Your document attestation questions answered
Everything you need to know about Document Attestation, DFAT Legalisation (Apostille & Authentication) and Document Notarisation so you can organise the rest of your journey without worrying about wait times and delays in getting your documents stamped.
Frequently Asked Questions
Document attestation is a process that verifies the authenticity of the document. Attestation is often required when you are trying to get your document certified for official use in a foreign country, e.g. in support of a work visa application.
Australian Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade (DFAT) legalisation involves either the authentication of your notarised documents or for an Apostille to be stamped on your notarised document. An Apostille is used for Hague Apostille Convention Countries.
Notarisation of documents the process wherein copies of your documents are notarised by a Public Notary, like ourselves, prior to taking any further steps with DFAT or the embassies / consulates. The process involves us issuing a Notarial Certificate, attaching a copy of your document to our Notarial Certificate, binding them together and sealing the same with our Notary seal.
Yes, our Document Attestation, DFAT Legalisation (Apostille / Authentication) and Document Notarisation services are available for all countries.
Further info:
- Cost of receiving, handling and dispatching your documents; and
- Cost of forwarding the completed documents to you by Express Post for all Australian locations. If you are located overseas, courier charges apply.
- We also provide free tracking and reporting updates.
DFAT and embassy charges
Depending on the package you order, the following fees will apply as additional costs:
- processing fee for notarisation of documents;
- processing fee for attending DFAT to procure your document’s Apostille or Authentication stamp;
- processing fee for attending the relevant Embassy or Consulate to procure your document’s attestation certificate.
None whatsoever. Our Processing Fee is all you need to pay.
Any additional cost will be DFAT or Embassy fees and if you are located overseas, DHL cost to your overseas destination. We offer free Express Post service if you are located in Australia.
The processing time commences when we receive all your documents for notarisation, legalisation or attestation.
We notarise your documents within 24 hours and personally attend a DFAT office for legalisation (Apostille or authentication).
In-person attendance allows us to process your documents fast with minimal wait times. If you are doing it by yourself, you will need to comply with wait times for in-person appointments with DFAT. It may take even longer if you intend to do this by way of Express Post to DFAT. DFAT will consider urgent applications on a case by case basis subject to providing relevant documents in support, e.g. confirmed travel booking, employment contract for commencement of work etc.
After completion of the DFAT legalisation (Apostille / Authentication) process, the next step is to attend the relevant Embassy or Consulate for attestation. Depending on the Embassy, attestation may take up to 5 business days or more.
At our end, while we will work at lightning speed to process your documents, we cannot guarantee the processing times of DFAT or the embassies.
We take these incidents very seriously. We will immediately cease the authentication process and report the purported holder of the document to the relevant authorities for further civil and criminal actions.
Authentifier’s Price Guarantee is unique in market. We are so confident of our services that if we cannot complete processing your Apostille / Authenticated or Attested document, we will refund you our Processing Fee.
- The document that you require us to notarise and authenticate
- If education certificate (e.g. degree), verification from the issuing institution
- Copy of your current passport and driver licence (or some other standard form of identification)
- In most cases you don’t need to send any originals to us and copies can be uploaded quickly and easily using our online system.
Australian education documents
If you plan on living and working overseas, continuing your education or having your education officially recognised, you will require authenticated education documents such as your University Degrees, HSC and TAFE certificates etc.
There are several types of Australian education certificates from High School Certificates (HSC) issued by a State’s Board of Studies to degrees from Australian public universities. The type of education certificate and the location it needs to be used will determine the process of verification, notarisation, Australian Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) authentication and attestation from respective foreign embassies or consulates, if required.
Read more about educational document attestation →
Public documents
Public documents are usually issued by the relevant Australian government department or agency, e.g. birth certificates are issued by the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages and police clearance certificates by the Australian Federal Police or state police.
Australian government documents are usually notarised, authenticated and attested by a foreign embassy/consulate to be used formally in the relevant foreign country, e.g. in support of a work visa application.
Corporate documents
Corporate documents such as shareholders agreements, partnership agreements, and company constitutions and must be correctly authenticated in order to use them overseas.
Corporate documents can range from documents issued by corporations, e.g. deed of assignments, statutory declarations to those issued by government departments or agencies, e.g. ASIC reports and ATO tax statements. If corporate documents are to be attested for intended use overseas, e.g. in the UAE, the fees are dependent on the type of document to be attested. It is advisable to confirm before ordering if the type of document is indeed required for use in the foreign country given the higher fees imposed by respective embassies or consulates.
Read more about corporate document attestation →
Personal documents
Personal documents can include documents for identification purposes, e.g. your current passport, or a more formal document in the form of a Power of Attorney or Statutory Declaration.
The intended use of your personal documents will determine the type of services you require, e.g. notary to witness your Power of Attorney for use overseas or notarisation, authentication and attestation of a copy of your current passport to support your visa application for work in a foreign country.
Still have a question?
Need to know more?
Check out our FAQ and How It Works pages for more information on Document Attestation, DFAT Legalisation (Apostille & Authentication) and Document Notarisation, and on Authentifier’s processes.
If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for, feel free to reach out, we’re happy to help. You can contact Authentifier using the form below or via phone or email.
