By Ern Phang, Solicitor & Notary Public
Director of Phang Legal. Solicitor since 1998 and notary public since 2005.
Example: the situation
Anil has moved to Blacktown and wants to convert his India drivers licence. His licence shows his name as an initial and surname, but his passport spells out his full name. The checklist asks him to prove that both documents belong to him.
A different name on your drivers licence and your passport is one of the most common problems we see with the India Drivers Licence Verification. Let's discuss what you need to do.
VFS links and resources — Updated July 2026. Links in this article have been updated to the resources listed in our July 2026 VFS update and the VFS India website for Australia. Use the relevant VFS checklist for current requirements. This note concerns links and resources; the rest of this article has not been comprehensively reviewed.
India Drivers Licence
Verifying your identity to apply for the India Drivers Licence
If the name on your India Drivers Licence is different from your current valid passport, you need to the steps clearly contained in the checklist found at Download the IDLV checklist (PDF).There are a number of options available to you, however only 'Option 2' would appear to be the practical option if you reside in Australia.
Under 'Option 2', you must provide the High Commission of India with a notarial certificate to confirm that you are the one and the same person who holds both the India Drivers Licence and the passport.
For us, this is a common request. Our notary public services provides notarial certificates to meet the requirements of the India Drivers Licence Verification Checklist, including arranging for authentication by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
When you make an appointment to attend our office, you must bring your original drivers licence and passport. We prepare a bound certificate certifying that you are the one and the same person, and certifying the copies of your drivers licence and your passport. Our certificate will be authenticated by the DFAT to meet the requirements of the High Commission of India for the India Drivers Licence Verification.
We regularly notarise documents intended for India. Allowing us to manage and look after the formal requirements of notarisation and authentication means you avoid the uncertainty and hassle of a process that may not be familiar to you.
To obtain a quote on our notary public services for India, please visit Request a notary quote.Example: the solution
Anil booked an appointment and brought his original drivers licence and passport. We prepared a bound certificate confirming he is the one and the same person, with certified copies of both documents, and arranged for DFAT to process it. He then gave it to the High Commission of India under Option 2.
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.
