Certifying documents
What are certified copies?
A certified copy is a copy of an original document which has been certified as being a true copy by an authorised person.
How to have a document certified
To have a document certified you should take the original and a copy to an authorised person. The person must then write on every page of the copy document:
'I have sighted the original document and certify this to be a true copy of the original.'
The person should sign each statement and provide their designation, for example, 'Pharmacist'.
Who is authorised to certify a document?
NOTE: You cannot certify your own documentation.
Authorised persons include:
- Australian Consular Officer or Australian Diplomatic Officer (within the meaning of the Consular Fees Act 1955)
- Bailiff
- Bank officer with 5 or more years of continuous service
- Building society officer with 5 or more years of continuous service
- Chiropractor (licensed or registered)
- Clerk of court
- Commissioner for Affidavits
- Commissioner for Declarations
- Credit union officer with 5 or more years of continuous service
- Dentist (licensed or registered)
- Fellow of the National Tax Accountant's Association
- Finance company officer with 5 or more years of continuous service
- Judge of a court
- Justice of the peace
- Legal practitioner (licensed or registered)
- Magistrate
- Marriage celebrant licensed or registered under Subdivision C of Division 1 of Part IV of the Marriage Act 1961
- Master of a court
- Medical practitioner (licensed or registered)
- Member of Chartered Secretaries Australia
- Member of Engineers Australia, other than at the grade of student
- Member of the Association of Taxation and Management Accountants
- Member of the Australian Defence Force with 5 or more years of continuous service
- Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia, the Australian Society of Certified Practicing Accountants or the Institute of Public Accountants
- Member of the Parliament of the Commonwealth, a State, a Territory Legislature, or a local government authority of a State or Territory
- Minister of religion licensed or registered under Subdivision A of Division 1 of Part IV of the Marriage Act 1961
- Nurse (licensed or registered)
- Optometrist (licensed or registered)
- Permanent employee of Commonwealth, State or local government authority with at least 5 or more years of continuous service
- Permanent employee of the Australian Postal Corporation with 5 or more years of continuous service
- Pharmacist (licensed or registered)
- Physiotherapist (licensed or registered)
- Police officer
- Psychologist (licensed or registered)
- Registrar, or Deputy Registrar, of a court
- Sheriff
- Teacher employed on a full-time basis at a school or tertiary education institution
- Veterinary surgeon (licensed or registered)