Apostille Services are Provided by DFAT in Melbourne
Our Melbourne Public Notary can notarise any document as well as offers administrative services when dealing with DFAT to have an Apostille or Authentication stamp applied. It can be a hassle and time-consuming to get your documents notarised. We make the process simple and can save you a lot of time if we apply to DFAT or an apostille or authentication stamp as well as deal with foreign embassies and consulates in Melbourne on your behalf. Please let us know if you want assistance with this additional service and we can provide a bundled quote.
When you are notarising documents for overseas use, you need to be careful in which order you go to the public notary, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the nearest consulate or embassy. In general, you first need to notarise your documents in front of a public notary in Melbourne before you can go to the Melbourne Passport Office where DFAT provides an Apostille or Authentication Stamp. Only DFAT can issue Apostille stamps and they will only issue it after a notary public has signed the document you want notarised. There are exceptions including when the documents are original documents issued by the Australian Government Department with an official signature, seal or stamp. Please call our office on 03 9602 3988 for a quote. Alternatively, please send us an email at chuatan@tpg.com.au.
You should confirm with the receiver of your documents their requirements for notarisation, i.e. whether an Apostille or Authentication certificate from DFAT is required.
Apostille and Authentication Stamps issued by DFAT
DFAT is the only Government department in Australia authorised to issue apostille and authentication stamps. DFAT issues Apostille or Authentication Stamps depending on the document and country. DFAT certifies a document is an original Australian government document or a document notarised by a notary public. Either stamp is often required by the overseas receiver of documents. Common documents that are notarised with an apostille or authentication stamp include powers of attorney, birth certificates, banking, company or academic statements. Only countries who are a signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention (i.e. Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents) are able to recognise an apostille stamp. If your documents require an apostille stamp then you do not need to have the documents authenticated by the foreign embassy or consulate. However, if your documents are intended for a country that is not a signatory to the Apostille Convention, you need to get the document authenticated by DFAT and legalised by the nearest foreign embassy or consulate in Melbourne. You can find more about what you need to do to have your documents apostilled or authenticated here.
Steps to Obtain an Apostille or Authentication Stamp
STEP 1:
Determine the documents you want to be notarised and the requirements to be notarised.
STEP 2:
Contact our Notary Public in Melbourne for a quote and to book a time if you wish to proceed. We can usually notarise the document on the same business day you call if you have the documents ready to be notarised and know whether or not you require a notarial certificate.
STEP 3:
Our notary public can also help clients obtain an apostille or authentication stamp from DFAT so you can avoid the hassle of doing it yourself. You can book an Appointment with DFAT by going to Smart Traveller or mailing by Express Post. Please contact our office if you would like us to complete this process on your behalf to save you time. Our notary public’s signature and seal are instantly recognised by DFAT staff and have long been registered with DFAT. In this respect, if you value your time and effort, you will find our service offering is more practical and cost effective than doing it yourself. For people who want to complete the DFAT process by themselves, you can fill out their form and lodge documents to them via post and provide them information including your details, documents you want notarised, the country document is going to and pay DFAT fee. You can visit DFAT’s website for more information smartraveller.gov.au.
STEP 4:
If your document requires authentication, lodge your documents with the local Consulate or Embassy. It is important to note that each Consulate and Embassy will have their own requirements. Please contact our office if you would like us to complete this process on your behalf to save you time. We regularly correspond directly with a number of foreign consulates and embassies, which means your documents will be treated with priority. Once your document have been authenticated, you have completed the legislation process and the documents can be used internationally.
DO YOU WANT YOUR DOCUMENTS NOTARISED?
Please call our office on 03 9602 3988 for a quote. Alternatively, please send us an email at chuatan@tpg.com.au. You can read more about what we do here.
