Please ensure that documents relating to the notarial services you require from the Australian Embassy, are presented in the correct form and that you provide the correct instructions for the notarial service you require. If you are unsure of the legislative requirements relating to the notarial service you require, you should seek independent legal advice.
Please note that neither the Australian Government nor the Australian Embassy in Portugal guarantees the legal effectiveness of the notarised document or the accuracy of its content. Fees paid for notarial services are non-refundable.
The Australian Embassy in Portugal provides a limited range of notarial and documentary services for Australians in Portugal.
The Embassy is staffed with consular and diplomatic officers, who are authorised to perform notarial services under the following legislative guidelines:
- Consular Fees Act 1955
- Oaths Act 1900
- Statutory Declaration Act 1959 (approved witness list from Australian Attorney General's Department).
In many cases, local notaries can provide services at rates which are set by the local Portuguese Notary Society. In some cases, accessing these services may be more convenient than travelling to the Australian Embassy.
Notarial Services Overseas
Please visit smartraveller before booking an appointment to learn about the different types of notarial services we offer and requirements before we can perform them.
|
Notarial Service |
Description |
Can I send my documents by registered mail? |
|
Performing legalisation of signatures and/or seals through either an authentication or an apostille
|
An apostille is a statement placed on a public document that verifies the country of origin of the document, the identity of the signature/seals/stamps which appear on the document, and the capacity in which the person signing the document has acted. Australia and Portugal are co-signatories to The Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement for Legalisation of Foreign Public Documents, which allows for the simplification of the formal authentication process for public documents. The Australian apostille is placed on the original Australian document. You will need to confirm with the relevant authorities in Portugal whether they require an apostille on an Australian document in order to recognise it as a public document. Please contact us to confirm if your Australian document can be legalised by the Embassy with an Apostille of the Hague. The Australian Embassy in Portugal is unable to attach an Apostille to documents issued in Portugal. |
For original hard copy documents, you can request this notarial service by mail or an in-person appointment. You must make an in-person appointment for all electronic documents requiring an Apostille. |
|
Witnessing signatures on documents and statutory declarations (Commonwealth and State)
|
Australian Embassy consular officers can witness signatures on documents. You will be asked to show valid identification, such as your passport or driver’s licence. For statutory declarations, please complete the statutory declaration form (do not sign) and have it ready for an officer to witness at the Australian Embassy in Lisbon. As of 1 January 2024, changes were implemented to allow statutory declarations to be completed via MyGov without the need for a witness. Depending on your circumstances, you may no longer require a witness for Commonwealth statutory declarations intended for use in Australia. For more information, visit the Attorney-General's website. |
No. You must make an in-person appointment. |
|
Witnessing and taking of affidavits, oaths or affirmations |
Australian Embassy consular officers can witness and take affidavits, oaths or affirmations. You will be asked to show valid identification, such as your passport or driver’s licence. | No. You must make an in-person appointment. |
|
Certifying true copies of documents or photographs
|
Australian Embassy consular officers can certify photocopies of original Australian documents and original foreign documents intended for use in Australia. A certified copy of a document confirms in English that the photocopy is a true copy of an original document sighted. It is an Australian requirement that you provide the original(s) document(s) to be certified. |
Yes. You can request this notarial service by mail or an in-person appointment. |
|
Witnessing applications forms for, and issuing of, Certificates of No Impediment (CNI) |
Australian Embassy consular officers can issue Certificates of No Impediment to Marriage (CNI), if you require one. Refer to this link for further information. |
Yes. You can request this notarial service by mail or an in-person appointment. |
Notarial Service Fees
All notarial service fees will be charged in AUD (subject to exchange rates and any overseas transaction fees). Payment is by card only (Visa, MasterCard and Maestro accepted). Apple Pay, cash and other cards are not accepted.
The Consular Fees Act 1955 (Cth) and the Consular Fees Regulations 2018 (Cth) set out the fees charged for notarial services. Fees are subject to annual indexation. No GST/VAT is payable on the below fees and receipts are issued for all transactions.
| Fees correct as at 1 January 2024 |
Fee $AUD |
|---|---|
| Administering an oath or receiving a declaration or affirmation | $85 |
| Witnessing a signature or seal on a form or declaration | $85 |
| Verifying and certifying a copy of a document or part of a document | $85 |
| Signing a document, or affixing a seal to a document or other article | $85 |
| Witnessing the execution of a will | $85 |
| Preparation and issue of an Apostille certificate or Authentication | $98 |
| Preparation and issue of a Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage | $171 |
A fee is required to be charged per service performed. For example, a separate fee will be charged for each document requiring certification. If you require the witnessing of the signatures of two separate clients on one single document, two fees will required to be charged. All fees are non-refundable.
| Notarials Services we cannot provide |
|---|
| * Witness your signature on a statutory declaration or document for use outside Australia. |
| * Issue a Certificate of No Impediment as proof of a de-facto relationship for visa/residency purposes in Portugal. |
| * Provide a letter of No Objection or any other type of document to adopt a child. |
Book an appointment
All notarial services are offered by appointment only. Please bring your valid passport or ID card and the original document(s) to the appointment.
Sending documents by registered mail
If requesting a notarial service by registered post, ensure you include a cover note detailing the notarial service you require, your name, contact number and return address.
Documents should be addressed to:
Australian Embassy Lisbon
Avenida da Liberdade, 200, 2nd floor
1250-147 Lisbon
Payment details
Once the Embassy receives your original documentation, the consular officer will verify if the original documentation are acceptable for the notarial services. If the original documents are acceptable, the consular officer will contact you, to proceed with the notarial service payment details.
Questions
If you have any questions, please contact us on + 351 21 310 1500 or [email protected].
Privacy Policy
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) uses third-party software (Setmore) to manage the Embassy's appointments. Your personal information (including your name and contact details) will be collected by DFAT via Setmore to book your appointment and for related purposes. By proceeding with this booking, you are consenting to the collection of this information by Setmore on DFAT's behalf for these purposes. If this information is not collected, DFAT's ability to arrange your appointment will be limited. Your personal information will be handled by Setmore in accordance with Setmore's Privacy Policy, and by DFAT in accordance with DFAT's Privacy Pollicy.