Notarials and Authentications

Please refer to lists below for Australian Notaries Public currently on file with the U.S. Consulate.

• Notaries Public in the Australian Capital Territory
• Notaries Public in New South Wales
• Notaries Public in the Northern Territory
• Notaries Public in Queensland
• Notaries Public in South Australia
• Notaries Public in Tasmania
• Notaries Public in Victoria
• Notaries Public in Western Australia

Please note — Australian Justice’s of the Peace are not recognized in the U.S.

Types of Notarial Services

• Acknowledgement

  To "acknowledge" is to admit, affirm, or declare; to recognize one's acts, assuming obligation or incurring responsibility (e.g. for legal agreements, deeds, powers of attorney, bills of sale, business documents etc.)

  (e.g. if you sign a deed before a Consular Officer or Notary Public, you acknowledge your signature).

• Authentication

  Authentications are no longer provided by the U.S. Consulates as the United States and Australia are signatories to the Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents. This Convention abolishes the requirement of diplomatic or consular legalisation of foreign public documents and replaces this cumbersome requirement with a simple apostille. Please note that in Australia, an apostille can only be provided by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). If you require this service, please contact DFAT directly at www.dfat.gov.au.

  More information on the Convention can be found at www.hcch.net.

• Apostille

  See above. Please refer to Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

• Certified True Copies

  The U.S. Consulate General can only certify true copies of the following documents:

  • Documents issued by the U.S. Department of State (e.g. U.S. passports and U.S. Consular Reports of Birth or Death)
  • Foreign passports ONLY in conjunction with an application for Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN)

  For certified true copies of non-Department of State documents, please refer to the relevant issuing authority or office:

  • Australian Birth, Death, Marriage, Divorce certificates — Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages
  • U.S. Birth, Death, Marriage, Divorce certificates — Vital Records
  • School/University certificates, degrees, academic transcripts etc. — contact the school or university.
  • Other non-Department of State documents — contact the issuing authority.

  Certification of documents is a service which is ONLY provided by mail. Please ensure that you submit all documents to be certified with the appropriate fee payment via an Express Post Platinum or Registered Post envelope.

Terms commonly used in conjunction with notarial services

Affidavit

A written or printed declaration or statement of facts, made voluntarily, and confirmed by the oath or affirmation of the person making it, before an officer having authority to administer such an oath (e.g. Consular Officer or Notary Public).

Write out the statement you wish to make, but do not sign it, until you are present in front of the Consular Officer or Notary Public.

Oath

Any form of an attestation by which a person signifies that he or she is bound in conscience to perform an act faithfully and truthfully. A person who intentionally makes false statements under oath before a U.S. consular official is punishable for perjury (22 U.S.C. 4221).

Affirmation

A solemn and formal declaration that an affidavit is true, that the witness will tell the truth, etc.

Attestation

The act of witnessing an instrument in writing, at the request of the party executing the document, and subscribing it as a witness.

Consular Officers do not certify that the contents of submitted documents are true. The officer only certifies that you have made an oath or affirmation that they are.

The individual should understand the content and purpose of the document and have discussed any questions regarding its execution with their legal professional prior to appearing at the Consulate.

If witnesses are required, you must bring your own. Consular Officers and staff may NOT act as witnesses for notarial services.

Medallion Stamp or Signature Guarantees

U.S. Consular Officers are not authorized to provide signature guarantee/medallion stamp guarantee service. Only a financial institution participating in an SEC (Securities Exchange Commission) medallion signature guarantee program is authorized to affix a medallion imprint.

Please refer to the Securities Exchange Commission or your financial institution for further information.

Obtaining Notarial Services through the U.S. Consulate

For acknowledgement or oaths/affirmations:

The individual (& their witness if applicable) who needs to sign the document must appear in person at the Consulate General serving your area. (Regardless of your citizenship, you need to make an appointment through our online service).

For authentications:

You may send your documents by mail OR make an appointment at the Consulate General serving your area.

(If you choosing the mail option, please include a self-addressed Express Post Platinum envelope, Registered Post envelope or courier satchel for return of your documents).

You must also provide the following:

• Original valid identification (e.g. valid passport or driver’s license)
• Original of the document to be notarized/certified (for certification please also provide photocopies or be prepared to pay 1USD for each photocopy required)
• Notarial Fee

For more information on notarial and authentication services please refer to the Department of State’s website.

Last update Thursday, 5 June 2008