What is an Authentication and/or Apostille certificate?
Some foreign authorities require DFAT to issue your document with an Apostille or an Authentication certificate. We call this "legalisation services".
Legalisation describes the process where DFAT verifies the signature, seal or stamp on an original Australian public document. When DFAT confirms the signature and/or seal on your document matches our records, we will issue the Apostille or Authentication certificate. Then you can present the document to your foreign authority.
The Apostille certificate and the Authentication certificate both serve the same purpose. The country receiving the document decides which certificate type they will accept. Each country has different requirements. DFAT staff cannot advise clients of foreign requirements. If you need advice then you should contact the country's High Commission, Embassy and/or Consulate in Australia.
How to apply for an Apostille
Apostilles can be applied for in person by appointment or by registered mail (Einschreiben). You can book an appointment to have your document legalised here: Book an appointment (embassy.gov.au). If you live in or close to Berlin or Frankfurt, we recommend you visiting us in person.
Please send us the following documents by registered mail.
- The original document (must be an Australian Public Document).
- A simple copy of your passport
- An informal letter with the following information:
Full name of applicant:
Email address:
Phone number:
Return postal address:
Country legalisation is required for:
The postal address of the Australian Embassy is:
Consular Team Berlin
Australian Embassy Berlin
Wallstr. 76-79
10179 Berlin
Upon receipt of your document, we will send you a payment link by email to complete payment online. Fees can be found here: Passport and Notarial Fees (embassy.gov.au). The apostille certificate will be issued within 1-2 business days once received (excl. postage) and sent back to you by registered mail. Please be advised that documents can only be returned within Germany. Should you reside outside of Germany, please apply for the apostille at your nearest Australian Embassy. Please note that the Embassy will charge postage to return the document to you even if an apostille cannot be affixed. If you are unsure whether your document can be legalised, please email us at [email protected].
Type of document |
Requirements and other information |
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Government documents |
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Australian birth certificates, including ceremonial certificates and extracts
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Submit the original certificate issued by the state/territory Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages. |
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Australian marriage certificates |
Submit the original certificate issued by the state/territory Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages. We cannot accept the ceremonial certificate that you get on the day of your marriage ceremony. |
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Australian death certificates |
Submit the original certificate issued by the state/territory Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages. |
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Divorce certificates |
A personal interview is required. During the appointment you need to forward us the email received from the Federal Court or log in to the WebPortal. Please note that even if your divorce certificate was issued as a hard copy, we must see the electronic copy and print it directly from the source. Please contact the relevant court to obtain an electronic copy if you do not have one. |
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Police Criminal Record Checks or Finger Print Reports |
Submit the original or electronic document issued by the Australian Federal Police or a state or territory police force. To have an electronic certificate legalised, please forward the original email containing the Police Check that you receive to [email protected] with a request for legalisation. |
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Photocopies or certified copies of documents. |
An Australian notary public lawyer needs to notarise your document. We cannot accept certification from a Justice of the Peace, pharmacist or police officer etc. |
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Education Documents |
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Primary and Secondary School documents |
An authorised officer from the relevant Australian state or territory government education body needs to sign the document before we legalise it. We cannot accept documents signed by the school administration. Visit smartraveller for government education contacts. |
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TAFE and CIT documents |
We will accept your original documents. |
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Australian University documents |
You need to contact your University to verify your degree as a "true and accurate record" before we can legalise it. This could be available via an online portal. Visit smartraveller for information on how to verify University documents. Once verified, we can accept your documents. This includes photocopies of University documents notarised by an Australian notary public lawyer. The Authentication or Apostille will be placed directly on your degree or academic transcript. |
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Australian Private Schools and Colleges |
An Australian notary public lawyer needs to notarise your document. |
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Photocopies of Australian education documents |
An Australian notary public lawyer needs to notarise photocopies of documents. |
If the type of document you need legalised is not listed above, please visit smartraveller.gov.au for more information.
Electronic Documents
If your original document is electronic, you must provide your document in its original electronic form. DFAT can only issue an Authentication or Apostille certificate on a copy we have printed ourselves directly from the source. We will ask you to forward the email sent to you by the issuing authority or, if the original electronic document is accessible through a web portal, you will have to log on to this portal using your mobile device or the computer in our waiting area.