Who can certify documents?

Certifying a copy of a Customer’s ID document in Australia

Documents can be certified as a true copy of the original document, by any of the following certified signatories: 

1. Justice of the Peace
2. A registered Legal practitioner
3. Accountant who is a fellow of the National Tax Accountants' Association or a member of any of the following:
4. Institute of the Chartered Accountants of Australia
5. The Association of Taxation and Management Accountants
6. The Australian Society of Certified Practicing Accountants (CPA)
7. The Institute of Public Accountants
8. Commissioner for Affidavits
9. Commissioner for Declarations
10. A Public Notary
11. Medical practitioner
12. Pharmacist
13. A federal, state or territory Police officer
14. Permanent employee of the Australian Postal Corporation with 2 or more years of continuous service who is employed in an office providing postal services to the public
15. An American Express employee

Certification requirements

The certification must include the following and make a statement as below:

1. Certifier’s full name
2. Category/Qualification of certifier. For example, Justice of the Peace
3. Stamp/Seal (if applicable)
4. Registration number (if applicable)
5. Signature
6. Date
7. For photo and non-photo IDs: "I certify this to be a true copy of the original, which I have sighted or similar."

Certification when overseas

When certification occurs overseas, copies of international identification provided by a Customer residing overseas must be certified by a person authorised by law in that country to take statutory declarations or the equivalent.

It is important that the trusted referee must not be:

1. Related to the Customer. For example, a trusted referee cannot be their parent, child, brother, sister, aunt, uncle or cousin.
2. The spouse or partner of the Customer
3. A person who lives at the same address as the Customer
4. A person involved in the transaction or business requiring the certification