When we talk about Australia Legalisation, we have to tell the difference between "Legalisation of Documents in Australia" and "Documents Legalisation for Australia".
"Legalisation of Documents in Australia" means Australia legalization for documents originating from Australia but to be used in other countries. "Documents Legalisation for Australia" means Australia legalization for documents originating from other countries but to be used in Australia.
Here, we focus on the legalization for documents issued in Australia and preparing your Australia documents for China in 3 steps.
Step 1 Notarise your documents originating from Australia
A Notarial Certificate is a certificate issued and signed by the Notary Public certifying, for example, that the person(s) stated in the document have signed the document in the Notary’s presence. He could also confirm in the Notarial Certificate that he had compared a copy of a document with the original and have found the former to be true copies.
Any document requiring Legalisation must be accompanied by a Notarial Certificate. Australian Notary Publics can 'notarise' documents for use overseas.
The Australian government legalises documents by issuing either an apostille or authentication certificate. The apostille or authentication certificate verifies the signature, stamp or seal on the original document, or that of the Notary Public for documents they've notarised.
| Australian Official Websites For Notary Publics | |
| ACT Public Notaries Public in the ACT | Supreme Court of the ACT |
| NSW Public Notaries | The Society of Notaries of New South Wales |
| Northern Territory Public Notaries | Supreme Court of the NT |
| Queensland Public Notaries | The Society of Notaries Queensland |
| South Australian Public Notaries | Notaries' Society of South Australia |
| Tasmanian Public Notaries | Supreme Court of Tasmania |
| Victorian Public Notaries | The Society of Notaries of Victoria |
| Western Australian Public Notaries | WA Justice Department |
Step 2 Legalisation by Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is the Australian legalisation authority. No other authority in Australia can 'legalise' documents.
Addresses of DFAT
DFAT has offices in each Australian capital city.
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DFAT switchboard: (02) 6261 1111, ask for NSW State Office
Location and postal address for State Office：
Level 13
9 Castlereagh Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Passports, Notarial Services (legalising documents including apostilles, authentications and Certificates of No Impediment to Marriage) for the Northern Territory are provided through the Darwin Passport Office at:
Level 5, Northern Territory House
22 Mitchell Street, Darwin, NT 0800
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Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Phone: (07) 3405 4799
Location
150 Charlotte Street (opposite Queensland Health)
Brisbane, Queensland 4000
Postal address
GPO Box 879
Brisbane, Queensland 4001
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Phone: (02) 6261 1111 (Switchboard)
Mail:
GPO Box 9807
Adelaide SA 5001
Address:
Level 5, Allianz House
55 Currie St
Adelaide SA 5000
Level 1, 111 Macquarie Street
HOBART TAS 7000
Office hours: Monday to Friday 08:30 to 17:00.
DFAT switchboard: (02) 6261 1111, ask for the Tasmania State Office
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Mail:
GPO Box 9807
HOBART TAS 7001
The Victoria State Office does NOT provide authentication and notarial services. Passports, document legalisations (apostille and authentications) and Certificates of No Impediment to Marriage for Victoria are provided through the Melbourne Passport Office.
Location of Melbourne Passport Office
Level 2, Collins Square,
747 Collins Street, Docklands
Telephone: Australian Passport Information Service on 131 232
Passports, document legalisations (apostille and authentications) and Certificates of No Impediment to Marriage for Western Australia are provided through the Perth Passport Office at Level 1, 140 William Street, Perth.
PO Box 93
Thursday Island QLD 4875
07 4069 1495
Step 3 Authentication by Chinese Embassy in Australia
Apply for the documents authentication from the Chinese Embassy or relevant Consulate General where the documents notarized but not authenticated, in accordance with consular regions. For example, if your documents are notarized in South Australia and authenticated in DFAT's office in Sydney, they should be authenticated in the Chinese Consulate General in Adelaide but not the Consulate General in Sydney.
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Embassy/Consulate Generals |
Consular Regions |
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ACT, NT |
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NSW |
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VIC,TAS |
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WA |
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QLD |
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SA |
Document Requirements
All documents to be authenticated should meet the following requirements:
- The signature and stamps of the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Trade or its Office in States or Territories should have been put on records in the Chinese Embassy or relevant Consulates General.
- The documents must be legitimate with Chinese laws and regulations.
- Documents must be band up with stapler or sealed with sealing wax or stamped with paging seal.
Documents to Be Submitted
- One completed and signed application form which can be downloaded and filled out by the free Adobe Acrobat Reader.
- Original and one copy of the passport of the applicant. If the applicant entrust someone else to apply for authentication, orginal and one copy of the passport or photo ID of the entrusted person should also be submitted. In some special cases, an entrusted letter signed by the applicant or issued by the corporate is also required.
- Original documents to be authenticated.
- One copy of the document.
- Copies of passports of the parents and child and birth certificate of the child should be submitted if the documents is power of attorney of children's fosterage.
Precautions
Registration certificate of the corporate and one passport copy of the fictitious person should be submitted if the document is concerning company business.
Marital status certificate and certificate of non-criminal record are valid for 6 months from the date of issue. Applicant should complete all the procedures within 3 months.
Appicants are strongly suggested to collect the documents on time. Document wich is not collected within 3 months will be cancelled.
