Keeping up to date with changes to the IDLV process

Do you have the most up to date IDLV Checklist?

The Indian Drivers Licence Verification (IDLV) process is necessary if you want to change your Indian drivers licence to an Australian drivers licence.

This process allows the relevant Australian driving authority in your state to verify that you have a valid licence in India and that you have the pre-requisite driving experience in order to bypass your learner's licence or provisional licence. You may need to check your relevant state driving authority (ie, such as the RMS in New South Wales) to ensure that whatever experience you may have in India will be valid and accepted in Australia.

What about different names?

Sometimes, depending on which state issued your licence in India, your name may appear differently on your Indian drivers licence compared to your Indian passport. This is because your drivers licence may have been issued before you were issued with a passport and the driving authority in India issued your licence according to the name on your 'year 10 mark sheet'. Other times, the difference in your name may be due to various naming conventions which are acceptable in India, but unfortunately are not acceptable in Australia. Even if the differences are fairly minor, such as using your initials instead of your full name or using an abbreviated name or the substitution of your father's name, if your name on your Indian drivers licence is different to your name on your Indian passport, then you are going to have an issue and you will need help.

In Australia, your passport is a primary photo identification document, not your Indian drivers licence. This means the driving authority in Australia will identify you according to your passport and if Indian drivers licence has a different name then that licence will not be accepted as your licence without other supporting evidence which you must obtain through VFS.

Notary public services and the IDLV application

As part of the IDLV process, VFS will provide the supporting evidence required by the driving authority in Australia to confirm that you are the one and the same person in your passport and your licence, that your licence is valid and your number of years experience in India. However, before VFS will provide that supporting evidence, you must apply to VFS and satisfy all the requirements in their IDLV Checklist. One of those requirements involves our notary public services.

As a leading provider of notary public services in Sydney, we have assisted many people who have different names on their Indian passport and their Indian drivers licence. We provide them with a notary certificate to verify that they are the one and the same person, and we assist them in satisfying the requirements of the IDLV process.

Where is the most up to date IDLV Checklist?

A few years ago, VFS changed their IDLV process from requiring an authentication stamp to an apostille stamp. This was a significant change at the time because not only were they different stamps issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), but there was a significant cost difference between an authentication and an apostille especially when the documents were bound together - which, in the case of the IDLV supporting documents, we did to also include copies of passports and drivers licence.

To avoid any complications arising from using outdated information or old documents, always download the most recent IDLV Checklist directly from the VFS website. You can find it here:

http://www.vfsglobal.com/india/australia/consular_miscellaneous/pdf/IDLV-Checklist.pdf


The last time the IDLV Checklist was updated was in November 2017, which means that if you started preparing your application before then, you should make sure everything you now submit is up to date and satisfies the current requirements. Fortunately, there have been no changes to the VFS requirements for the IDLV if your name on your Indian Passport and your Indian drivers licence are different.

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/.

For Hindi to English translation services by NAATI accredited translators, see https://hindi-naati-translation.blogspot.com.au/.

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.

Apostille Services resume for 2018

We have resumed our notary public services and apostille services for 2018.

From 1 January 2018, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) have increased the fees for the apostille and authentication of documents. Previously all documents that were stamped with an apostille or authenticated by DFAT were $80 each. The new pricing applies to all documents lodged after 1 January 2018.

Authentication
$81

Apostille
$81

No change to our fees

As a leading provider of notary public services, we regularly assist our clients with notarising their documents in order for those notarised documents to be stamped with an apostille or authenticated by DFAT. If requested, we also assist our clients with arranging for the apostille or authentication.

Despite the increase in DFAT fees for the apostille and authentication of documents, our fees have not changed for 2018 and remain the same as they were in 2017 – which is fantastic news for our new and returning clients.

Other developments

Over the recent months, there have also been a number of other developments in the way that we process documents. One example is in the Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) check that we perform and have bee notarising for our clients who need to send proof of their visa entitlement in Australia to another country. In the past, the information available to us from VEVO has been limited to the passport number and visa type.

Fortunately, VEVO has updated its report to now show more information such as the visa holder’s name and more information about the visa (including relevant dates). This means that the search results that we obtain and the certificate that we can provide will be more detailed, and hopefully provide the necessary information or proof required by other countries.

On a side note, the foreign office of some countries will still not permit us to acknowledge or recognise their foreign passport in Australia (despite it being the form of identification generally used by foreign nationals who do not have any other form of photographic identification).

As more and more documentation becomes electronic, we expect the developments and the demands for this work will only grow and we continue to adapt and refine our services to meet those developments and the needs of our clients.

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/.

For Hindi to English translation services by NAATI accredited translators, see https://hindi-naati-translation.blogspot.com.au/.

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.

Suspension of Apostille Services for 2017

Due to office closures over the Christmas and New Year period, we will be suspending our Apostille services from 1 December 2017. Apostille services will resume from 15 January 2018.

We will still be providing notary public services until 22 December 2017.

If you wish to obtain an apostille during this period, you will need to make your own enquiries with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) - however be aware that DFAT has traditionally been closed during the Christmas and New Year period or be short staffed. You should expect and plan for delays.

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/.

For Hindi to English translation services by NAATI accredited translators, see https://hindi-naati-translation.blogspot.com.au/.

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.

Indian Drivers Licence Verification in Victoria

From Monday, 23 October 2017, VicRoads will no longer require people to go through the Indian Drivers Licence Verification (IDLV) process with VFS to convert their Indian Driving Licence to a Victorian drivers licence.

See this link for more information.
https://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/punjabi/en/article/2017/10/23/vicroads-introduces-new-process-conversion-indian-driver-licences


However, this only applies in Victoria. If you live in NSW and you want to convert your Indian Drivers Licence to a NSW drivers licence through RMS, you will still need to complete IDLV process through VFS.

As part of the IDLV process, if your name on your Indian Drivers Licence is different to your name on your Indian Passport, you will need our notary public to verify that you are the one and the same person. We can also help you to obtain an apostille from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Review the IDLV Checklist from VFS for more information.
http://www.vfsglobal.com/india/australia/consular_miscellaneous/pdf/IDLV-Checklist.pdf

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/.

For Hindi to English translation services by NAATI accredited translators, see https://hindi-naati-translation.blogspot.com.au/.

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.

Best advice for Indian Citizens living in Australia

Get your identification sorted!

As a leading provider of notary public services in Sydney, we're constantly providing assistance to members of the Indian community living in Australia. After decades of experience, there's one piece of advice which we think is the best advice - for Indians living here as permanent residents - and that is to get your local identification sorted. Apply for and obtain an Australian government photocard or photograph identification, or convert your Indian drivers licence to an Australian drivers licence.

A locally recognised photograph identification document will resolve many issues. If you don't, you may find yourself stuck in certain circumstances and there's very little that we or VFS, on behalf of the Indian Consulate, can do for you.

What notary public services do we provide for Indians?

We provide the Indian community with a range of notary public services. Whether it's helping them to convert their Indian drivers licence to an Australian drivers licence when their names are different on their Indian drivers licence and Indian passport, or to witness their documents such as General Power of Attorney or Special Power of Attorney for use in India, we've provided the solutions for different situations and different problems. Unfortunately, there are some situations that we can fix - and it's in those cases that you need to take action before it becomes a problem to avoid the difficulties that we see some people have.

What problems could you have if you don't have Australian photograph identification?

Although you could always carry your Indian passport and use that as your primary photograph identification in Australia, it's not always the best or most practical form of identification. Instead, it would be better (and more relevant in Australia) to carry an Australian photograph identification, like an Australian drivers licence or an Australian photocard or photograph identification. In Australia, these documents are widely accepted by most places as the primary photograph identification because Australia does not have a national identity card.

For example, if you lose or damage your Indian passport (or if it's stolen), you'll need to apply to VFS/Indian Consulate for a replacement. The application is in the form of an affidavit known as Form V. The affidavit must be sworn/declared and signed in front of a notary public - that's what we do. However, if you don't have your passport (because it's lost, stolen or damaged beyond recognition) you'll need to have some other form of valid identification document that's valid and acceptable in Australia. Generally, the only documents that would be accepted as valid identification documents are government-issued identification documents that have your photograph (ie, a drivers licence or photocard). If you don't have a valid identification document with your photograph, you don't be able to identify yourself to sign the affidavit.

So many people ask us to help them to witness their signature on Form V but we can't help without some form of valid identification to confirm that you are the person signing the Form V. You need photograph identification that is valid in Australia.

What next?

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

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

For Hindi to English translation services by NAATI accredited translators, see http://hindi-naati-translation.blogspot.com.au/.

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.

What documents do you need to send to India?

Confused? Get legal advice!

Many clients call us for advice about what legal documents they should be sending to India, how to write their legal documents for India or whether their legal documents should also be stamped by the Indian Consulate/VFS. Each time we tell them that they need to ask their lawyer in India - and if you are also looking for answers to these same legal questions, then you should also ask your lawyer in India.

As a public notary, we can assist you with the legal process in Australia only. There is a process in Australia (following international conventions) that involves documents originating from Australia or signed in Australia to be first notarised and then authenticated/legalised, or stamped with an apostille. The challenge when dealing with the legal process relating to Indian documents signed in Australia but used in India is that there does not seem to be a single accepted approach adopted by lawyers in India or even by the Consulate/VFS despite the international conventions.

For example, widely recognised and accepted international conventions allow for documents that have been stamped with an apostille to be accepted in their intended destination country if that country is a member state of the Apostille Convention without further stamping, verification or legalisation. Accordingly, this should mean that documents that have been stamped with an apostille in Australia should be accepted in India without issue, however this often does not seem to be the case. Many lawyers in India have advised clients that they must also have their documents stamped by the Consulate/VFS and VFS have stated that those documents would have to be stamped with an apostille before they would accept them - despite the Apostille Convention.

Ultimately, your end goal is to satisfy whoever it is in India that the documents you are sending to them are valid. This means that despite whatever regulation or process may exist with VFS, the Consulate or international protocols, the intended recipient's opinion is the most important.

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/.

For Hindi to English translation services by NAATI accredited translators, see https://hindi-naati-translation.blogspot.com.au/.

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.

DFAT Changes 2017

Have you been to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) recently to stamp your documents with an apostille?

Many documents that need to be sent to India must also be stamped by VFS, and VFS requires those documents to notarised and stamped with an apostille. DFAT is the authorised issuing authority for apostilles in Australia and so if your documents must be stamped with an apostille, then they must be processed by DFAT.

Recently, DFAT have introduced a number of changes to the way they process documents as well as the cost. Previously, you could walk into DFAT at their Sydney office and have your documents processed over the counter. You might have to wait depending on how busy they were, but it was a fairly informal and simple process as long as you were able to go there during their normal opening hours. Now, you need to call in advance to make an appointment. Sometimes you will be able to make an appointment on short notice, but other times you could be waiting for a few business days. If you are going to go to DFAT to have your document stamped with an apostille, you will still need to allow for half a day at least.

From 1 January 2017, DFAT have also changed their filing fees and the way that they charge their filing fees. Previously, single paged documents were $60 for the apostille and $80 for multiple paged documents. Now, there is a flat fee of $80 for all documents. Simple. You do not need to worry about the size of your document, or whether your document has been bound or not, the fee to have your document stamped with an apostille is $80.

As a leading provider of notary public services in Sydney, in addition to notarising your documents we are able to arrange for your documents to be stamped with an apostille at DFAT. Our services will cover both filing and the filing fee and is perfect for those clients who do not have the time to make an appointment and go to DFAT themselves. If you need this additional service, we can handle the whole process on your behalf from notarisation, and apostille stamping so that you can collect the final document from our office or if you prefer, posted out to you by express post.

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/.

For Hindi to English translation services by NAATI accredited translators, see https://hindi-naati-translation.blogspot.com.au/.

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.

Our new Form V video for 2017

Have you lost or damaged your Indian Passport? Or perhaps it was stolen and you need to apply to VFS for a replacement. Part of the process requires you to submit an Affidavit in Lieu of Lost/Damaged Passport, also known as Form V. Form V must be signed in front of a notary public who must also sign and notarise the Form V before it will be accepted by VFS.

We can help you with this.

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/.

For Hindi to English translation services by NAATI accredited translators, see https://hindi-naati-translation.blogspot.com.au/.

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.

Our new IDLV video for 2017

Converting your Indian Drivers Licence to a NSW Drivers Licence but your name on your Indian Drivers Licence is different to your name on your Indian Passport?

You need to satisfy the VFS requirements for the Indian Drivers Licence Verification (IDLV). This includes having a notary certificate to verify that you are the one and the same person, and having that notary certificate stamped with an apostille by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

We can help you with this.

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/.

For Hindi to English translation services by NAATI accredited translators, see https://hindi-naati-translation.blogspot.com.au/.

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.

FORM V - No Original Photograph Identification

What is Form V?

Form V is the Affidavit in Lieu of Lost or Damaged Passport. It is the form required by the VFS, on behalf of the Indian Consulate, that you must complete in order to apply for a new/replacement Indian passport to replace your passport that has been lost or damaged.

Form V identification requirements

Before we can assist you with the FORM V, you must be able to prove your identity. You can only do this by providing us with original photograph identification such as:

• Indian Passport. If your Indian Passport is damaged, your photograph and your name/date of birth must clear and identifiable - you should contact us if you have any concerns whether your Indian Passport can be used to prove your identity.
• Other passport. If you hold another passport, in addition to your Indian Passport, you may use that passport.
• Australian Drivers Licence or Photocard. You must have obtained this from a driving authority in Australia.
• Other Australian Government issued photograph identification. Please contact us and provide us with a copy of your proposed photograph identification for confirmation.

The kinds of identification that we do NOT accept include:

• Photocopies or certified photocopies of a passport or any other original photograph. We will only accept original photograph identification.
• Medicare card. The Medicare card is a form of Australian Government identification however it does not include a photograph.
• Indian Drivers Licence or PAN card. We are unable to identify you in Australia by non-Australian identification documents.
• Police Report. You may receive a Police Report if you have reported that your Indian Passport has been stolen, however we do not accept this as a form of identification.

If you do not have the necessary photograph identification document, you should contact VFS directly and advise them of your issue and ask for guidance as to your other options.

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/.

For Hindi to English translation services by NAATI accredited translators, see https://hindi-naati-translation.blogspot.com.au/.

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.

Important Announcement regarding DFAT Apostille

From 2 November 2016, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) will provide apostille and authentication services by appointment only. If you have a document that needs to be stamped with an apostille (or be authenticated), you must first make an appointment with DFAT before attending their offices. For more information regarding DFAT, obtaining an apostille or an authentication, please call their 'Document Legalisation Information Service' on 1300 935 260.
​
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/.

For Hindi to English translation services by NAATI accredited translators, see https://hindi-naati-translation.blogspot.com.au/.

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.

Don't wait! Verify your Indian Drivers Licence today

There are many reasons why people do not convert their Indian drivers licence to an Australian drivers licence. Perhaps they are here temporarily or not intending to remain in Australia and so they do not see the need to convert, others may be waiting for their visa approvals, some could be waiting to become an Australian citizen, while many people just think that the process is too difficult and so postpone / procrastinate on following it through.

Whatever the reason, it has been our experience that delaying the process can create other complications and so we highly recommend converting (or at least starting the process) sooner than later.

As a leading provider of notary public services in Sydney, we assist many people to convert their Indian drivers licence to an Australian drivers licence through our Indian Drivers Licence Verification process. If your name on your Indian drivers licence and your Indian passport, you will need to undertake this process in order to convert your licence. However, be aware that the process is not a simple process or a straight forward process, meaning you must allow for processing times, expect delays and account for these possibilities and contingencies when applying to convert your licence. For more information regarding the process, please visit the VFS website and review the IDLV checklist.

Problems caused by delay

Here are some problems that people face because they delayed converting their licence.

• VFS changes. This has happened before, and it will happen again. Processes and requirements change due to changes in the law or policy and the IDLV process through VFS is no different. At this stage, we do not know what future changes may be, but we know what the process is now. Accordingly, if you want (and especially if you need) to convert your Indian drivers licence to an Australian drivers licence then you may benefit from doing it now rather than wait for the uncertainty of the future. Of course you might get lucky in that VFS makes the process easier in the future, but that would be the chance you take. However, even if the process is easier, it is unlikely that the cost/fees would be cheaper - as most things, this will only increase over time.
• Citizenship. Many people do not (by choice or because they forget) convert their licence, but they adopt Australian citizenship. The IDLV checklist clearly relates to verifying the identity of the Indian drivers licence holder with the Indian passport holder. As far as we are aware, VFS will not assist you with the IDLV process if you are an Australian citizen and will not provide a verification between an Indian drivers licence and an Australian passport. Accordingly, if your name on your Indian drivers licence and your Indian passport are different, you must complete this process through VFS before you become an Australian citizen.
• RTO changes. Part of the IDLV process requires a letter from the relevant RTO in India to confirm the Indian drivers licence details. The IDLV checklist states that the name on letter from the RTO and the Indian drivers licence must be identical. Due to various changes or upgrades to systems and processes in India, occasionally we have been told by clients that the name in the letter from their RTO in India no longer matches the name on their Indian drivers licence (for whatever reason). This will create complications for VFS. The scope of our notary public services is limited to verifying that you are the one and the same person on your Indian drivers licence and your Indian passport. Unfortunately, we cannot help you with any changes to your details on the RTO letter.
• Licence or passport expiry. Too many times we have been asked to verify the identity of the Indian drivers licence holder and the Indian passport holder are the one and the same person because either their drivers licence or their passport was about to expire. At this point, people are rushing with unrealistic deadlines. Be aware that the process can take weeks - not hours.
• RTO letter expiry. The IDLV process requires that the letter from the relevant RTO in India is less than 6 months old. Again, we are often approached a day or two (or even on the day) that the 6 months expire to complete the verification process. If it is not possible, we will tell you. As much as we want to assist, waiting to the last minute will only create yourself more complications and problems - meaning you will potentially need to re-start the process.
• Appointments with VFS. We also receive requests from people who are rushing to an appointment with VFS - but why? If you have an appointment with VFS which requires documents to be notarised, and your appointment is at 12pm - it is unlikely that we are able to 'squeeze you in' at 11am, and it is impossible to do this if you also need to have your documents stamped with an apostille from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Remember, this process can take weeks. It will not happen at the last minute. Again, if it is not possible, we will tell you.
• Change of name. Some people change their name (ie, if they marry, if they want to shorten or simplify, or if they Anglicise or adopt an English name). If they formally change their name on their Indian passport (which then differs from the name on their Indian drivers licence) before they convert their licence, they then must go through the IDLV process. Perhaps it would have been cheaper and easier to have converted their licence before they change their name.

Although these are just some examples, there can be many reasons why delaying could cause more complications - unnecessary complications - to the IDLV process, and those complications could also have been easily avoided by attempting this process sooner than later. Sometimes the consequence is additional delay, or additional cost, but sometimes it could potentially prevent you from converting your licence meaning to obtain an Australian drivers licence through the 'normal' process (ie, starting from the start with no recognition of prior driving history or licence). Regardless of the reason behind these circumstances, a little forward planning could have and potentially would have avoided any issues.

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/.

For Hindi to English translation services by NAATI accredited translators, see https://hindi-naati-translation.blogspot.com.au/.

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.

What do I need to bring to get FORM V notarised?

If you have lost or damaged your Indian Passport, or if it has been stolen, you will need to complete and submit FORM V to VFS to have a new passport issued to you.

As a leading provider of notary public services, many clients approach us for assistance because FORM V must be notarised - it cannot be signed by a justice of the peace.

Accordingly, to have FORM V notarised, you must attend our office and prove your identity in order to have your signature witnessed. This means, if your passport has been lost, stolen or damaged beyond recognition, you must have some other form of photograph identification that is normally acceptable in Australia (for example, an Australian drivers licence or photocard issued by the RTA/RMS). Other forms of non-Australian photograph identification will not be accepted.

Unfortunately, we have had to turn away many people without being able to assist because they did not have the required identification documents to prove their identity. If you do not have your passport or any the form of Australian photograph identification, you should contact VFS for clarification on your options.

Summary of Requirements

1. Appointment. Make an appointment to have your documents notarised. You should also request a quote for the notary public service. Please call 02 9687 8885 between 9am-5pm Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays.
2. Form V. Complete the information required on the form before your appointment. Do not sign it until asked. We cannot assist you with completing the information on the form.
3. Photograph ID. Bring your passport, or if your passport is lost, stolen or damaged beyond recognition, you must bring another form of Australian identification (ie, Australian drivers licence or photocard).

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/.

For Hindi to English translation services by NAATI accredited translators, see https://hindi-naati-translation.blogspot.com.au/.

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.

Do I really need to have my document signed by VFS/Consulate?

Following our previous article about our clients having their documents rejected by VFS, our clients often ask us whether their documents must be signed by VFS.

VFS provides consular services on behalf of the Indian Consulate to Indian citizens in Australia. For example, if you need assistance with applying for visas, change of personal details (appearance, name or address), renewing your passport, applying for Overseas Citizenship of India, converting your Indian drivers licence, registering or issuing a birth certificate or marriage certificate, or renouncing your Indian citizenship.

If you have been asked to have your documents countersigned by the Indian Consulate, then the process you must follow involves:

Notarise your documents

As a leading provider of notary public services in Sydney, we are regularly asked to notarise documents such as special powers of attorney or general powers of attorney, affidavits and other sworn documents, authorisation letters or copies of public documents.

Stamp your notarised documents with an apostille

An apostille is a type of stamp issued in accordance with the international convention known as the 'Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents'. Countries that are signatories to the convention will recognise documents stamped with an apostille without any further involvement by their foreign office (called legalisation) - which makes the process adopted by VFS/Indian Consulate as a little unusual.

Stamp your documents at VFS

Technically, as India is a signatory to the convention, documents that have been stamped with an apostille by DFAT should be recognised in India without requiring legalisation through the Indian Consulate or VFS. Despite this, if you have been asked to have your documents countersigned by the Indian Consulate, then you must submit your documents to VFS - and depending on the type of document, VFS may require your documents to be stamped with an apostille before they will stamp your documents.

Sending notarised documents without apostille or VFS/Consulate stamps

The clear majority of our clients only need to have their documents notarised. They do not need to have their documents stamped with an apostille and they do not need to have their documents stamped by VFS or the Indian Consulate. It seems that having their documents notarised and stamped by a notary public is sufficient. Obviously, this would be the quickest and least expensive process to return your documents to India as it bypasses DFAT and VFS processing times and fees.

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

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

For Hindi to English translation services by NAATI accredited translators, see http://hindi-naati-translation.blogspot.com.au/.

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.

VFS has rejected your notarised document?

Recently, some of our clients have encountered problems when submitting their notarised documents to VFS.

Unfortunately, you'll need to make your own enquiries with VFS as to what their requirements are when processing your documents regardless of whether those documents are notarised or not, and (as experience and history and taught us) be aware that their requirements can change without warning. Another challenge that you'll face is that documents prepared for you in India (even if they're prepared by your lawyer) and are formatted in a certain way could be rejected by VFS for no other reason than "not enough room" - which is the latest issue that our clients have faced.

This is the unfortunate reality of dealing with VFS. Our clients have had their documents rejected by VFS because after all the signing, witnessing and stamping has been done there is limited space at the end of the document for VFS to attach their stamp or seal. But is this reasonable? Should VFS reject the document simply because there is limited room on the page?

While we, and every other notary, official or consular office face exactly the same challenge on a daily basis, we do not simply reject documents or refuse to help our clients because there is "not enough room" at the bottom of the page. Instead, we address the issue by either 'squeezing' our stamps, seal and signature into the available space at the bottom or in the margins or we attach a separate certificate to the document.

If you've had to have your documents notarised or stamped with an apostille by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, you'll know that a notary certificate can be attached to the document or if you bind your documents then the apostille will be attached to the notary certificate or as a separate bound certificate. Maybe you'll be charged an additional fee for the binding or separate document, but at least your document won't be rejected.

Despite our clients' protests and complaints, VFS has refused to process their documents forcing them to 're-do' (ie, sign, notarise and stamp with an apostille) their documents and incur additional costs! We think it's a questionable attitude and approach especially when VFS (on behalf of the Consulate General of India) is primarily responsible for providing service to and assisting Indian nationals in Australia, but in reality it seems to make 'things more difficult' whether it's due to the bureaucratic model or by choice or design. We're also unsure whether this is an official requirement or a new requirement as it's never been raised previously, or whether it's going to be an ongoing issue. Perhaps it could be just the official who happened to process the documents.

Fortunately, not every document needs to be countersigned by VFS or the Consulate, which means if it can be avoided - then probably you should. However, if it's required, then even before considering what you need to be doing, you should ask whoever you're sending the document to whether VFS or Consulate stamps are required. Unfortunately, if you need to have your document stamped by VFS/Consulate, we're unable to control or determine what they will or won't do. This means we're also unable to guarantee whether your documents will be accepted or not - and that's the reason for this article. When it comes to our notary public services in this regard, our fees for services apply regardless and so you should make your enquiries with VFS before booking an appointment with our office.

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/.

For Hindi to English translation services by NAATI accredited translators, see https://hindi-naati-translation.blogspot.com.au/.

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.

Help by a Notary Public - Signing an Affidavit for India

If you have received an affidavit to submit to a government office or court in India (or to submit to VFS in Australia), it is likely that you will need to sign that affidavit in front of a notary public if you live in Australia.

If the affidavit has been prepared by your lawyer in India, your lawyer should have provided you with instructions as to how the affidavit should be signed and sworn. You should also clarify any other formalities such as:

• Does the affidavit need to be printed on bonded paper of stamped paper? If it does, you will need to have the affidavit prepared in India because you cannot buy bonded paper or stamped paper from Australia.
• Does the affidavit need to include your photograph? If so, you need to bring your own photograph and we will put a notary seal over your photograph once it has been attached to the affidavit.
• Does the affidavit need to include your finger prints or thumb prints? If so, we can assist you in terms of witnessing you placing your prints on the affidavit.
• Does the affidavit need to be signed in front of witnesses in addition to the notary public? If so, you will need to arrange for your own witnesses as we cannot guarantee or provide witnesses.
• Does the affidavit need to be countersigned by the Indian Consulate or follow any other process? If so, there is a process after having the affidavit notarised that may involve the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and VFS.

Following these instructions is important otherwise your affidavit may be rejected and you would need to do it again. Aside from a cost, you need to be aware that the delay caused by not 'doing it right' in the first place may result in more complications depending on the purpose and the deadline for your affidavit.

It is also important to remember that the government office or court in India may not recognise the signature by a justice of the peace, and so the process that you will need to follow is to have your affidavit notarised by a notary public.

If you need to submit your affidavit to the Indian Consulate, you should check the requirements listed on the VFS website and they process all documents on behalf of the Consulate. You may also need to have your affidavit stamped with an apostille from DFAT. DFAT will not recognise the signature of a Justice of the Peace which means IF you need to have your affidavit stamped with an apostille, then you must have your affidavit notarised.

As a leading provider of notary public services in Sydney, we provide assistance to many clients who need to send affidavits to India. If that includes you, then please contact us to see how we can assist you.

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/.

For Hindi to English translation services by NAATI accredited translators, see https://hindi-naati-translation.blogspot.com.au/.

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.