By Ern Phang, Solicitor & Notary Public
Director of Phang Legal. Solicitor since 1998 and notary public since 2005.
Example: the situation
Shreya needs a notarised utility bill for VFS, and her gas bill only comes as a PDF by email. She wants the quickest way to get it done without two trips to our office.
An electronic bill can still be notarised, but how you arrange it affects time and cost. Let's discuss the fastest way.
Why do you need to notarise your utility bill?
Recent changes at VFS now means that if you live in New South Wales and you need to prove your address (or change of address), you need to provide VFS with a notarised copy of your utility bill. Previously, these documents could be certified by a justice of the peace, but not anymore. Involving a notary public in this process potentially means a higher level of formality to verify the documents being notarised to confirm their authenticity - ensuring that the process and the checks required by VFS are taken to a higher standard.
What's the problem with notarising utility bills?
Notary public services generally deal with original documents and this presents a bit of a challenge when many documents (especially utility bills) are only being produced and sent as electronic documents by email or by download. The process of notarising electronic documents still means printing the electronic document as a paper document for it to be notarised.
What do we offer to help you satisfy this process?
Notarising your utility bill can be quick and easy, but it depends on what you're prepared to do and what you're able to do (and how your utility provider can assist you in this process). Currently, our notary public service offering is tailored towards the following arrangement as being the fastest and cheapest method that more and more of our clients are electing to follow.
Fastest and cheapest - arrange for your utility provider to email a copy of the utility bill to us directly. When the email comes to us directly from the utilty provider, we'll print the attach statement and provide a notary certificate confirming that we received the documents directly from the utility provider. Provide your utility provider with this email and call us to make an appointment.
If you can't arrange for your utility provider to email us directly, you can either print your utility bill or email it to us and we'll verify the information with the utility provider. Due to the steps in this process, it potentially takes longer and will cost more than the first method.
What next?
To obtain a quote on our notary public services for India, please visit Request a notary quote.Example: the solution
Shreya followed the arrangement we suggested and organised what was needed from her gas provider before her appointment. Our notary public verified the bill and notarised it in a single visit.
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.
