The Certification Process

All identification documents must be certified copies. 

An original certified copy of an identification document is a copy of an acceptable identification document that has been certified as a true copy of an original document. To obtain this properly, present the original document and a photocopy of that document to one of the eligible certifiers listed below who is not related to you (e.g. spouse, parent, de facto partner). This person must sight the original and the copy and ensure both documents are identical. Individuals are not permitted to certify their own documents.

A certifier should never witness documents for their family, business, clients, employer or any other person where it could create a real or perceived conflict of interest.

Please note, documents must be either certified on all pages, or certified on the front page with a clear reference to the number of subsequent pages that are included.

The certification must include the following details: ‘I certify that this is a true and correct copy of the original document’ written/stamped on the document; Printed name, date and signature of certifier in original ink; and Occupation, qualification or registration number of certifier.

If this certification does not appear, you may be asked to send in new certified documents. Your application will not be processed until we receive the certified documents.

A certified copy means a document that has been certified as a true copy of an original document by one of the following persons:

1. a person who, under a law in force in a State or Territory, is currently licensed or registered to practise in an occupation listed in Part 1 of Schedule 2 of the Statutory Declarations Regulations 2018;
2. a person who is enrolled on the roll of the Supreme Court of a State or Territory, or the High Court of Australia, as a legal practitioner;
3. person listed in Part 2 of Schedule 2 of the Statutory Declarations Regulations 2018;
4. an officer with, or authorised representative of, a holder of an Australian financial services licence, having 2 or more years of continuous service with one or more licensees.
5. an officer with, or a credit representative of, a holder of an Australian credit licence, having 2 or more years of continuous service with one or more licensees;
6. a person authorised as a notary public in a foreign country.

Occupations as listed in Part 1 of Schedule 2 of the Statutory Declarations Regulations 2018:

• Architect
• Chiropractor
• Dentist
• Financial adviser or financial planner
• Legal practitioner
• Medical practitioner
• Midwife
• Migration agent registered under Division 3 of Part 3 of the Migration Act 1958
• Nurse
• Occupational therapist
• Optometrist
• Patent attorney
• Pharmacist
• Physiotherapist
• Psychologist
• Trade marks attorney
• Veterinary surgeon
  

Other persons as listed in Part 2 of Schedule 2 of the Statutory Declarations Regulations 2018:

• Accountant who is:

a) a fellow of the National Tax Accountants’ Association; or

b) a member of any of the following:

i) Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand;     

ii) The Association of Taxation and Management Accountants;     

iii) CPA Australia;     

iv) The Institute of Public Accountants

• Agent of the Australian Postal Corporation who is in charge of an office supplying postal services to the public
• APS employee engaged on an ongoing basis with 5 or more years of continuous service who is not specified in another item of this Part.
• Australian Consular Officer or Australian Diplomatic Officer (within the meaning of the Consular Fees Act 1955)
• Bailiff
• Bank officer with 5 or more continuous years of service
• Building society officer with 5 or more years of continuous service
• Chief executive officer of a Commonwealth court
• Clerk of a court
• Commissioner for Affidavits
• Commissioner for Declarations
• Credit union officer with 5 or more years of continuous service
• Employee of a Commonwealth authority engaged on a permanent basis with 5 or more years of continuous service who is not specified in another item in this Part
• Employee of the Australian Trade Commission who is:

a) in a country or place outside Australia; and

b) authorised under paragraph 3 (d) of the Consular Fees Act 1955; and

c) exercising his or her function in that place

• Employee of the Commonwealth who is:

a) in a country or place outside Australia; and

b) authorised under paragraph 3 (c) of the Consular Fees Act 1955; and

c) exercising his or her function in that place

• Engineer who is:

a) a member of Engineers Australia, other that at the grade of student;or

b) a registered Professional Engineer of Professionals Australia; or

c) registered as an engineer under a law of the Commonwealth, a State or Territory; or

d) registered on the National Engineering Register by Engineers Australia

• Finance company officer with 5 or more years of continuous service
• Holder of a statutory office not specified in another item in this Part
• Judge
• Justice of the Peace
• Magistrate
• Marriage celebrant registered under Subdivision C of Division 1 of Part IV of the Marriage Act 1961
• Master of a court
• Member of the Australian Defence Force who is;

a) an officer; or

b) a non-commissioned officer within the meaning of the Defence Force Discipline Act 1982 with 5 or more years of continuous service; or

c) a warrant officer within the meaning of that Act

• Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy
• Member of the Governance Institute of Australia Ltd
• Member of:

a) the Parliament of the Commonwealth; or

b) the Parliament of a State; or

c) a Territory legislature; or

d) a local government authority

• Minister of religion registered under Subdivision A of Division 1 of Part IV of the Marriage Act 1961
  
  
• Notary public, including a notary public(however described) exercising functions at a place outside:

a) The Commonwealth; and

b) The external Territories of the Commonwealth

• Permanent employee of the Australian Postal Corporation with 5 or more years of Continuous service who is employed in an office supplying postal services to the public
• Permanent employee of:

a) a State or Territory or a State or Territory authority; or

b) a local government authority; 

with 5 or more years of continuous service who is not specified in another item in this Part

• Person before whom a statutory declaration may be made under the law of the State or Territory in which the declaration is made
• Police officer
• Registrar, or Deputy Registrar, of a court
• Senior Executive employee of a Commonwealth authority
• Senior Executive employee a State or Territory or a State or Territory authority
• SES employee of the Commonwealth 
• Sheriff
• Sheriff’s officer
• Teacher employed on a full-time basis at a school or tertiary education institution