationship. If you decide to withdraw your application, you can do so by person or by post.
Also, you must comply the following requirements:
- Only the partners applying to register their relationship can apply to withdraw.
- One or both partners may apply.
- Any certificate registration fee will be refunded.
- Partner(s) who lodge a notice to withdraw must provide three forms of identification.
- Submit the notice to withdraw within 28 days of the original application.
Registered Relationship Certificate: Processing Times
Processing times vary depending on the type of application you choose:
- Online application – up to 6 weeks
- Paper application – up to 7 weeks
- Revocation of registered relationship – up to 13 weeks.

Speak to a Family Law Expert from JB Solicitors
Even if the prerequisites for registering a partnership are simple, proving that you cohabitate “on a genuine domestic basis” can involve some intricacy. JB Solicitors’ family lawyers can explain the law in relation to your particular circumstances.
Moreover, in the event of a dispute regarding the existence of a de facto relationship or its termination, we can lend you a hand during legal processes.