By Ern Phang, Solicitor & Notary Public
Director of Phang Legal. Solicitor since 1998 and notary public since 2005.
Example: the situation
Sneha lives in Parramatta and has always had her passport copies attested by a justice of the peace for VFS. The new checklist now says NSW residents must use a notary public.
For NSW residents, VFS now asks for passport copies attested by a notary public. Let's discuss what that means for you.
Have you noticed that the VFS checklists have been updated recently? If not, you'd better take a look and download the most recent checklists. The most significant change affects people living in New South Wales.
In the past, some supporting documents that had to be submitted to VFS could be attested by a justice of the peace. That requirement no longer exists in New South Wales. The checklists now clearly state "NSW residents kindly submit documents attested by a Notary Public only". So what does this mean?
Unfortunately, it means that submitting documents to VFS will become more expensive. Unlike the justice of the peace, which is a community service and free-of-charge, the notary public service is a paid service.
As a leading provider of notary public services in Sydney, we're committed to supporting the Indian community in Sydney even with the changes to the VFS requirements and continue to offer low cost fixed fee notary public services. Attesting your passport has never been quicker or easier as we generally are available on short notice to notarise and attest copies of your passport.
What next?
To obtain a quote on our notary public services for India, please visit Request a notary quote.Example: the solution
Sneha booked a short-notice appointment and brought her original passport. Our notary public copied it and notarised the copy, and she submitted it to VFS with her application.
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.
