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.
