1. Documents Must Be Notarized by a Notary Public (Not JPs)
- If you’re a resident of New South Wales, including Sydney, only a Notary Public—not a Justice of the Peace—can attest your documents for VFS purposes
- This applies to services such as passport applications, document attestation, and various Indian Consular services conducted via VFS Global.
2. Required Documents That Must Be Notarized
VFS Global’s checklists (e.g., for Indian passport and miscellaneous services) specify several situations where notarization by a Notary Public is mandatory:
- Attestation of Signature:
- Indian nationals in NSW: signatures must be first attested by a Notary Public
- Foreign nationals: documents should be apostilled by DFAT before submission; any additional attestation may need a Notary
- Passport Application – Additional Conditions (from updated 2024 checklist):
- Expired Passport (over 1 month): Submit Form I, attested by a Notary Public
- Signature Change: Provide a statutory declaration—also attested by a Notary Public
- Appearance Change (e.g., due to turban removal): Use Form J, with a recent photo, attested by a Notary Public
- Address Change: Submit a required utility bill or proof of address attested by a Notary Public.
- Lost/Damaged Passport: Include Form V, attested by a Notary Public
- Tourist/Other Visa Document Cases:
- Name differences must be accompanied by either a name-change certificate or statutory declaration, attested by a Notary Public VFS Global+4notaryaustralia.com+4SuccessLawyers+4VFS Global.
3. Why Only Notaries Public (Not JPs)?
A 2025 blog clarifies that VFS’s updated rules for NSW require documents to be certified only by a Notary Public, not by a JP. A Notary Public is typically a qualified lawyer with additional credentials, and their attestations are internationally recognised—unlike community-service JPs
4. Apostille and DFAT Requirements
- In many cases, especially for foreign nationals, DFAT apostille is required before submission to VFS. Notarization might still be needed as an extra step in some cases
- VFS documents that are not issued by Indian authorities often need to be apostilled by DFAT first.
Summary Table
| Situation / Document Type | Notarization Requirement |
|---|---|
| Passport application (Form I, signature change, appearance change, address change, Form V) | Must be attested by Notary Public (NSW only) |
| Attestation of signature (Indian nationals) | Notary Public required |
| Foreign national documents (if not apostilled) | Apostille + possibly Notary |
| Name change / Tourist visa discrepancies | Notarized name-change or statutory declaration |
Additional Context & Recommendations
- If documents will be used overseas or to apply through the Indian High Commission, it’s common to require notarisation before DFAT authentication, which is itself required for international use.
- When preparing documents:
- Always use a Notary Public, preferably one experienced with Indian consular/VFS requirements.
- Confirm whether apostille from DFAT is also needed, especially if you’re not an Indian passport-holder.
- Consult VFS checklist for your specific application type (passport, visa, power of attorney, etc.) to identify exactly which forms and attestations are required VFS Global+1.
In Conclusion
For VFS Global services in Sydney (particularly for Indian passport/Consular services):
- Notarization must be done by a Notary Public, not a JP.
- Various forms like Form I, J, V, and declarations need notarization under specific conditions.
- DFAT apostille may also be required, especially for foreign-issued or non-Indian documents.
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