core-concepts
Who issues apostilles or authentications in Australia?
DFAT issues apostilles and authentications for eligible Australian public documents and eligible notarised documents.
Detailed answer
Within Australia, eligible apostille and authentication services are handled through DFAT. In practice, route suitability still depends on whether the document is an eligible Australian public document or a document that first required notarial handling. The safe explanation is therefore not simply “DFAT does everything”, but “DFAT legalises eligible documents after the correct upstream document setup has been confirmed”.
Common risks
- Treating a private signed document as if it can go directly to DFAT.
- Assuming DFAT decides what the overseas receiver needs.
- Not checking whether the file first requires a notarial act.
What we usually need
- Document type and current document form.
- Whether the document is public, private, original, or copy-based.
- Receiving-side wording if available.
Implementation note
This answer should separate DFAT’s role from the roles of the notary, the issuing institution, and EGS. EGS should never be described as the issuing or certifying authority.
Compliance note
EGS is an independent administrative intermediary only. EGS is not a law firm, not a public notary, and not a government authority. Route suitability and document acceptance remain subject to review and to the receiving authority’s own requirements.