Notarial Services are available by appointment only.
For the High Commission to witness your land transfer, mortgage or other property document you must bring along written instructions addressed to the Australian High Commission from an Australian legal practitioner, law practice licensed conveyancer, or mortgagee (bank etc.)
Consular staff cannot provide advice on specific legal requirements, including what documents need to be signed or certified. Papers should be presented to officers in an ordered fashion and clear instructions should be given on your particular requirements. If you are unsure of the legislative requirements relating to witnessing signatures on a particular document, you should seek independent legal advice.
Staff will not be able to proceed with your appointment without written instructions.
Please note, by witnessing a signature on a document, neither the Australian Government nor the Australian High Commission guarantees the legal effectiveness of the document or the accuracy of its contents.
Appointments can be booked here (https://australianhighcommissionsingapore.setmore.com/). Please ensure that you book the correct appointment. Failure to book the correct appointment may result in your appointment being rescheduled to a later date.
Please provide feedback to us on our Consular, Notarial and Passport services to [email protected]
Some Australian Federal and State laws require that a signature on a document be witnessed by an Australian Consular Officer or have other procedures applied before the document can be used for legal purposes, or in an Australian court of law. Solicitors, justices of the peace, and notaries public normally perform these functions in Australia. It may be possible for solicitors, justices of the peace or public notaries in Singapore to also perform these services.
Notarial services are provided by Consular Officers for Australians. They are also provided in cases where the documents are Australian in origin, or are intended for use in Australia, or have been requested by an Australian Federal, State or Local Government authority.
Below is a summary of what services we can provide. For more detailed information, please visit:
http://smartraveller.gov.au/services/legalising-documents-overseas.html
Notarial Services
- Authentication and Apostilles (including education documents)
- Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage
- Certifying Documents and Certified Passport Letter
- Property and Mortgage Documents
- Notice of Intended Marriage
- Witnessing Signatures (Statutory Declarations and Affidavits)
- Witnessing renewal of Australian Driver's Licence
- Fees
Notarial services for Power of Attorney, Affadavits, Wills and WA Land transfers and WA Statutory Declarations , can only be performed at the Australian High Commission on Tuesday and Thursday mornings (you will need to make an appointment).
Authority to perform notarial acts
It is the responsibility of the person seeking notarial services from the Australian High Commission to provide legislative proof that an Australian Consular Official holds the authority to perform the notarial services requested.
Please make sure you check with the end recipient of the document(s), and/or with your lawyer, that a Consular Official has the authority to perform the procedure required on your documents.
When
Appointments are required for all notarial services. More information including booking policy is available here. Appointment times vary depending on the service.
Please allow two standard business working days for collection of some documents - see separate guidelines for each document.
What to bring
Please bring photograph identification which shows your current name and signature. A passport or photo driver's licence would normally be sufficient, however check the instructions that come with your documents as occasionally several forms of identification are required.
Please be aware that Consular Staff are unable to make any endorsement as to the identity of a person, and as such we are unable to endorse photographs as being a true photograph of an applicant.
Failure to bring written instructions from your legal representatives may result in the High Commission unable to complete the Notarial acts.
Alternative Providers of Notarial Services in Singapore
A Consular Officer is not a Justice of the Peace (JP) or Notary Public.
Please check with the recipient of your documents whether a signature by a Consular Officer is an acceptable substitute for a JP or Notary Public. If the end recipient of your document specifies that it must be signed/witnessed by a Notary Public, please click here for a listing of Notaries in Singapore.
Notarial services we cannot provide
'Identifiers Certificates' or 'Verification of Identity Certificates'
The High Commission will complete the DFAT Identity Certificate for land, property or mortgage transactions. High Commission staff will not sign or complete any other 'Identifiers Certificates' or 'Verification of Identity Certificates' for land transfer or mortgage document. You should check with your Australian representative what is required, and if the DFAT Identity Certificate is suitable, before visiting the High Commission. We cannot provide advice on what documents you need to have witnessed or certified.
Our role is limited to:
- certifying copies of identity (e.g. passports etc) or supporting documents (e.g. rates notices etc);
- completing the DFAT Identity Certificate; and
- witnessing your signature on land or property documents (e.g. land transfer form).
Further information can be found at http://smartraveller.gov.au/services/legalising-documents-overseas.html under the heading "Selling or buying land or property in Australia?"
Letters of No Objection
The High Commission will not provide Letters of No Objection on behalf of the Australian Government.