Notarial services are legal acts which allow written records to be used for official or legal purposes. In Australia, these services are performed by Justices of the Peace, Public Notaries and similarly authorised persons.
The Consular Fees Act 1955 (Cth) authorises consular staff overseas to perform notarial services for Australian documents and foreign documents for use in Australia. The full list of the services we provide can be found in the schedule of fees below, but includes:
- certifying copies of documents, photographs and identity;
- witnessing signatures;
- issuing Apostilles and Authentication certificates;
- administering affidavits;
- issuing Certificates of No Impediment to Marriage (CNI); and
- Exchange Visitor (J-1) Program 'No Objection' statements.
Some of these services are provided by mail - others require you to attend the Embassy or your nearest Consulate in person (see 'Do I need to come in person?' below).
Fees apply.
Please read this page in full before making an appointment, mailing in your documents or contacting our offices with questions.
We also recommend that you read our Notarial services - Frequently asked questions (FAQs) page and Smartraveller’s Notarial services overseas page.
Do I need to come in person?
Some notarial services are provided by mail - others require you to attend the Embassy or your nearest Consulate-General in-person.
Services provided by mail include:
- certified copies of documents only (note: the certifying of photographs and identity declarations require you to attend the Embassy or your nearest Consulate in person);
- some Apostilles and Authentication certificates (note: Apostilles on electronically-issued Australian public documents must be completed in-person); and
- Exchange Visitor (J-1) Program ‘No Objection’ statements.
Due to high demand and the limited availability of in-person appointments, we ask that these services be completed by mail wherever possible.
Information about accessing these services can be found on our Mail-in services page.
All other services require you to attend one of our offices in person. This includes the
- issuance of Apostilles and Authentication certificates on electronically issued documents;
- witnessing of signatures (e.g. on statutory declarations, driver’s licence renewal applications and Australian property transfers);
- administering of affidavits;
- certifying of photographs and identity; and
- issuing of Certificates of No Impediment to Marriage (CNI).
Our offices provide in-person services at different times and BY APPOINTMENT ONLY.
Information on scheduling an appointment at your preferred location can be found on our In-person services page.
Fees
Fees apply and are charged per act.
Fees charged for notarial services are set by the Consular Fees Act 1955 (Cth) and the Consular Fees Regulations 2018 (Cth). Charging for notarial services is not discretionary, and fees are not negotiable or refundable.
In the United States, fees are payable by Visa or Mastercard - payments by cash or cheque are not accepted.
Fees may vary each month, depending on fluctuations in the exchange rate.
The following fees apply from 1 December 2024:
| Notarial Act | AUD fee | USD fee |
|---|---|---|
| Administering an oath or receiving a declaration or affirmation | $85 | $56 |
| Effecting, or attempting to effect, service of a document and issuing a certificate or affidavit or service of a document | $85 | $56 |
| Witnessing a signature or seal on a form or declaration | $85 | $56 |
| Preparing a declaration or other document | $85 | $56 |
| Verifying and certifying a copy of a document or part of a document | $85 | $56 |
| Signing a document, or affixing a seal to a document or other article | $85 | $56 |
| Witnessing the execution of a will | $85 | $56 |
| Transmitting a document or other article through official channels | $85 | $56 |
| Transferring funds through official accounts, other than for the purposes of the realisation of a deceased estate | $85 | $56 |
| Preparation and issue of an Apostille certificate | $98 | $64 |
| Preparation and issue of an Authentication certificate | $98 | $64 |
| Preparation and issue of a Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage | $171 | $112 |
Notarial services disclaimer
Please ensure that documents relating to the notarial services you require from the Embassy or our Consulates in the United States are presented in the correct form and that you provide the correct instructions for the notarial service you require. If you are unsure of the legislative requirements relating to the notarial service you require, you should seek independent legal advice. Please note that neither the Australian Government nor the Embassy or our Consulates in the United States guarantees the legal effectiveness of the notarised document or the accuracy of its content. Fees paid for notarial services are non-refundable.