Young people across North Sydney aged 16 to 21 can now store their birth certificate securely on their phone, following the launch of the NSW Digital Birth Certificate, an Australian first that gives eligible residents a free, optional digital version of one of their most important identity documents.
The Digital Birth Certificate is available through the Service NSW app and carries the same information as a paper birth certificate. It does not replace the original document but sits alongside it, giving young people instant access to proof of identity without needing to locate a physical certificate every time one is required.
For North Sydney families with teenagers entering the workforce, sitting their driver’s licence, or studying away from home, the practical benefit is immediate. No more searching through filing cabinets before an early morning shift or calling home from a share house when a document is unexpectedly required.
Who can apply right now
The first release of the Digital Birth Certificate is available to people aged 16 to 21 who were born in NSW and who hold a current NSW Photo Card or NSW Driver Licence. The birth must have been registered with the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.
To apply, visit forms.bdm.nsw.gov.au/dbc, complete the application, and wait for a reference number to be emailed from no-reply@mail.forms.bdm.nsw.gov.au. Once received, open the Service NSW app, tap Wallet, select Birth Certificate, choose “I have my reference number” and follow the prompts. The process is entirely online and free of charge.
A small number of applications may be rejected: if birth registration details do not match the name or date of birth on the holder’s NSW Photo Card or Driver Licence, if a birth certificate has previously been reported lost or stolen, or if details match another person registered in NSW.
The application page outlines what to do if an application is unsuccessful.
Where the digital certificate is already accepted
From launch, the Digital Birth Certificate is accepted for a range of NSW identity verification transactions including Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) and Responsible Conduct of Gambling (RCG) certification, as well as other workforce licences that require identity verification.
These are among the most common documents that 16 to 21-year-olds in North Sydney need to obtain before starting hospitality, retail or entertainment industry work.
Service NSW and the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages are actively working with businesses, schools, clubs and sporting organisations to expand the range of transactions where the Digital Birth Certificate is accepted. Wider use cases are expected to be added progressively.
A more secure option than paper
The Digital Birth Certificate was designed to international security standards and is linked directly to the birth record held by the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. Because it lives in the Service NSW app rather than a drawer or wallet, it cannot be lost, damaged or destroyed in a flood or fire.
If any information on the underlying birth record is updated, the existing digital certificate becomes invalid, and a new one can be applied for through the same process once Transport for NSW details are updated to match.
The rollout follows a 2024 pilot in which more than 1,400 people registered for a standalone app version, providing the data needed to design the full Service NSW app integration now available statewide.
For more information and to apply, visit this link or download the Service NSW app and search for Birth Certificate in the Wallet section.
Published 24-April-2026
