Layered perovskites structures are an interesting candidate to explore as a potential electrolyte materials for Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) applications. However, achieving a high ionic conductivity (∼0.01 S cm⁻1 below 650 °C) remains a significant challenge to lowering the SOFC operating temperatures. SrBi2Ta2O9 (SBT), an Aurivillius-based layered perovskite, is a well-known ferroelectric material with TC of 320 °C. Site exchange and Bi volatility related defects lead to ionic conductivity in SBT above 700 °C. Here, we aim to control the defect chemistry by doping to promote the oxygen vacancies. We show that Mg doping at the Ta-site in the perovskite block results in 4-fold increase in the bulk conductivity of SBT 3.65 × 10−4 S cm−1 and improvement in the ionic transport number from 0.26 to 0.71. The study provides an opportunity to design new oxide ion conductors in layered ferroelectric oxides.