Notarial Services (legalising documents)

We offer in-person notarial service by appointment only from Monday to Friday between 2pm and 4pm. 

All visitors must present current photo ID (e.g. passport, driving licence), undertake a security screening, and walk through the metal detector. Please advise the security guard if you have had a pacemaker implanted.

If your appointment involves bank/land transfer documents relating to Western Australia OR an affidavit/oath/affirmation, please book your appointment by calling us at +353 1 664 5300 as we will need to ensure a Diplomatic Officer is available on the day.

For all other appointments, please book online using the link below. 

Please see the section below for information about fees and accepted payment methods.

An affidavit is a written statement that allows the person making it (the deponent) to present evidence in court or other legal proceedings. The deponent must take an oath (religious) or make an affirmation (non-religious) that the contents of the affidavit are true and correct. It is an offence to swear or affirm to false information. The Embassy's role is to witness the affidavit and administer the oath/affirmation.

The precise form of an affidavit is dictated by the Commonwealth, state, or territory legislation under which the affidavit is made or the proceedings in which the evidence contained in it is to be relied on.

An affidavit which has been drawn up incorrectly may not be effective.

It is your responsibility to provide the document in the correct form and any additional witnessing/administering instructions. We take no responsibility for the correctness of the form of an affidavit. If you are unclear about the form, please seek professional legal advice.

Please read the Book an Appointment section above and call +353 1 664 5300 to book an appointment at a date/time when a Diplomatic Officer is available. Consular Officers cannot assist with an affidavit.

We can issue an Apostille on Australian Government documents to be accepted in a country which is a signatory of the Apostille Convention (1961 Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement for Legalisation of Foreign Public Documents). Documents being sent to countries which are not signatories of the Convention may be issued with an Authentication. See list of members and non-members of the Apostille Convention.

The standard certificate or report must hold a verifiable signature/seal.

Documents that cannot be apostilled or authenticated:

• Photocopies of original documents unless they have been notarised as a ‘true copy’ by an Australian Public Notary within Australia.
• Laminated or damaged documents. You must obtain a replacement from the issuing authority.
• Commemorative certificates are not government documents.

We accept applications for apostille and authentication by mail. Please post the original document by registered mail and include a cover letter providing your full name, address, eircode, and contact number.

Certifying copies of original documents is one of our most frequently requested notarial services. In order for us certify the documents you require, please read the application form/instructions carefully to learn who can act as the certifying officer and confirm whether it is a Consular Officer (authorised under the Consular Fees Act 1955) or an Australian Diplomatic Officer (authorised under the Oaths Act 1900). 

We accept certified copy applications by mail. Please post the original document by registered mail and include a cover letter providing your full name, address, eircode, and contact number and noting whether you need assistance from a Consular Officer or Diplomatic Officer.

We can witness signatures on many official Australian documents, for use in Australia. We do not witness signatures on overseas documents. 

Always ask the receiving authority or a lawyer who can witness for you. 

Be aware that you may not need DFAT to witness your signature. In many cases, you can find someone else locally to witness it for you. 

Embassy Consular or Diplomatic Officers are authorised to witness signatures under the Oaths Act 1900, Consular Fees Act 1955, or Statutory Declarations Act of 1959. If these professions are not specifically listed as authorised officers to witness signatures for the relevant document, you should contact the office which will be receiving your documents and confirm that you are overseas and do not have access to the same range of authorised officers as in Australia.

Documents we can witness:

• Property transfers for buying/selling property in Australia
• Statutory declarations for use in Australia
• DFAT forms including Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage applications
• Notices of intended marriage 
• Most federal government forms, some state government forms, and some private sector forms - ask the form's issuing authority if they accept consular officials as authorised witnesses

You must book an appointment to have your witness signature (see section above).

The Embassy can only witness property transaction documents which relate to property being bought/sold in Australia.

We cannot provide legal advice or any information on documents required. You should request confirmation on documents required from the requesting authority.

At the time of your appointment, you must provide the instructions from your legal representative in Australia - in addition to the original documents you need witnessed or certified. Your conveyancer/solicitor can email us the instructions directly, or you can print out the instructions and bring them with you if you have already received them. 

If you have bank/land transfer documents relating to Western Australia, please read the Book an Appointment section above and call +353 1 664 5300 to book an appointment at a date and time when a Diplomatic Officer is available.

For all other property transactions, please read the Book an Appointment section above and use our online booking system to arrange for a Consular Officer to witness the signature.