Lost or damaged your Indian passport? Signing Form V in Australia

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

Example: the situation

Rahul's passport went through the washing machine in his jacket pocket, and the pages are now stuck together. He lives in Sydney and needs a new Indian passport before his next trip.

Losing your passport is stressful, especially when you're living in Australia and need to travel. If your Indian passport has been lost, stolen or damaged, you must apply to VFS Global for a new passport. Your application for a new passport must include Form V, and Form V must be signed in front of a notary public.

What is Form V?

Form V is the declaration you make about how your passport was lost or damaged. It forms part of your passport application, which is lodged with VFS Global, the service provider for the Indian High Commission and Consulates in Australia.

Always download the current Form V (updated July 2026) and the VFS passport services checklist (updated July 2026) before you start. The checklist tells you what other supporting documents to include with your application.

Why a notary public?

Many of our clients ask whether a justice of the peace can witness Form V. If you're lodging your application in New South Wales, the forms and supporting documents that need witnessing or certifying generally need to be attested by a notary public. Our notary will verify your identity, witness you sign Form V, and notarise it.

Does Form V require an apostille?

Although Australia and India are both members of the Apostille Convention, which means documents from Australia sent to India usually require an apostille to be recognised, Form V doesn't normally need an apostille. Once notarised, you lodge it directly with VFS as part of your new passport application.

Form V: Passport Application Process for Damaged, Lost or Stolen Passports

This flowchart explains how to work out whether you can apply for a replacement passport with Form V, and how the notarisation and submission process works.

1. Check whether your passport is damaged, or lost or stolen.
2. If damaged, check whether your photograph and name are still visible, clear and legible.
3. Check whether you have another form of photo ID, and whether it was issued in Australia, such as a licence or photocard.
4. If you cannot meet these requirements, contact VFS directly for more information.
5. Otherwise, complete Form V without signing it.
6. Have your signature on Form V witnessed and the form notarised by a notary public.
7. Submit the notarised Form V and supporting documents to VFS, following the relevant VFS checklist.

What to bring to your appointment

• Form V, completed but not signed. You sign it in front of our notary.
• Your photo identification. If your passport is lost, bring other photo identification such as your Australian driver licence or photocard.
• Your damaged passport. Bring your passport if you still have it and it hasn't been damaged beyond recognition.
• The current checklist. This is for your benefit in case there are other documents that require notary attestation.

Complete Form V yourself before your appointment. We don't prepare the form or tell you what to write in it, because it's your own statement about what happened to your passport.

Need Form V notarised?

Example: the solution

Rahul downloaded the current Form V and checklist, filled in the form at home and booked an appointment. He brought the damaged passport, his driver licence and the unsigned form. He signed in front of our notary, who notarised Form V in addition to any other documents that Rahul required as part of his application. Rahul lodged his application with VFS the same week.

Request a Form V 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.