Whether your destination needs an apostille or authentication followed by embassy legalisation, we confirm the correct pathway, prepare everything properly and lodge on your behalf.
Countries that are party to the 1961 Apostille Convention accept a single DFAT apostille. Everywhere else, documents are usually authenticated by DFAT and then legalised by that country's embassy.
One certificate from DFAT. No embassy step. Used for 130 countries and territories including the UK, USA, most of Europe, China, India, Canada, Japan, South Africa and New Zealand.
Private documents and copies are notarised first.
DFAT verifies the signature or seal and issues the apostille.
DFAT authentication, then legalisation by the destination's embassy or consulate in Australia — for example the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt, Lebanon and Taiwan (via its representative office).
Private documents and copies are notarised first.
DFAT issues an authentication certificate.
The embassy or consulate legalises the document.
DFAT can legalise original Australian public documents where it holds the signatory's specimen signature. Everything else — and every copy — must be notarised by an Australian notary public first. A Justice of the Peace can't do this.
Our guided request checks this for each document type, and sends anything uncertain to a free review rather than guessing.
| Birth certificateMust be an original issued by a state or territory Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages (not a commemorative certificate). | Usually direct |
| Marriage certificateMust be the official registry-issued certificate, not the ceremonial certificate signed on the day. | Usually direct |
| Death certificate | Usually direct |
| Change of name certificate | Usually direct |
| Single status / no-record certificateAustralian registries issue no-record certificates; some countries instead ask for a statutory declaration, which must be notarised. | We confirm |
| AFP National Police CheckIssued by the Australian Federal Police. Check it was issued for the right purpose (e.g. immigration) and within the receiving authority's validity window. | Usually direct |
| State police certificate | We confirm |
| University degree / testamurDFAT can only legalise original university documents if it holds the signatory's specimen signature; otherwise a notarised copy is used. We confirm which applies. | We confirm |
| Academic transcript | We confirm |
| School certificate / VCE, HSC etc. | We confirm |
| TAFE / VET qualification | We confirm |
| Power of attorneyUsually signed in front of the notary public. We coordinate the appointment. | Notarise first |
| Statutory declaration / affidavit | Notarise first |
| Court order / divorce orderSealed court documents can often be legalised directly; it depends on the court and the copy you hold. | We confirm |
| Will, probate or estate document | We confirm |
| ASIC company extract / certificate of registration | We confirm |
| Board resolution / company letter | Notarise first |
| Company constitution | Notarise first |
| Contract, invoice or commercial document | Notarise first |
| Certificate of origin / export document | We confirm |
| Medical report or certificate | Notarise first |
Tell us about your document and we'll send a free written quote — usually within one business day.
For Australian public documents going to a country that is party to the Apostille Convention. DFAT issues the apostille...
Quotedfree assessment 02Where the destination is not party to the Apostille Convention, DFAT issues an authentication certificate. Most...
Quotedfree assessment 03After DFAT authentication, many countries require their embassy or consulate in Australia to legalise the document....
Quotedfree assessment 04Private documents — powers of attorney, declarations, company papers — and copies must be notarised by an Australian...
Quotedfree assessment 05Many destinations require translations alongside the legalised document. We coordinate certified translations through...
Quotedfree assessmentDFAT says its processing times vary and can lengthen at peak periods. We lodge promptly and tell you what we see — but we never guarantee government or embassy processing times, and we never show fake "live" tracking.
