Australian private documents are documents that are not original documents issued by an Australian government agency or official (ie, not Australian public documents).
Australian private documents could be documents issued by non-government organisations or documents signed by individuals in Australia. They can also include documents prepared in another country but signed in Australia (ie, signing in Australia being the connection to Australia).
Examples of Australian private documents
- Power of attorney
- Authority letters and Travel consents
- Affidavits and Declarations
- Agreements and Contracts
- Bank documents
- Government forms and Applications
- Court forms and Legal documents
- Estate documents
- Employment documents from non-government organisations
- Education documents from private institutions
- Qualifications and accreditation from professional bodies
Apostille for Australian private documents
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) can issue an apostille on Australian private documents that have been notarised by an Australian notary public.
As a leading provider of notary services in Sydney, we help our clients with notarising Australian private documents and arranging for them to be stamped with an apostille from DFAT.
Foreign private documents
DFAT will not stamp an apostille on foreign private documents.
Although DFAT will stamp an apostille on any document (including foreign private documents) notarised by an Australian notary public, an Australian notary public should not notarise any foreign private documents (without a connection to Australia). A foreign private document signed in Australia and notarised by an Australian notary public becomes an Australian public document, which can be stamped with an apostille in Australia.