Identification and Instructions
You must bring identification containing both your signature and photograph (e.g. your passport) so we can verify your identity and signature on any documents you sign at the Consulate. You may be refused entry without proper identification.
Bring clear instructions from your lawyer detailing exactly which pages must be witnessed by the Consulate. Consular staff cannot provide advice on specific legal requirements, including what documents need to be signed or certified. Papers should be presented to officers in an ordered fashion and clear instructions should be given on your exact requirements. If you are unsure of the legislative requirements relating to witnessing signatures on a particular document, you should seek independent legal advice.
All notarial services are by appointment only
Appointments must be booked via acgsh.setmore.com. Appointments will only be kept for 15 minutes. If you are not able to arrive in time, please make new bookings. Clients without an appointment will only be seen in exceptional circumstances.
Notarial services appointments are available Tuesday to Thursday afternoons. Please book your appointment as early as possible.
The applicant needs to present in person to the Australian Consulate General Shanghai.
Please ensure you select the right notarial service as some Australian Federal and State laws require that a signature on a document be witnessed by an Australian Consular Officer or have other procedures applied before the document can be used for legal purposes, or in an Australian court of law. If you select the wrong appointment this may affect our ability to assist you on the day and could result in you having to rebook and return at a later date.
What to bring
Please bring photograph identification which shows your current name and signature. A passport or photo driver's licence would normally be sufficient, however check the instructions that come with your documents as occasionally several forms of identification are required.
Please be aware that Consular Staff are unable to make any endorsement as to the identity of a person, and as such we are unable to endorse photographs as being a true photograph of an applicant.
For the Consulate to witness your land transfer or mortgage document you must bring along written instructions from an Australian legal practitioner, law practice licensed conveyancer, or mortgagee (bank etc.)
We recommend bringing additional copies of the documents that you need signing for emergency use.
Do not sign the documents before your appointment.
Notarial Services include:
- certifying true copies of original documents
- witnessing of signatures on documents
- witnessing the execution of affidavits
- witnessing statutory declarations for use in Australia
- authentication of documents
More information is available at the Smartraveller website.
We can not make Certified Copies of laminated or framed documents.
Statutory Declarations
The Consulate can only witness an Australian Statutory Declaration for use in Australia by an Australian entity.
The Consulate can not witness Statutory Declarations to be used to support marriage in China or the transfer of Chinese land/property.
Statutory Declarations should be written in English, however clients may include their own translation within the space provided prior to signing.
You must bring identification containing both your signature and photograph (eg your passport) so we can verify your identity and signature on any documents you sign.
More information is available at the Smartraveller website.
Selling or buying land or property in Australia?
Bring clear instructions from your lawyer detailing which pages of the land documents must be witnessed by the Consulate and which identification documents require certified true copies.
More information is available from Smartraveller under the "Selling or buying land or property in Australia" section.
Verification of Identity (VOI)
The Consulate can complete the DFAT Identity Certificate for both witnessing signatures, and to accompany certified copies (if required).
The Consulate cannot sign or complete any other 'Identifiers Certificates' or 'Verification of Identity Certificates'.
The Consulate can only list identity documents (including passport, drivers licence, government issued photo ID card) on the bottom of the DFAT Identity Certificate. We must make a certified copy of each identity document.
Further information is available at Smartraveller.
Notarising Documents for Chinese Visa and Work Permits
The Consulate can provide Certified Copies of original documents by appointment.
We can also certify copies of some online Australian government documents where the link to the document is provided to us via email.
AFP Police Check
For Authentication and Certificated Copies of AFP police check, you must present the original document (this must be a hard copy directly posted to you from AFP, printed electronic AFP certificate is not acceptable).
A Certified Copy produced at the Shanghai Consulate satisfies the requirements for Shanghai Entry and Exit Administration Bureau (EEAB) Visa and Work Permit applications.
Authentication/Apostille for original Australian University Documents
You can submit original university documents for us to authenticate/apostille, once verified by the university.
- You need to contact your university to verify your original degree as a 'true and accurate record'. This could be available via your university's online portal or email confirmation from your university.
Australian Visa and Citizenship Documents
Online Visa and Citizenship applications do not require certified copies.
Visa and Citizenship applications submitted in China and on paper can have copies of documents certified by Chinese citizens whose occupation is listed here.
Visa and Citizenship applications submitted outside Australia do not need statutory declarations to be witnessed at an Australian Embassy or Consulate. If your visa/citizenship application requires a witnessed declaration/form, please read the witnessing instructions on the declaration/form. The Department of Home Affairs (HA) can generally accept statements witnessed according to the legal practices of the country in which you make the statement.
All Australian Visa and Citizenship questions must be be directed to the Department of Home Affairs. Online enquiries can be submitted here.
Notary Public
DFAT officers are not notaries public. Please contact your lawyer for advice on local notaries public.
Alternative Shanghai notarial service providers can be found here.
We Can Not Provide Legal Advice
Please ensure that documents relating to the notarial services you require from the Australian Consulate 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 Consulate in Shanghai guarantees the legal effectiveness of the notarised document or the accuracy of its content. Fees paid for notarial services are non-refundable.
Witnessing Signatures
Requirements of this service are:
- Original documents
- Your passport
- Notarial Fees
You must bring identification containing both your signature and photograph (eg your passport) so we can verify your identity and signature on any documents you sign.
For more information regarding notarial services please visit Smartraveller.
Fees
Under the Consular Fees Act of 1955 a fee applies to these services.
At the Shanghai Consulate-General Notarial Fees can only be paid using mPOS (Alipay & WeChat Pay), Chinese ATM cards and most international credit cards. We can not accept American Express cards without a UnionPay symbol and can not accept cheques or cash.
Fees can vary each month due to changes in the exchange rate.
Translation and Interpreting Services
The Shanghai Consulate-General cannot interpret or translate documents. These links provide details of local lawyers and translators.