Why do I need to attest my passport?

Attesting copies of passports is a common request, but why?

Don't lose your passport!

Your passport is an important document. While it's not irreplaceable, to replace a lost, stolen, or damaged passport is a real hassle - an unnecessary burden if it can be avoided. There are going to be many times when you'll have to prove your identity and perhaps rely on your passport as evidence. In those cases, unless you absolutely have to, you shouldn't really be sending your original passport anywhere or to anyone. Not only can it be lost in the mail, but once your passport is out of your possession and control, then who knows what could happen to it. Instead of sending your original passport, perhaps you should consider sending a copy only.

Sending copies of your passport overseas

Depending on who needs to see your passport, the copies that you send to them may need to be attested by a justice of the peace or by a notary public. If you're sending a copy of your passport overseas, then it should be attested and notarised by a notary public rather than just attested by a justice of the peace.

VFS applications

If you need to send your original passport, or an attested copy of your passport, to VFS in support of any applications you may be submitting to them, we recommend sending an attested copy of your passport rather than your original passport. For people living in New South Wales, this also means your passport copy must be attested by a notary public while anyone else living in any other state can have their passport copy attested by a justice of the peace.

Primary identification document in Australia

If you don't have any other form of photograph personal identification in Australia other than your passport, you should probably carry a copy of your passport (preferably an attested copy) instead of your original passport. There have been many cases where we've had to help people who have lost their passport or had it stolen or damaged because they were carrying their passport around with them every day. You should keep your passport securely and if you don't apply for another form of identification (ie, like a NSW drivers licence or photocard) then consider only carrying an attested copy. Since you'll be using it only in Australia as your primary identification, you don't have to have it attested by a notary public and can rely on an attestation from a justice of the peace.

Our notary public services

As a leading provider of notary public services in Sydney, we help the community by attesting copies of passports all day every day.

(Just remember we charge for copy of each passport - please do not expect that you can have as many copies of the passport as you like for the same price.)

To obtain a quote on our notary public services for India, please visit https://www.notary-parramatta.com.au/notary-fees/.

Acknowledgements

This blog is supported and maintained by Phang Legal. Phang Legal is a leading provider of notary public services in Sydney. With offices conveniently located in Parramatta, Phang Legal supports and services the Indian community across Sydney with readily available and easily accessible notary public services at highly competitive rates.

For more information regarding notary public services for documents going to India, view our notary publications at https://www.notary-parramatta.com.au/jurisdiction/india-notary/.

Frequently asked questions regarding our notary public services can also be found at https://www.notary-parramatta.com.au/faqs/.

Ern Phang
Notary Public

Ern Phang is the solicitor director of Phang Legal and a notary public. Ern regularly writes about his experiences as a notary public, including the kinds of problems and solutions that his clients face when sending documents to India.

IMPORTANT: the information in this article is correct at the time of publication, however the law constantly changes. This means you should always refer to the most recent articles because we try to update this blog on a regular basis with the most current information.

Please update your Service NSW app for check in and vaccination proof

Your Service NSW app can now show your vaccination proof.

Please update your app and link it to your COVID-19 vaccination digital certificate available through your Medicare Express app. By sharing the digital certificate with your Service NSW app, you can now prove that you're fully vaccinated at the same time that you check-in, without the hassle of switching through apps or producing additional certificates/information.

For us, we've found that this has made the check-in process so much easier and streamlined.

Since 11 October 2021, proof of vaccination has been a condition of entry as we're only allowed to see/serve people in the office with face-to-face appointments if they've been fully vaccinated. For the last week, people have been showing us all forms of vaccination proofs and honestly, it's been a nightmare! Each form of proof shows different information in different formats. However, combining this into one app and sharing the information so that everything is available at a glance has made things so much easier. 

If you update your Service NSW app and you share your COVID-19 vaccination digital certificate, then it will make things so much for us and it will be easier for you too. Thanks for your understanding and cooperation.

Appointments in the office

Face-to-face appointments in the office are necessary for certain notary public services. Generally, this relates to witnessing signatures or verifying identity. For example, if you have a general power of attorney or a special power of attorney that must be attested, then this usually means you must come to our office and you must sign in front of us. When we witness your signature, we can then sign as your witness and then notarise your power of attorney. All of this requires you to be physically present in our office and sign in our presence. Under the current government restrictions, this then means you must be fully vaccinated as well.

Not all notary public services require face-to-face appointments in the office. If you need to have copies of Australian documents attested or certified, you don't need to come to the office in person and you can arrange for your original documents to be mailed to us or dropped off at our office. Most people still make appointments to come to our office with their original documents (as this is generally faster), but if you do this, then you must be fully vaccinated - even for pickup.

How do you prove that you are fully vaccinated or that you have a medical exemption?

From Monday, 11 October 2021 in accordance with easing restrictions across Sydney, our office will reopen to take face-to-face appointments with people who are fully vaccinated or who have a medical exemption.

To prove that you are fully vaccinated, you must be able to show:

• COVID-19 digital certificate - in your Express Plus Medicare app.
• COVID-19 digital certificate - in your Medicare online account through myGov.
• COVID-19 digital certificate - in your Android Wallet, or iOS Wallet.
• Printed copy of your COVID-19 digital certificate.
• Immunisation history statement - shown digitally.
• Printed copy of your immunisation history statement.

To prove that you have a medical exemption, you must be able to show:

• COVID-19 medical clearance notice - digitally or as a printed copy
• COVID-19 medical exemption form - printed copy must be signed by a doctor
• Immunisation history statement - medical exemption

For more information, see https://www.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-10/covid-19-%20proof-of-vaccination-or-exemption.pdf

Individuals failing to comply with this requirement can face fines up to $1,000, and businesses can face fines up to $5,000.

Unless there is a change in the government restrictions, it will be a condition of entry for face-to-face appointments, including notary public services, that you are able to prove that you are fully vaccinated.

Taking appointments from 11 October 2021

Finally, reopening for business

It was announced earlier today that New South Wales has achieved its first milestone of 70% double vaccinations! This means restrictions will be eased for business, especially in relation to those people who have been fully vaccinated. This includes us!

From Monday, 11 October 2021, we will be reopening for business and available to take appointments from people who are fully vaccinated (or medically exempt). Our revised policies and procedures are being implemented and so if you need to have your documents notarised, please call ahead to make an appointment.

What next?

To obtain a quote on our notary public services for India, please visit https://www.notary-parramatta.com.au/notary-fees/.

Acknowledgements

This blog is supported and maintained by Phang Legal. Phang Legal is a leading provider of notary public services in Sydney. With offices conveniently located in Parramatta, Phang Legal supports and services the Indian community across Sydney with readily available and easily accessible notary public services at highly competitive rates.

For more information regarding notary public services for documents going to India, view our notary publications at https://www.notary-parramatta.com.au/jurisdiction/india-notary/.

Frequently asked questions regarding our notary public services can also be found at https://www.notary-parramatta.com.au/faqs/.

Ern Phang
Notary Public

Ern Phang is the solicitor director of Phang Legal and a notary public. Ern regularly writes about his experiences as a notary public, including the kinds of problems and solutions that his clients face when sending documents to India.

IMPORTANT: the information in this article is correct at the time of publication, however the law constantly changes. This means you should always refer to the most recent articles because we try to update this blog on a regular basis with the most current information.

Will we be reopening on 11 October 2021?

Depends.

11 October 2021 is not a set date. It's being proposed as the date on which NSW business can start to reopen, however, it's subject to meeting specific milestones within the 'Reopening NSW Roadmap'.

The current roadmap allows NSW businesses to start to reopen once 70% of the population has been double vaccinated with further restrictions being lifted once 80% of the population has been double vaccinated. The end goal is for NSW to be fully reopened by 1 December 2021, but that's also subject to the prior milestones being met 

At this stage, we are advising clients that if they require face-to-face appointments, they must call back on 11 October 2021 to determine if we have/will re-open and what our re-opening policies and procedures will be moving forward. At this stage, in compliance with the roadmap, face-to-face appointments will ONLY be available for people who have been double vaccinated.

Even if/when NSW has fully reopened by 1 December 2021, we expect that many of the health and safety protocols that we've introduced throughout the pandemic (on our own or in compliance with COVIDSafe, like wearing masks) will continue to be enforced at least for the time being and until further notice.

When are face-to-face appointments not required?

Notary public services don't always require face-to-face appointments. So if you're not vaccinated, or you're not comfortable visiting us (for whatever reason, including self=isolation) we can still help you as long as you're not signing a document and need us to witness your signature or you don't need us to verify your identity.

For example, if you need to attest copies of your passport or copies of your Australian documents (ie, birth certificate, marriage certificate, address proof, utility bills, bank statements, education documents, employment documents), we can still help you without needing to have a face-to-face appointment. In these cases, we attest the copy of the document - we're not identifying you or witnessing your signature - which means all we need is the original document that needs to be attested.

Throughout these restrictions, we've still been helping people with this requirement, but it's involved them either sending the documents to us by mail or our office arranging for a courier to collect the documents from them. If the documents in question cannot be replaced easily (ie, like a passport) then we recommend that we arrange for a courier. Otherwise, other documents can be sent to us by mail.

If you're not sure whether you need notary public services that require a face-to-face appointment in our office or can be done remotely, please call us on (02) 9687 8885 to discuss your requirements.