From 1 January 2018, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) have increased the fees for the apostille and authentication of documents. Previously all documents that were stamped with an apostille or authenticated by DFAT were $80 each. The new pricing applies to all documents lodged after 1 January 2018.
Authentication
$81
Apostille
$81
No change to our fees
As a leading provider of notary public services, we regularly assist our clients with notarising their documents in order for those notarised documents to be stamped with an apostille or authenticated by DFAT. If requested, we also assist our clients with arranging for the apostille or authentication.Despite the increase in DFAT fees for the apostille and authentication of documents, our fees have not changed for 2018 and remain the same as they were in 2017 – which is fantastic news for our new and returning clients.
Other developments
Over the recent months, there have also been a number of other developments in the way that we process documents. One example is in the Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) check that we perform and have bee notarising for our clients who need to send proof of their visa entitlement in Australia to another country. In the past, the information available to us from VEVO has been limited to the passport number and visa type.Fortunately, VEVO has updated its report to now show more information such as the visa holder’s name and more information about the visa (including relevant dates). This means that the search results that we obtain and the certificate that we can provide will be more detailed, and hopefully provide the necessary information or proof required by other countries.
On a side note, the foreign office of some countries will still not permit us to acknowledge or recognise their foreign passport in Australia (despite it being the form of identification generally used by foreign nationals who do not have any other form of photographic identification).
As more and more documentation becomes electronic, we expect the developments and the demands for this work will only grow and we continue to adapt and refine our services to meet those developments and the needs of our clients.
To obtain a quote on our notary public services for India, please visit Request a notary quote.
For Hindi to English translation services by NAATI accredited translators, see https://hindi-naati-translation.blogspot.com.au/.
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.
