By Ern Phang, Solicitor & Notary Public
Director of Phang Legal. Solicitor since 1998 and notary public since 2005.
Example: the situation
Dinesh moved from Harris Park to Kellyville and needs to update his address with VFS. VFS wants a notarised copy of his electricity bill, which only ever arrives by email.
Notarising a utility bill isn't the same as certifying a passport. Let's discuss what's involved.
Notarising a copy of your utility bill
Have you been asked to have your utility bills notarised? In recent weeks, more and more clients have asked about having their utility bills notarised and this presents a problem because utility bills are normally non-government providers and these days they're issued electronically.
If you live in New South Wales and need to show to VFS that you have changed your address, one of the requirements that VFS imposes on you is to prove your new address by submitting a notarised copy of your utility bill. In order to notarise your utility bill, we must first verify the information as well as the authenticity of the bill with your provider. This service offering is a little different from simply certifying a copy of a document that has been issued by a government department (ie, a public document) like a passport or driver's licence or photocard.
Still looking for assistance with this requirement?
What next?
To obtain a quote on our notary public services for India, please visit Request a notary quote.Example: the solution
Dinesh printed his bill and brought it to us with his identification. We verified the bill with his electricity provider, and our notary public then notarised it for VFS.
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.
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Level 3, 87 Marsden Street (from 1 March 2026)
Parramatta NSW 2150
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214/80 Main Street
Rouse Hill NSW 2155
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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.
