Notarial services are legal acts which allow a written record to be used for official or legal purposes. This includes using a document in a court of law.
The Australian Government can provide some notarial services. The services we provide depends if requested in Australia or overseas. We charge fees for our service.
For more information or advice about notarial services, email legalisations.australia@dfat.gov.au or contact us online.
This page provides information on:
- Australian Government notarial services
- Certificates of No Impediment to Marriage (CNI)
- witnessing signatures and certifying copies
- verifying an apostille on a document
- statutory declarations
In Australia, use an Australian Notary Public for most notarial services. See a Justice of the Peace to witness signatures or certify copies of documents.
Australian Government notarial services
Documents in Australia
The Australian Government can legalise some documents in Australia. We deliver this service through Australian Passport Offices in each state and territory.
We can only legalise Australian public documents that are:
- originals issued by Australian government agencies or officials
- originals issued by Australian tertiary education institutions
- copies notarised by an Australian Notary Public
We issue an apostille or authentication certificate to legalise a document.
See how to request our notarial services in Australia.
Documents overseas
Australian consular officials can legalise many Australian documents overseas. They can also witness signatures, similar to what a Justice of the Peace would do in Australia.
We deliver this service through our embassies and consulates overseas.
See how to request our notarial services overseas.
Witnessing signatures and certifying copies of documents
Witnessing or certifying in Australia
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) doesn't witness signatures in Australia. It doesn't certify true copies of documents.
This applies to any document. Even if you plan to use the document overseas.
In Australia, Justices of the Peace provide these services.
Learn more about authorised witnesses (Attorney-General's Department).
Notary Publics
Australian Notary Publics provide notarial services. They notarise most types of documents for use overseas.
Notaries can also witness and certify copies of documents for use overseas.
You can find a Notary Public using each state or territory listing:
- Australian Capital Territory Notary Public list
- New South Wales Notary Public list
- Northern Territory Notary Public list
- Queensland Notary Public list
- South Australian Notary Public list
- Tasmania Notary Public list
- Victorian Notary Public list
- Western Australia Notary Public list
DFAT maintains a database of signatures for Australian Notary Publics.
Justices of the Peace
In Australia, a Justice of the Peace (JP) can help you with some notarial services.
JPs are independent and objective witnesses. They witness documents used for official or legal purposes.
Contact a JP if you need an official to:
- witness an oath or affidavit
- take a statutory declaration or affirmation
- witness a signature
- attest the execution of a document
- certify a true copy of an original document.
A JP's signature is recognised anywhere in Australia. However, DFAT can't legalise documents certified by a JP.
Each state or territory publishes a list of authorised JPs:
- Australian Capital Territory JPs
- New South Wales JPs
- Northern Territory JPs
- Queensland JPs
- South Australian JPs
- Tasmanian JPs
- Victorian JPs
- Western Australian JPs
Learn more about authorised witnesses (Attorney-General's Department).
Witnessing or certifying overseas
Consular officials can witness signatures on Australian documents overseas. They can also certify true copies of some documents and photographs. There's a fee for this service.
We deliver this service through our embassies and consulates overseas.
See how to request notarial services overseas.
Australian statutory declarations
A statutory declaration is a written statement of fact or belief. The person declaring the statement acknowledges that it is true and correct.
Learn more about statutory declarations (Attorney-General's Department).
Statutory declarations in Australia
DFAT doesn't witness statutory declarations in Australia. You must find a Justice of the Peace.
Statutory declarations overseas
Consular officials can witness Australian statutory declarations overseas. We deliver this service through our embassies and consulates overseas.
Note that Australian statutory declarations are for use only in Australia. Consular officials won't witness an Australian statutory declaration for use in a foreign country.
See how to request our notarial services overseas.
Certificates of No Impediment to Marriage (CNI)
If you're going overseas to get married, you may need a certificate of No Impediment to Marriage (CNI).
DFAT can't advise if you'll need a CNI. You must ask the relevant authority in your destination if you need one. You can also ask an official from your destination's embassy or consulate in Australia.
If an official from your destination tells you to get a CNI, you can apply for one from DFAT. In Australia, or from overseas.
See how to apply for a Certificate of no Impediment (CNI) to marriage.
Verifying an apostille
You can verify apostilles issued by the Australian Government after 14 December 2015, online.
See verify an apostille (DFAT).
To verify an apostille issued before this date, contact your nearest Australian embassy or consulate or the Australian Passport Office.
Read more
- How to request notarial services in Australia or overseas.
- Read about getting married overseas. You may need to apply for a certificate of no impediment (CNI) to marriage.
- Understand how and when we can help. Read the Consular Service Charter.
See also
- Verify an apostille (DFAT).
- We deliver notarial services overseas through embassies and consulates (DFAT).
- See the list of Australian Passport Office locations (Australian Passport Office).
- Learn more about authorised witnesses (Attorney-General's Department).
