Notarial Services – Witnessing Signatures and Certifying Documents

Consular officials at the Australian High Commission in London are authorized to perform certain notarial acts, these include:

• Certifying copies of original documents - the original document must be present to be sighted. There is no need to bring copies, copies will be done by us.
• Witnessing of signatures on certain documents
• Witnessing of signatures on Notice of Intended Marriage forms
• Witnessing powers of attorney
• Administration of oaths and affirmations
• Taking of statutory declarations (to download a blank Statutory Declaration form click here)
• Authenticating original Australian documents (this is not the equivalent to an Apostille)
• Witnessing signatures for renewal of Australian driver's licenses

Please note that Apostilles, cannot be performed overseas, this has to be preformed in Australia. If you require an Apostille or more information on obtaining an Apostille please visit the Department of Foreign Affairs Smartraveller website for more information.

Notarial services are provided between the hours of 9.30am and 11.30am, Monday to Friday. We do not operate an appointment system. Please bring suitable photographic identification, eg. your passport.

Also note that some services, such as signing mortgage documents or powers of attorney, may require a longer wait as specific staff are required for these acts and are not always available straight away.

The Consular Office is not open on Australian or British public holidays.

Under the Consular Fees Act of 1995, fees are charged for these services. Our fees are updated monthly against the current exchange rate. There is no need to contact our office to confirm fees;

Our fees for April 2009 are £10 for each signature witnessed, £10 to sign and certify the back of a photo, £10 to authenticate a document, £15 to certify a single copy of a document, £43.00 for Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage.

Payment can be made by credit/debit card, Postal Order or cash (pounds sterling). We do not accept personal bank cheques.

Documents can also be posted to our office to be certified. It is recommended that you send your documents by special delivery and included a self addressed special delivery return envelope. Payment can be made by Postal Order made out to the Australian High Commission or by credit/debit card using the following Payment Authorisation slip (pdf) or Payment Authorisation slip (Word Doc). We do not accept bank cheques. Our address is;

Consular Office
Australian High Commission
Strand
London WC2B 4LA

Please note that if require your photo or signature witnessed you cannot send these by post. You will need to present at the High Commission in London to have these witnessed.

Also note that the Edinburgh Office does not provide notarial services. Please contact the London Office directly for assistance

Contact the Consular Office via e-mail for Consular enquiries only.

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