By Ern Phang, Solicitor & Notary Public
Director of Phang Legal. Solicitor since 1998 and notary public since 2005.
Example: the situation
Rohit became an Australian citizen three years ago and lives in Kellyville. A government office in Gujarat, updating his records, asks for proof of his Australian citizenship with an apostille. He has only one Australian citizenship certificate and doesn't want to part with it.
Once you become an Australian citizen, VFS in Australia or offices in India may need to see proof of it. For example, you may be required to provide proof of your Australian citizenship if you are applying to be an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI), or when you need to update your records or deal with property or accounts in Australia. Your citizenship certificate is that proof. Before you send it anywhere, it's worth knowing that you usually don't have to send your original Australian citizenship certificate. Let's discuss this in further detail.
Will the office in India accept a copy of your citizenship certificate?
In most cases, whether it's VFS or any other office, they usually don't require you to send the original certificate. It's an Australian document anyway, and more important as proof of your citizenship in Australia rather than proof elsewhere that you're an Australian citizen.
If someone is asking you for your citizenship certificate, ask them whether they require the original or whether a notarised copy will do. Many offices haven't thought about it until you ask.
For most of our clients, the request ends up being one of these:
- A notarised copy. Our notary sees the original certificate and certifies a copy, and the original goes home with you.
- A notarised copy with an apostille. We arrange the apostille on the notarised copy, so your certificate stays untouched.
- The original with an apostille. Possible, but rarely the best choice, for the reasons below.
Why is an apostille requested for an Australian citizenship certificate?
India and Australia are both signatories to the Apostille Convention. An apostille from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is the recognised way for an official in India to accept an Australian document without checking it with Australia. Government offices and courts tend to ask for it. A private recipient may not.
If the office prefers attestation from the Indian High Commission or Consulate, that is its own procedure, which a future article will cover.
Should you put an apostille on your original citizenship certificate?
We can arrange for DFAT to issue an apostille on your original Australian citizenship certificate, but we don't recommend it. Your citizenship certificate records a status you hold for life, and you may need it again for passports, records or family matters in Australia.
Once your citizenship certificate has been issued with an apostille and sent overseas, it's rarely returned. Even if it comes back, the apostille usually means it's a single use document, and once marked with the apostille it might not be accepted for other purposes. Accordingly, if whoever you're sending it to will accept a notarised copy with apostille, then we recommend doing that.
If you still want the apostille on your original Australian citizenship certificate, be aware that it might not be possible if your certificate is torn, faded or laminated. You should advise us when you book an appointment. A less-than-perfect original carries a real risk of rejection by DFAT, which is one more reason to apostille a notarised copy instead.
What to bring to your appointment
- Your original Australian citizenship certificate.
- Your passport or Australian driver licence, so our notary can identify you.
- The office's request, showing whether it wants an apostille.
- A colour copy of the certificate, only if the office insists on colour. Otherwise we make the copy for you.
What next?
Example: the solution
Rohit checked with the office in Gujarat, which confirmed it would accept a notarised copy with an apostille. Our notary certified a copy of his Australian citizenship certificate, and we arranged the apostille with DFAT. Rohit collected the documents from our office and posted them to India himself, and he kept his original Australian citizenship certificate safe and unmarked.
Need your Australian citizenship certificate ready for India? Request a quote today, or contact 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 — Parramatta6/83 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.
