Check with the office. The official pages for this service leave out some details, or are older than a year. Use this page as a starting point and confirm fees and documents before you apply.
Register the birth of a child born abroad to a South African parent (within 30 days under the Births and Deaths Registration Act) or obtain a copy, extract, amendment or re-issue of a South African birth certificate. The High Commission also lists re-registration of a child's birth and adding an unmarried father's details.
Where to apply in Australia
DHA Services Centres in Adelaide, Brisbane and Canberra (appointments via the VFS Global portal, notice of 21 September 2026); the civic documents page also says applicants in Perth (WA), Sydney (NSW) and Melbourne (VIC) apply through the VFS Global centre, while the High Commission in Canberra handles other applicants in Australia and citizens in PNG, Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Marshall Islands and Micronesia.
Canberra (High Commission) takes in-person submissions by appointment only, Mon-Fri 08:30-12:00 (consular.canberra@dirco.gov.za); VFS applicants have fingerprints taken at their appointment and the High Commission cannot send them the DHA-9 form. Registrations after 30 days: contact the High Commission in Canberra.
Contact details for every office are on the page of the embassy and consulates of South Africa.
How to apply
Book via VFS (or email the High Commission in Canberra) | Submit the forms and documents | Pay by card
Applications are handled through VFS Global - South Africa in Australia (DHA Services Centres and application centres), https://services.vfsglobal.com/aus/en/zap.
Documents you need
- Registration: Forms DHA-24, DHA-154, DHA-288 and DHA-529 (child and both parents)
- Foreign birth certificate
- Parents' IDs or passports and marriage certificate
- Two photos (page is inconsistent on whether needed)
- Copy or re-issue: Forms DHA-154 and DHA-288, ID or passport copy, birth extract, parents' IDs
Fees and processing time
- Official fee: copy or extract AUD 6; registration free; amendment AUD 6
- Service provider: VFS service fee AUD 102
Good to know
The VFS one-pager shows no date, so fees and times may have changed (page checked 2026-10-24); the High Commission civic page was last modified 17 August 2026. The VFS booking page (services.vfsglobal.com/aus/en/zap) did not load its content.
Official sources
- visa.vfsglobal.com/one-pager/southafrica/australia/passport-service…
- dirco.gov.za/canberra/civic-documents-applications
- dirco.gov.za/canberra/2026/09/21/dha-services-centres-open-in-austr…
Check before you apply
This page summarises information published by South Africa's official channels, last checked on 24 octubre 2026. Fees and requirements can change at short notice, so confirm with the office that will handle your case.
Spotted a change? Let us know.