An official Queensland marriage certificate costs $56.20 from the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. Your celebrant registers the marriage first — up to 14 days — then standard orders take about 10 business days, with a 2-business-day urgent option.
Nothing is sent automatically — you order the certificate once your marriage is registered. Urgent processing (an extra $33.30) cuts the wait to 2 business days, and standard postage is included in the $56.20.
The official marriage certificate is the government-issued document that proves you’re married. You’ll need it to change your name, and to show banks, the passport office, Medicare and other agencies. It’s issued by the Queensland Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages — not by your celebrant.
Not married yet? Start with our marriage licence & NOIM guide — Australia doesn’t issue marriage licences; you lodge a Notice of Intended Marriage with your celebrant instead.
The legal document, issued by the registry. Banks, the passport office and government agencies accept it as proof of marriage and of name change.
A keepsake with a decorative design. It includes an official certificate, so you still receive the legal document.
The presentation copy you sign on the day. A lovely keepsake — but not legal, and agencies won’t accept it.
By law, your celebrant must register the marriage with the registry within 14 days of the ceremony. The certificate only exists once that registration is in — so there’s no point applying the day after the wedding. Nothing is sent automatically either: the registry only produces a certificate when you order and pay for one.
Processing time starts when the registry receives your complete application — the online form and your certified proof of ID. A half-submitted application sits in the queue.
The whole process is two parts: the online application, then your certified proof of ID. Here’s the full sequence.
One official certificate at $56.20 is all most couples need. The extras are optional speed and keepsakes.
Standard postage included — the legal proof of marriage
Cuts processing from around 10 business days to 2
Includes an official certificate and standard postage
Faster Australia Post delivery once processed
Tracked delivery — the option the registry recommends
Overseas delivery, with limited tracking
Fees checked September 2026 from the Queensland Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. A fee waiver is available for financial hardship — ask the registry when you apply.
Lost the original, or need a fresh copy years later? The registry keeps the record permanently — replacements are a normal order, not a special case.
There is no separate replacement process — order a copy exactly the same way as the first one.
You can order additional official certificates at any time after registration, and either person named on the certificate can apply.
Certificates come from the registry where the marriage was registered. For marriages outside Queensland, contact that registering authority.
An official marriage certificate costs $56.20, with standard postage included. Urgent processing costs an extra $33.30, and the commemorative package (which includes an official certificate) is $73.10.
Apply and pay online with the Queensland Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages — it takes under 10 minutes. Then have your proof of ID certified by an authorised person such as a Justice of the Peace, and submit it by post or in person to finalise the application.
Your celebrant registers the marriage within 14 days of the ceremony. After that, standard applications average 10 business days, and urgent applications (an extra $33.30) are processed in 2 business days.
No. The marriage must be registered first — your celebrant lodges the paperwork within 14 days. Once registered, you order the certificate from the registry; nothing is sent automatically.
No. The ceremonial copy you're given on the day is a keepsake. Banks, the passport office and government agencies only accept the official certificate issued by the registry.
Order a replacement the same way as the first copy: apply and pay online, then submit certified proof of ID. Extra copies can be ordered at any time after the marriage is registered.
Either person named on the certificate can apply. Anyone else needs evidence of their entitlement or authority to obtain it.
Your marriage details and proof of ID documents certified by an authorised person, such as a Justice of the Peace. The registry starts processing only when it receives the complete application with all required documents.
Yes. Agencies such as the passport office, banks and transport departments require the official registry certificate — the ceremonial copy from your celebrant isn't accepted.
Yes. Many countries also require an apostille — an authentication issued by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade — so check what your destination country needs before you order.
A commemorative certificate is a keepsake package ($73.10) with a decorative design. It includes an official marriage certificate, so you receive the legal document as well.
No. Certificates come from the registry where the marriage was registered. For marriages outside Queensland, contact that state's registry or, for overseas marriages, that country's registering authority.
Official application, fees and processing times from Queensland BDM
Certificate types, what they’re used for and registry contact details
Official government summary of marriage requirements
The complete legal requirements: NOIM form, documents, eligibility and costs
Month-by-month checklist with 70+ tasks from engagement to wedding day
Final 30-day countdown with vendor confirmations and an emergency kit
Move from paperwork into venue discovery across Queensland
Disclaimer: This guide is informational only and doesn’t constitute legal advice. Fees and processing times can change — confirm current details with the Queensland Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages when you apply.
Last updated September 2026. Sources: the Queensland Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages (qld.gov.au) and the Australian Attorney-General’s Department.
With the paperwork handled, browse 350+ beautiful Queensland wedding venues and start enquiring — free, no pressure.