Do you need to put your thumbprint on documents for India?

By Ern Phang, Solicitor & Notary Public
Director of Phang Legal. Solicitor since 1998 and notary public since 2005.

Example: the situation

Arjun is signing a power of attorney so his sister can sell the family home in Ludhiana. The document has a box marked "left thumb impression" beside a space for a photograph. He has never used his thumbprint on a document before.

Your Indian lawyer can tell you whether the document you sign in Australia needs to be notarised. If it does, you must sign it in the presence of a notary public, who will verify your identity, witness your signature and notarise your document.

In addition to signing your document, do you need to put your thumbprint on it as well? This is a frequently asked question from the many clients we serve who are sending documents to India. Let's discuss this in further detail.

Why are thumbprints used on documents for India?

In the past, especially when a large portion of the population couldn't read or write, people who couldn't sign used a thumbprint to acknowledge a document instead of a written signature. These days, people with a physical condition or disability that prevents them from signing (ie, because they're unable to hold a pen) might also use a thumbprint instead of a signature.

Thumbprints still appear on property documents. Section 32A of India's Registration Act 1908 requires photographs and fingerprints from people presenting certain documents for registration, including the buyers and sellers in a property transfer. That's why many powers of attorney for property in India include a page for your photograph and thumb impression. If you require the s32A form in addition to the primary document (ie, the property document you are signing), it's a separate notary certification and an additional cost.

Does your document for India require a thumbprint?

Your lawyer in India must tell you of their requirements. It's not up to us. For most of our clients, their lawyers should be able to tell them:

• Whether it's required. Not every document needs a thumbprint, even if it's going to India.
• Which thumb to use. It's commonly the left thumb.
• Where it goes. Usually there's a box marked on the page, sometimes beside a space for your photograph.
• Whether photographs are needed. And if so, how many and what size.
• What colour ink to use. Most ask for black ink, but some have specifically asked for blue ink.

Does our notary certification refer to your thumbprint?

Our notary certificate ordinarily records that we witnessed your signature. It doesn't separately refer to your thumbprint unless your lawyer requires it. If your lawyer wants a certificate to refer to your thumbprint as well, let us know before your appointment. Including your thumbprint on a document is covered by the usual notary certification, but a thumbprint on the s32A document or a separate notary certificate in addition to our usual notary certification is an additional cost.

Does a document with your thumbprint need an apostille?

Your thumbprint makes no difference to whether you need an apostille. What matters is who receives the document. Courts, registration offices and government departments in India generally expect one, because India and Australia have both joined the Apostille Convention. A relative or private buyer might not ask for it at all.

Now and then, a recipient asks for attestation by the Indian High Commission or Consulate rather than an apostille. We'll look at how that works in a later article.

India Power of Attorney: Signing, Notarisation and Sending Process

This flowchart explains how to sign and notarise a Power of Attorney in Australia for use in India, including when an Apostille or Indian Consulate attestation is needed.

1. Get the Power of Attorney from your lawyer in India, or ask them for instructions if you do not have it yet.
2. Sign the Power of Attorney in front of the notary public, who witnesses your signature and notarises the document.
3. If Indian Consulate attestation is not required but an Apostille is, the notary arranges the Apostille from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
4. If Indian Consulate attestation is required and you are an Indian citizen, send the Power of Attorney to VFS for attestation; if you are not an Indian citizen, the notary first arranges an Apostille from DFAT.
5. Send the completed Power of Attorney to your lawyer in India.

What to bring to your appointment

• Your document, unsigned and without your thumbprint. You do both in front of our notary.
• Photo identification. Your passport is best.
• Any photographs your lawyer has asked for.
• Your lawyer's instructions. This is for your benefit, so that we can check where the thumbprint and photographs go.

What next?

Example: the solution

Arjun checked with the family's lawyer, who confirmed that both the thumb impression and a photograph were needed. He brought two passport photographs to his appointment, signed in front of our notary and placed his left thumb impression in the box. Our notary notarised the power of attorney, and we arranged the apostille, then couriered the document to his sister in Ludhiana.

Does your document need your thumbprint? Request a quote, or message us on WhatsApp.

About Us

This blog is maintained by Phang Legal, a boutique law firm with offices in Parramatta and Rouse Hill. We help clients from across Sydney and beyond with personal, professional and timely Legal Services, Notary Services and Apostille Services.

As a leading provider of notary services in Sydney, we have 1k+ Google Reviews (4.9) (updated July 2026) with many clients happy to share their experience in using our services.

Phang Legal — Parramatta
6/83 George Street
Level 3, 87 Marsden Street (from 1 March 2026)
Parramatta NSW 2150

Phang Legal — Rouse Hill
214/80 Main Street
Rouse Hill NSW 2155

Call 02 9687 8885 | WhatsApp | Request quote

About the author

Ern Phang — Solicitor & Notary Public

This article was written by Ern Phang, a director of Phang Legal, a solicitor since 1998 and a notary public since 2005.

Ern has been a member of the Society of Notaries of NSW since 2005, a Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Notaries since 2013, and a member of the Law Society of New South Wales since 1998.

Ern regularly writes about his experiences as a notary public and the practical issues his clients face when sending documents from Australia to India and other countries all over the world.

Using information in this article
This article provides general information. Requirements, forms, fees and service arrangements may have changed since its original publication. Check the receiving organisation’s current requirements and obtain advice relevant to your circumstances.

One and the Same Person Declaration

By Ern Phang, Solicitor & Notary Public
Director of Phang Legal. Solicitor since 1998 and notary public since 2005.

Example: the situation

Pritam's university degree from India shows his name differently from his passport. He wants to rely on the degree for an assessment in Australia, and the mismatch is holding it up.

A name mismatch can affect your licence, your qualifications and more. Let's discuss declaring that you're the one and the same person.

If there's a mismatch in your name (ie, your name on your passport and another document are different), it's likely that you must provide a declaration stating that you are the "one and the same person".

Like many of our other clients from India, this commonly can happen when:

• Your name on your passport and your drivers licence is different. If you're attempting to convert your Indian Driver Licence to a driver licence in Australia, but your name on your Indian Passport and your name on your Indian Driver Licence are different, you must follow the IDLV process through VFS. As part of this process, we'll prepare the IDLV affidavit in which you declare that you're the one and the same person. We also provide a notary certificate stating that you're the one and the same person.

• Your name on your passport and your name appearing on your education documents or qualifications are different. If you want to rely on your education document or qualifications for any purpose, but the name on your passport (or another form of primary identification) is different, you may need evidence that you're the one and the same person. Unless there are specific evidence requirements, you can sign a declaration stating that you're the one and the same person. We generally don't prepare this declaration for you, but we can witness your signature and notarise your declaration. If you want to know what to include in the declaration, you should ask the intended recipient whether they have a specific template or sample wording so that you can prepare your own declaration.

• You have legally changed your name. If you've legally changed your name, you can rely on the change of name certificate issued by the registry in Australia. The certificate evidence confirming that you have changed your name. This will be valid in Australia and can be valid in other countries if it has been notarised and/or stamped with an apostille or authenticated and legalised. For more information about the apostille, or authentication and legalisation, please refer to our website and the services that we offer. In addition to the change of name certificate, you can also make a declaration that you're the one and the same person. Again, we don't prepare this declaration for you, but we can witness  your signature and notarise your declaration.

• You have married and adopted your spouses name. The naming convention in Australia acknowledges and recognises that people can adopt the name of their spouses. Traditionally, this involves the bride/wife taking the family name of the groom/husband. We acknowledge that with many Indian couples, the husband's name becomes part of the wife's name (regardless of whether the wife originally had a surname). Adopting a spouse's name after marriage does not require a formal change of name. A marriage certificate is usually sufficient evidence to adopt your spouse's name.  In addition to the marriage certificate, you can also make a declaration that you're the one and the same person.

In most cases, the issue arises in Australia if there's a difference between the name on your passport and any other identification or document. This is because in Australia, in the absence of a national identity framework, the passport is the most widely accepted form of primary identification (aside from the drivers licence or photocard).

If you're sending documents from Australia to India, we also recommend using your passport as your primary identification. Some documents will require your passport number to be verified, while others may refer to your Aadhaar card or PAN card or OCI (if you're no longer an Indian citizen). For our purposes, we'll rely on your passport to identify you and we'll write your passport details on your document as part of the notarisation.

Example: the solution

Pritam signed a declaration in front of our notary public, stating that he is the person named in his passport and on his degree. Our notary public notarised it so he could submit it with his assessment.

About Us

This blog is maintained by Phang Legal, a boutique law firm with offices in Parramatta and Rouse Hill. We help clients from across Sydney and beyond with personal, professional and timely Legal Services, Notary Services and Apostille Services.

As a leading provider of notary services in Sydney, we have 1k+ Google Reviews (4.9) (updated July 2026) with many clients happy to share their experience in using our services.

Phang Legal — Parramatta
6/83 George Street
Level 3, 87 Marsden Street (from 1 March 2026)
Parramatta NSW 2150

Phang Legal — Rouse Hill
214/80 Main Street
Rouse Hill NSW 2155

Call 02 9687 8885 | WhatsApp | Request quote

About the author

Ern Phang — Solicitor & Notary Public

This article was written by Ern Phang, a director of Phang Legal, a solicitor since 1998 and a notary public since 2005.

Ern has been a member of the Society of Notaries of NSW since 2005, a Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Notaries since 2013, and a member of the Law Society of New South Wales since 1998.

Ern regularly writes about his experiences as a notary public and the practical issues his clients face when sending documents from Australia to India and other countries all over the world.

Using information in this article
This article provides general information. Requirements, forms, fees and service arrangements may have changed since its original publication. Check the receiving organisation’s current requirements and obtain advice relevant to your circumstances.

Can I sign Form J in front of a Justice of the Peace?

By Ern Phang, Solicitor & Notary Public
Director of Phang Legal. Solicitor since 1998 and notary public since 2005.

Example: the situation

Harjit has grown a beard since his passport photograph was taken, and VFS has asked for Form J. A justice of the peace at his local shopping centre offers to witness it.

If you live in NSW, Form J for VFS must be signed in front of a notary public. Let's discuss why.

If you live in New South Wales (and you intend to lodge Form J with the VFS office in Sydney), then you cannot sign Form J in front of a justice of the peace. As a NSW resident, Form J must be attested by a notary public. This means you must sign Form J in front of a notary public who will verify your identity and witness your signature.

Form J is required when you have changed your appearance. Sometimes you may have aged (ie, matured) especially if your previous passport photograph was taken when you were a child. Sometimes it's because you previously wore a turban but no longer wear a turban (or you previously didn't but now you do). For some, it's because they've changed their hairstyle or facial hair. Whatever the case may be, if you think you might look different now from what you do (or did before) in your passport photograph, then you may need to submit Form J with whatever other documents you intended to file with VFS.

As a leading provider of notary public services in Sydney, we help many clients with notarising Form J. If you also need help, you must make an appointment, bring your completed Form J with your photograph, and you must sign it in front of our notary public. Our notary public will verify your identity according to your photo identity (ie, passport or driver licence) and witness you sign Form J.

Example: the solution

Harjit made an appointment and brought Form J unsigned with his passport. Our notary public verified his identity, witnessed his signature and notarised Form J for VFS.

About Us

This blog is maintained by Phang Legal, a boutique law firm with offices in Parramatta and Rouse Hill. We help clients from across Sydney and beyond with personal, professional and timely Legal Services, Notary Services and Apostille Services.

As a leading provider of notary services in Sydney, we have 1k+ Google Reviews (4.9) (updated July 2026) with many clients happy to share their experience in using our services.

Phang Legal — Parramatta
6/83 George Street
Level 3, 87 Marsden Street (from 1 March 2026)
Parramatta NSW 2150

Phang Legal — Rouse Hill
214/80 Main Street
Rouse Hill NSW 2155

Call 02 9687 8885 | WhatsApp | Request quote

About the author

Ern Phang — Solicitor & Notary Public

This article was written by Ern Phang, a director of Phang Legal, a solicitor since 1998 and a notary public since 2005.

Ern has been a member of the Society of Notaries of NSW since 2005, a Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Notaries since 2013, and a member of the Law Society of New South Wales since 1998.

Ern regularly writes about his experiences as a notary public and the practical issues his clients face when sending documents from Australia to India and other countries all over the world.

Using information in this article
This article provides general information. Requirements, forms, fees and service arrangements may have changed since its original publication. Check the receiving organisation’s current requirements and obtain advice relevant to your circumstances.

OCI application for your children

By Ern Phang, Solicitor & Notary Public
Director of Phang Legal. Solicitor since 1998 and notary public since 2005.

Example: the situation

Ritu and her husband are applying for OCI cards for their three children. The checklist asks for notarised copies of both parents' passports and each child's birth certificate.

When you apply for several children, each application needs its own set of notarised copies. Let's discuss what that means.

Applying on behalf of children

In this article, we specifically address the issue of applying for an OCI for your children. If you, your parents or your grandparents were citizens of India, your children would also be entitled to apply to become an OCI.

For the latest requirements, please visit the VFS website and refer to the latest checklist. For many of our clients, the application for an OCI for their children requires them to have the copies of passports of both parents notarised and a copy of the child's birth certificate to be notarised as well. If you have multiple children, then each child must have their own set of notarised copies of parents' passports.

Usually, the requirement for attestation outlined for this application means 'certified copies'. However, if you are a resident of New South Wales, it also means that the attestation must be performed by a notary public. A justice of the peace (which is a free service) is not authorised to 'notarise' a document. Notarisation can only be provided by a notary public (and this is usually not a free service).

As a leading provider of notary public services in Sydney, we regularly help clients intending to apply for their own OCI as well as an OCI for their children.

What is an OCI?

OCI stands for "Overseas Citizen of India". For many of our clients, who are Australian citizens (and sometimes New Zealand citizens) living in Australia, the main attraction for applying to be recognised as an OCI is the multiple entry and unlimited stay in India. This is especially important if they still have family (ie, aging parents), property or other business interests in India.

What are the benefits of being an OCI?

Aside from multiple entry and the entitlement to multi-purpose life long visa to visit India, the other benefits of being an OCI are:

• Exemption from reporting to Police authorities for any length of stay in India; and
• Parity with non-resident Indians in financial, economic and educational fields except in the acquisition of agricultural or plantation properties.

Who can apply to become an OCI?

If you have renounced your Indian citizenship (or your family were originally from India) and you are now a citizen of another country (ie, Australia or New Zealand), you can apply to become an OCI provided that:

• you were a citizen of India at the time of, or at any time after 26th January 1950; or
• you were eligible to become a citizen of India on 26th January 1950; or
• you belonged to a territory that became part of India after 15th August 1947; or
• you are a child or a grandchild or a great-grandchild of such a citizen; or
• you are a minor child of such persons mentioned above; or
• you are a minor child and whose both parents are citizens of India or one of the parents is a citizen of India.

Besides, a spouse of foreign origin of a citizen of India or spouse of foreign origin of an Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder and whose marriage has been registered and subsisted for a continuous period of not less than two years immediately preceding the presentation of the application is also eligible for registration as OCI cardholder.

Example: the solution

Ritu and her husband brought their passports and the children's original birth certificates. Our notary public notarised a separate set of the parents' passport copies for each child, together with each birth certificate copy.

About Us

This blog is maintained by Phang Legal, a boutique law firm with offices in Parramatta and Rouse Hill. We help clients from across Sydney and beyond with personal, professional and timely Legal Services, Notary Services and Apostille Services.

As a leading provider of notary services in Sydney, we have 1k+ Google Reviews (4.9) (updated July 2026) with many clients happy to share their experience in using our services.

Phang Legal — Parramatta
6/83 George Street
Level 3, 87 Marsden Street (from 1 March 2026)
Parramatta NSW 2150

Phang Legal — Rouse Hill
214/80 Main Street
Rouse Hill NSW 2155

Call 02 9687 8885 | WhatsApp | Request quote

About the author

Ern Phang — Solicitor & Notary Public

This article was written by Ern Phang, a director of Phang Legal, a solicitor since 1998 and a notary public since 2005.

Ern has been a member of the Society of Notaries of NSW since 2005, a Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Notaries since 2013, and a member of the Law Society of New South Wales since 1998.

Ern regularly writes about his experiences as a notary public and the practical issues his clients face when sending documents from Australia to India and other countries all over the world.

Using information in this article
This article provides general information. Requirements, forms, fees and service arrangements may have changed since its original publication. Check the receiving organisation’s current requirements and obtain advice relevant to your circumstances.

Can't contact DFAT or VFS?

We're a notary public service. We're not the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). We're not VFS. We're not the Indian Consulate.

As a notary public service, we can help you attest and notarise your documents, and we can also arrange for the apostille from DFAT. We don't issue the apostille - DFAT is the only authority that can issue the apostille in Australia.

If you can't contact DFAT, or if you can't contact VFS or the Indian Consulate, there's no point in contacting us to complain. We can't help you to contact them and we can only help you by arranging for the apostille from DFAT.

For some reason, we receive many calls from people asking us questions about DFAT or VFS. Sometimes they ask us to provide them with the contact phone number for DFAT or VFS. If you really want to contact DFAT or VFS, then you would have called the wrong number if you called us.

About Us

This blog is maintained by Phang Legal, a boutique law firm with offices in Parramatta and Rouse Hill. We help clients from across Sydney and beyond with personal, professional and timely Legal Services, Notary Services and Apostille Services.

As a leading provider of notary services in Sydney, we have 1k+ Google Reviews (4.9) (updated July 2026) with many clients happy to share their experience in using our services.

Phang Legal — Parramatta
6/83 George Street
Level 3, 87 Marsden Street (from 1 March 2026)
Parramatta NSW 2150

Phang Legal — Rouse Hill
214/80 Main Street
Rouse Hill NSW 2155

Call 02 9687 8885 | WhatsApp | Request quote

About the author

Ern Phang — Solicitor & Notary Public

This article was written by Ern Phang, a director of Phang Legal, a solicitor since 1998 and a notary public since 2005.

Ern has been a member of the Society of Notaries of NSW since 2005, a Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Notaries since 2013, and a member of the Law Society of New South Wales since 1998.

Ern regularly writes about his experiences as a notary public and the practical issues his clients face when sending documents from Australia to India and other countries all over the world.

Using information in this article
This article provides general information. Requirements, forms, fees and service arrangements may have changed since its original publication. Check the receiving organisation’s current requirements and obtain advice relevant to your circumstances.

Storing personal information for notary public services

What do we do with your personal information?

With the recent events of hacking and cybersecurity concerns of major companies in Australia, more and more notary public clients have asked us about why, how and where we store their personal information. In this article, we attempt to answer some of these commonly asked questions about your personal information in our care.

Privacy and confidentiality

Our primary obligation is to protect your privacy and keep your information confidential. We only keep information that is necessary for us to:

• Properly identify who you are (ie, copies of your client details and your photo identification)
• Record when you received notary public services from us.
• Verify what notary public services you received from us (including what documents*).
• How much we charged you for the service.

*we do not always retain a full copy of all documents that we have notarised. In most cases, it may only be the first and last page to be able to confirm the document.

We will only provide verification to third-party enquiries (we do not provide copies of our records without your approval) unless required by law.

All information is stored on Google Cloud. Please see our Privacy Statement for more information.

What next?

To obtain a quote on our notary public services for India, please visit Request a notary quote.

CLICK HERE
Get a quote to notarise
your Indian documents

About Us

This blog is maintained by Phang Legal, a boutique law firm with offices in Parramatta and Rouse Hill. We help clients from across Sydney and beyond with personal, professional and timely Legal Services, Notary Services and Apostille Services.

As a leading provider of notary services in Sydney, we have 1k+ Google Reviews (4.9) (updated July 2026) with many clients happy to share their experience in using our services.

Phang Legal — Parramatta
6/83 George Street
Level 3, 87 Marsden Street (from 1 March 2026)
Parramatta NSW 2150

Phang Legal — Rouse Hill
214/80 Main Street
Rouse Hill NSW 2155

Call 02 9687 8885 | WhatsApp | Request quote

About the author

Ern Phang — Solicitor & Notary Public

This article was written by Ern Phang, a director of Phang Legal, a solicitor since 1998 and a notary public since 2005.

Ern has been a member of the Society of Notaries of NSW since 2005, a Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Notaries since 2013, and a member of the Law Society of New South Wales since 1998.

Ern regularly writes about his experiences as a notary public and the practical issues his clients face when sending documents from Australia to India and other countries all over the world.

Using information in this article
This article provides general information. Requirements, forms, fees and service arrangements may have changed since its original publication. Check the receiving organisation’s current requirements and obtain advice relevant to your circumstances.

Why don't we print your document?

By Ern Phang, Solicitor & Notary Public
Director of Phang Legal. Solicitor since 1998 and notary public since 2005.

Example: the situation

Varsha's lawyer emailed her the document to sign, and she doesn't have a printer at home. She asks whether we can print it for her when she arrives for her appointment.

We don't print documents for clients, and the reason is about getting the format right. Let's discuss this further.

We don't print documents. It's a policy that we've had for many years as a result of some bad experiences with clients and their documents.

Yes, we know it's inconvenient for you if you don't have your own printer or it's not easy for you to find a printer. There are several printing offices around Parramatta that offer this service. But we don't print documents for clients.

If your lawyer hasn't sent you the original hardcopy document to sign, just make sure you print your document in the form and the format required by your lawyer. Presumably, this will ensure that it's legally valid and will be recognised for whatever it needs to do in India.

Paper requirements are not consistent

Different countries have different document requirements and different paper requirements. For India, it's common that some legal documents are printed on stamped paper, bonded paper, 'legal paper', green foolscap paper, A3-sized paper, or even cardboard. In fact, this isn't even a complete list of variations that we've seen over the years.

All of these papers are not readily available in Australia. In Australia, our documents are generally printed on white A4-sized 80 gsm paper.

We're not in the printing business

Our service is the notary public service. For the most part, this means we're witnessing signatures or certifying documents. But we're NOT printing documents.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, experience has taught us that if we print documents for clients, and for whatever reason the documents aren't correct, incomplete, improperly formatted, or aren't printed on the 'correct' kind of paper then somehow it's our fault and we get blamed (even though there may be nothing wrong with our notary public services in witnessing or certifying documents).

Sure, maybe over the many years, it's only one or two people who have argued that if we printed the document then we're responsible for the document, but that's enough for us to implement a 'no printing' policy across all. It's an unnecessary administrative burden and worries for our office when it's really not part of what we do or what we're paid to do. We just provide the notary public service.

Example: the solution

Varsha had her document printed at a printing office near our Parramatta office, in the format her lawyer specified. She then signed it in front of our notary public, who notarised it.

About Us

This blog is maintained by Phang Legal, a boutique law firm with offices in Parramatta and Rouse Hill. We help clients from across Sydney and beyond with personal, professional and timely Legal Services, Notary Services and Apostille Services.

As a leading provider of notary services in Sydney, we have 1k+ Google Reviews (4.9) (updated July 2026) with many clients happy to share their experience in using our services.

Phang Legal — Parramatta
6/83 George Street
Level 3, 87 Marsden Street (from 1 March 2026)
Parramatta NSW 2150

Phang Legal — Rouse Hill
214/80 Main Street
Rouse Hill NSW 2155

Call 02 9687 8885 | WhatsApp | Request quote

About the author

Ern Phang — Solicitor & Notary Public

This article was written by Ern Phang, a director of Phang Legal, a solicitor since 1998 and a notary public since 2005.

Ern has been a member of the Society of Notaries of NSW since 2005, a Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Notaries since 2013, and a member of the Law Society of New South Wales since 1998.

Ern regularly writes about his experiences as a notary public and the practical issues his clients face when sending documents from Australia to India and other countries all over the world.

Using information in this article
This article provides general information. Requirements, forms, fees and service arrangements may have changed since its original publication. Check the receiving organisation’s current requirements and obtain advice relevant to your circumstances.

Power of Attorney for India - Notarisation and Apostille

By Ern Phang, Solicitor & Notary Public
Director of Phang Legal. Solicitor since 1998 and notary public since 2005.

Example: the situation

Smita wants her cousin to manage her rental property in Pune. She's thinking of asking an Australian lawyer to write the power of attorney, as that seems easier.

A power of attorney for India is best prepared by a lawyer in India. Let's discuss notarisation and the apostille.

You need a power of attorney if you want to appoint someone in India to act on your behalf.

If you're signing the power of attorney in Australia, then your signature should be witnessed by a notary public. The notary public can then notarise your power of attorney. As a leading provider of notary public services in Sydney, we help many clients with notarising their power of attorney so that it can be used in India.

Who writes your power of attorney?

Preferably, your lawyer in India will prepare the power of attorney for you, and they can advise you whether you require a general power of attorney or a special power of attorney. They can also advise you whether your power of attorney must be printed on stamped paper, green foolscap paper, or whether it can be printed on normal A4 paper. Usually, if your power of attorney is not printed on stamped paper, then you'll need to pay the stamp duty within 3 months after your power of attorney arrives in India.

In short, you really shouldn't write the power of attorney yourself or even ask a lawyer in Australia to write it for you. Your power of attorney must be valid in India according to the laws in India (and the laws and processes/procedures can vary between states).

Does your power of attorney need a fingerprint or a photo?

Your lawyer can also advise you whether your power of attorney must contain other specific things such as references to your identification document, your photo or a photo of your attorney, or whether it requires thumbprints. Sometimes the power of attorney is also accompanied by another document called 'Photographs and Finger Prints as per section 32A of the Registration Act 1908' which contains places for photographs and fingerprints.

Does your power of attorney need an apostille?

Technically, because Australia and India are both members of the Apostille Convention, documents signed in Australia but used in India should also be stamped with an apostille. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is the issuing authority for the apostille in Australia. After your power of attorney has been notarised, it can then be stamped with an apostille. We help many clients with arranging for their notarised power of attorney to be stamped with an apostille from DFAT.

Does your power of attorney need Indian Consulate attestation?

Sometimes, you may also need to have your power of attorney attested by the Indian Consulate. In Australia, VFS Global provides these services on behalf of the Indian Consulate. According to VFS Global, if you are not an Indian Citizen, then your power of attorney must be stamped with an apostille before it can be attested by VFS Global on behalf of the Indian Consulate. If you're not sure about what's required for VFS Global, please check their website for more information and for the specific checklist of documents and other requirements before you send your power of attorney to them for attestation.

Example: the solution

Smita's lawyer in India prepared the power of attorney and confirmed the paper to print it on. She signed it in front of our notary public, who notarised it, and we arranged the apostille her lawyer asked for.

About Us

This blog is maintained by Phang Legal, a boutique law firm with offices in Parramatta and Rouse Hill. We help clients from across Sydney and beyond with personal, professional and timely Legal Services, Notary Services and Apostille Services.

As a leading provider of notary services in Sydney, we have 1k+ Google Reviews (4.9) (updated July 2026) with many clients happy to share their experience in using our services.

Phang Legal — Parramatta
6/83 George Street
Level 3, 87 Marsden Street (from 1 March 2026)
Parramatta NSW 2150

Phang Legal — Rouse Hill
214/80 Main Street
Rouse Hill NSW 2155

Call 02 9687 8885 | WhatsApp | Request quote

About the author

Ern Phang — Solicitor & Notary Public

This article was written by Ern Phang, a director of Phang Legal, a solicitor since 1998 and a notary public since 2005.

Ern has been a member of the Society of Notaries of NSW since 2005, a Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Notaries since 2013, and a member of the Law Society of New South Wales since 1998.

Ern regularly writes about his experiences as a notary public and the practical issues his clients face when sending documents from Australia to India and other countries all over the world.

Using information in this article
This article provides general information. Requirements, forms, fees and service arrangements may have changed since its original publication. Check the receiving organisation’s current requirements and obtain advice relevant to your circumstances.

Statutory Declaration for Change of Signature

By Ern Phang, Solicitor & Notary Public
Director of Phang Legal. Solicitor since 1998 and notary public since 2005.

Example: the situation

Neeraj's signature in his passport no longer matches how he signs today. He's renewing his passport through VFS and lives in NSW, so a justice of the peace won't do.

A statutory declaration going to VFS from NSW generally needs a notary public. Let's discuss why.

Have you changed your signature?

If you've changed your signature (especially on your passport), VFS may require you to submit a statutory declaration confirming that your signature has changed - especially when you must renew your passport.

What's a statutory declaration?

A statutory declaration is a written statement that you declare is true.

Who can witness a statutory declaration?

In New South Wales, a statutory declaration can be witnessed by a justice of the peace, a lawyer or a notary public.

When does your statutory declaration need to be notarised?

Usually, if you're signing a statutory declaration in Australia but you're sending it to another country (ie, India), then that statutory declaration should be notarised.

If you live in New South Wales and you're submitting documents to VFS, you generally must have those documents attested by a notary public. The requirement for each document differs depending on what it's used for according to the relevant VFS checklist. If you're not sure, it's best to refer to the VFS checklist for the documents required for your application.

If the VFS checklist states that your statutory declaration relating to your change in signature must be attested by a notary public, this means it must be notarised.

To have your statutory declaration notarised, you must sign and declare that the contents of your declaration are true in the presence of a notary public. The notary public will verify your identity (usually according to your passport), witness you sign the declaration, and then notarise your declaration by signing and sealing it with their notary seal.

What can we do for you?

As a leading provider of notary public services in Sydney, we help many clients with attesting documents that they must submit to VFS. If you have changed your signature, then you'll need our help to attest your statutory declaration before submitting it to VFS.

Example: the solution

Neeraj checked the VFS checklist and prepared his statutory declaration. He signed it in front of our notary public, who notarised it for his passport renewal.

About Us

This blog is maintained by Phang Legal, a boutique law firm with offices in Parramatta and Rouse Hill. We help clients from across Sydney and beyond with personal, professional and timely Legal Services, Notary Services and Apostille Services.

As a leading provider of notary services in Sydney, we have 1k+ Google Reviews (4.9) (updated July 2026) with many clients happy to share their experience in using our services.

Phang Legal — Parramatta
6/83 George Street
Level 3, 87 Marsden Street (from 1 March 2026)
Parramatta NSW 2150

Phang Legal — Rouse Hill
214/80 Main Street
Rouse Hill NSW 2155

Call 02 9687 8885 | WhatsApp | Request quote

About the author

Ern Phang — Solicitor & Notary Public

This article was written by Ern Phang, a director of Phang Legal, a solicitor since 1998 and a notary public since 2005.

Ern has been a member of the Society of Notaries of NSW since 2005, a Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Notaries since 2013, and a member of the Law Society of New South Wales since 1998.

Ern regularly writes about his experiences as a notary public and the practical issues his clients face when sending documents from Australia to India and other countries all over the world.

Using information in this article
This article provides general information. Requirements, forms, fees and service arrangements may have changed since its original publication. Check the receiving organisation’s current requirements and obtain advice relevant to your circumstances.

Applying for Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) from VFS

By Ern Phang, Solicitor & Notary Public
Director of Phang Legal. Solicitor since 1998 and notary public since 2005.

Example: the situation

Arvind became an Australian citizen last year and wants an OCI card so he can travel to India freely. He reads the eligibility rules and isn't sure which supporting documents need notarising.

OCI eligibility is set by India, and the documents depend on your situation. Let's discuss where we fit in.

What's an Overseas Citizen of India?

A foreign national, - (i) who was a citizen of India at the time of, or at any time after 26th January, 1950; or (ii) who was eligible to become a citizen of India on 26th January, 1950; or (iii) who belonged to a territory that became part of India after 15th August, 1947; or (iv) who is a child or a grandchild or a great grandchild of such a citizen; or (v) who is a minor child of such persons mentioned above; or (vi) who is a minor child and whose both parents are citizens of India or one of the parents is a citizen of India - is eligible for registration as OCI cardholder.

Besides, spouse of foreign origin of a citizen of India or spouse of foreign origin of an Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder and whose marriage has been registered and subsisted for a continuous period of not less than two years immediately preceding the presentation of the application is also eligible for registration as OCI cardholder. However, no person, who or either of whose parents or grandparents or great grandparents is or had been a citizen of Pakistan, Bangladesh or such other country as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify, shall be eligible for registration as an Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder.

- https://ociservices.gov.in/

What's the benefit of being an OCI?

• Multiple entry, multi-purpose lifelong visa to visit India;
• Exemption from reporting to Police authorities for any length of stay in India; and
• Parity with NRIs in financial, economic and educational fields except in the acquisition of agricultural or plantation properties.

Applying for OCI in Sydney

In Australia, applications to become an OCI must be submitted through VFS.

If you live in New South Wales, in support of your OCI application, you must have your various supporting documents attested by a notary public. 

Notary public services for OCI application

As a leading provider of notary public services in Sydney, we help many clients who are submitting their OCI applications to VFS. Documents that we commonly attest to support the OCI application include:

• Copies of passports
• Copies of birth certificates
• Copies of marriage certificates
• Copies of driver licence
• Copies of utility bills
• Statutory Declarations and Affidavits

Each person must submit their own application (and their own set of attested documentation). Submitting an application on behalf of your child will require additional documents from each parent as well.

Example: the solution

Arvind checked the VFS checklist for his application and listed the copies that needed attesting. Our notary public notarised those copies, and he lodged them with VFS.

About Us

This blog is maintained by Phang Legal, a boutique law firm with offices in Parramatta and Rouse Hill. We help clients from across Sydney and beyond with personal, professional and timely Legal Services, Notary Services and Apostille Services.

As a leading provider of notary services in Sydney, we have 1k+ Google Reviews (4.9) (updated July 2026) with many clients happy to share their experience in using our services.

Phang Legal — Parramatta
6/83 George Street
Level 3, 87 Marsden Street (from 1 March 2026)
Parramatta NSW 2150

Phang Legal — Rouse Hill
214/80 Main Street
Rouse Hill NSW 2155

Call 02 9687 8885 | WhatsApp | Request quote

About the author

Ern Phang — Solicitor & Notary Public

This article was written by Ern Phang, a director of Phang Legal, a solicitor since 1998 and a notary public since 2005.

Ern has been a member of the Society of Notaries of NSW since 2005, a Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Notaries since 2013, and a member of the Law Society of New South Wales since 1998.

Ern regularly writes about his experiences as a notary public and the practical issues his clients face when sending documents from Australia to India and other countries all over the world.

Using information in this article
This article provides general information. Requirements, forms, fees and service arrangements may have changed since its original publication. Check the receiving organisation’s current requirements and obtain advice relevant to your circumstances.

Opening hours - Christmas 2022 and New Year 2023

We'll be closing on 23 December 2022 for the Christmas and New Year period.

We'll be reopening on 9 January 2023.

Thanks for all your support throughout the year.

About Us

This blog is maintained by Phang Legal, a boutique law firm with offices in Parramatta and Rouse Hill. We help clients from across Sydney and beyond with personal, professional and timely Legal Services, Notary Services and Apostille Services.

As a leading provider of notary services in Sydney, we have 1k+ Google Reviews (4.9) (updated July 2026) with many clients happy to share their experience in using our services.

Phang Legal — Parramatta
6/83 George Street
Level 3, 87 Marsden Street (from 1 March 2026)
Parramatta NSW 2150

Phang Legal — Rouse Hill
214/80 Main Street
Rouse Hill NSW 2155

Call 02 9687 8885 | WhatsApp | Request quote

About the author

Ern Phang — Solicitor & Notary Public

This article was written by Ern Phang, a director of Phang Legal, a solicitor since 1998 and a notary public since 2005.

Ern has been a member of the Society of Notaries of NSW since 2005, a Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Notaries since 2013, and a member of the Law Society of New South Wales since 1998.

Ern regularly writes about his experiences as a notary public and the practical issues his clients face when sending documents from Australia to India and other countries all over the world.

Using information in this article
This article provides general information. Requirements, forms, fees and service arrangements may have changed since its original publication. Check the receiving organisation’s current requirements and obtain advice relevant to your circumstances.

Indian Drivers Licence Verification - When your name on your passport and licence are different

By Ern Phang, Solicitor & Notary Public
Director of Phang Legal. Solicitor since 1998 and notary public since 2005.

Example: the situation

Vinod's Indian drivers licence has a spelling mistake in his surname, one letter out from his passport. He assumes such a small error won't matter in Australia.

Even a one-letter difference stops your driving history being recognised. Let's discuss the IDLV process.

The Indian Drivers Licence Verification process

Our notary public services often include assistance with the Indian Drivers Licence Verification (IDLV) process.

The IDLV process is necessary for people who hold a valid and current Indian drivers licence, they want to covert to an Australian driver licence, they want their prior driving history recognised, but the name on their licence is different from the name on their Indian passport.

What happens when your name on your passport and licence are different?

In order for the authorities in Australia to recognise a person's prior driving history, the name on their Indian drivers licence and the name on their Indian passport must be exactly the same. Even if the names are slightly different (ie, initials, or abbreviations, or mistakes etc), it won't be accepted.

If there's a difference in your name, then your prior driving history won't be recognised in Australia because Australia won't recognise that you're the person who holds that drivers licence.

The IDLV process confirms that a person who has different names on their Indian drivers licence and Indian passport is 'the one and the same person'. If your name on your Indian drivers licence and your Indian passport are different (in any way) then you must complete the IDLV process.

What can you do?

If you choose to not complete the IDLV process, your prior driving history won't be recognised. Instead of 'converting' your licence, you can just start from the beginning and obtain a new licence by following the normal driving progression in Australia. This means you start with your Learner's permit, and progress through Provisional licences until you have your full licence. Naturally, doing it this way means it's going to take you several years before you qualify for your full licence and you'll be subject to various conditions and restrictions along the way.

On the other hand, if you want to have your prior driving history recognised so that you're 'converting' your Indian drivers licence to an Australian driver licence, then you must complete the IDLV process. There are two options for completing the IDLV process, as outlined by the VFS checklist. You can either provide an affidavit from a court in India or you can use documents prepared by a notary public and stamped with an apostille.

What's an apostille?

An apostille is a stamp that's recognised by various countries that are members of the Apostille Convention, like Australia and India. This means documents from Australia intended to be used in India should be stamped with an apostille.

In Australia, the apostille can only be issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) on original Australian government documents, or documents that have been notarised by a notary public. Unfortunately, obtaining an appointment with DFAT can be challenging. As part of our notary public services, we have regular appointments with DFAT and we offer this convenience to our clients as well. 

How can we help you?

Our notary public office in Sydney regularly assists clients with the IDLV process. We verify their identity, prepare the IDLV affidavit, prepare a notary certificate with copies of their passport and driver licence, and have all of the documents stamped with an apostille by the DFAT.

This process allows our clients to confidently and smoothly apply for a driver licence in Australia that acknowledges their driving history and experience.

Example: the solution

Vinod booked an appointment and brought his passport and licence. Our notary public confirmed in a notarised certificate that he is the person named in both, so his driving history could be recognised.

About Us

This blog is maintained by Phang Legal, a boutique law firm with offices in Parramatta and Rouse Hill. We help clients from across Sydney and beyond with personal, professional and timely Legal Services, Notary Services and Apostille Services.

As a leading provider of notary services in Sydney, we have 1k+ Google Reviews (4.9) (updated July 2026) with many clients happy to share their experience in using our services.

Phang Legal — Parramatta
6/83 George Street
Level 3, 87 Marsden Street (from 1 March 2026)
Parramatta NSW 2150

Phang Legal — Rouse Hill
214/80 Main Street
Rouse Hill NSW 2155

Call 02 9687 8885 | WhatsApp | Request quote

About the author

Ern Phang — Solicitor & Notary Public

This article was written by Ern Phang, a director of Phang Legal, a solicitor since 1998 and a notary public since 2005.

Ern has been a member of the Society of Notaries of NSW since 2005, a Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Notaries since 2013, and a member of the Law Society of New South Wales since 1998.

Ern regularly writes about his experiences as a notary public and the practical issues his clients face when sending documents from Australia to India and other countries all over the world.

Using information in this article
This article provides general information. Requirements, forms, fees and service arrangements may have changed since its original publication. Check the receiving organisation’s current requirements and obtain advice relevant to your circumstances.

A big week for Indians...

It's been a pretty big week so far with the cricket, Diwali and now the appointment of a UK Prime Minister of Indian origin.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-10-25/meet-britains-next-pm-rishi-sunak/101570628

About Us

This blog is maintained by Phang Legal, a boutique law firm with offices in Parramatta and Rouse Hill. We help clients from across Sydney and beyond with personal, professional and timely Legal Services, Notary Services and Apostille Services.

As a leading provider of notary services in Sydney, we have 1k+ Google Reviews (4.9) (updated July 2026) with many clients happy to share their experience in using our services.

Phang Legal — Parramatta
6/83 George Street
Level 3, 87 Marsden Street (from 1 March 2026)
Parramatta NSW 2150

Phang Legal — Rouse Hill
214/80 Main Street
Rouse Hill NSW 2155

Call 02 9687 8885 | WhatsApp | Request quote

About the author

Ern Phang — Solicitor & Notary Public

This article was written by Ern Phang, a director of Phang Legal, a solicitor since 1998 and a notary public since 2005.

Ern has been a member of the Society of Notaries of NSW since 2005, a Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Notaries since 2013, and a member of the Law Society of New South Wales since 1998.

Ern regularly writes about his experiences as a notary public and the practical issues his clients face when sending documents from Australia to India and other countries all over the world.

Using information in this article
This article provides general information. Requirements, forms, fees and service arrangements may have changed since its original publication. Check the receiving organisation’s current requirements and obtain advice relevant to your circumstances.

Fee for service - what were you expecting?

Do you have to pay for a notary public in Australia?

Notary public services generally are NOT free services.

In Australia, a notary public is a senior lawyer who has obtained further qualifications to provide services of a notary public.

As a professional service, many notary publics will charge a fee that is similar to what they would otherwise charge as a lawyer for their legal services. Some notary publics will charge a fee according to the recommended scale fees for notary public services - but this is not a requirement.

Our notary public fees are generally less than the recommended scale fees depending on the requested services. In most cases, we provide specific notary public services intended for documents used in India including documents that must be submitted to VFS for attestation.

What next?

To obtain a quote on our notary public services for India, please visit Request a notary quote.

CLICK HERE
Get a quote to notarise
your Indian documents

About Us

This blog is maintained by Phang Legal, a boutique law firm with offices in Parramatta and Rouse Hill. We help clients from across Sydney and beyond with personal, professional and timely Legal Services, Notary Services and Apostille Services.

As a leading provider of notary services in Sydney, we have 1k+ Google Reviews (4.9) (updated July 2026) with many clients happy to share their experience in using our services.

Phang Legal — Parramatta
6/83 George Street
Level 3, 87 Marsden Street (from 1 March 2026)
Parramatta NSW 2150

Phang Legal — Rouse Hill
214/80 Main Street
Rouse Hill NSW 2155

Call 02 9687 8885 | WhatsApp | Request quote

About the author

Ern Phang — Solicitor & Notary Public

This article was written by Ern Phang, a director of Phang Legal, a solicitor since 1998 and a notary public since 2005.

Ern has been a member of the Society of Notaries of NSW since 2005, a Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Notaries since 2013, and a member of the Law Society of New South Wales since 1998.

Ern regularly writes about his experiences as a notary public and the practical issues his clients face when sending documents from Australia to India and other countries all over the world.

Using information in this article
This article provides general information. Requirements, forms, fees and service arrangements may have changed since its original publication. Check the receiving organisation’s current requirements and obtain advice relevant to your circumstances.