notarial_acts - Embajada de Australia

Embajada de Australia

España

Embassy address: Level 24, Torre Espacio, Paseo de la Castellana 259D, 28046, Madrid - Telephone: 91353 6600 - Fax: 91 353 6692

APOSTILLES OR LEGALISATIONS OF DOCUMENTS, WITNESSING SIGNATURES ON DOCUMENTS OR CERTIFYING PHOTOCOPIES OF DOCUMENTS

Apostille of The Hague (Apostilla de la Haya)

Australia and Spain 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. 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. The Australian apostille is placed on the original Australian document and is available only in Australia through the State and Territory offices of the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade (DFAT). You will need to confirm with the relevant authorities in Andorra or Spain whether they require an apostille on an Australian document in order to recognise a public document. If so please refer to http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/authen.html under “Authentications Apostilles” for your closest DFAT office in Australia and the fee charged for this service.

Authentication of documents (Legalización)

Documents originating or executed in Australia, whether private or public, are often required to be authenticated (or legalised) before they can be used or relied on in a foreign jurisdiction. The purpose of an authentication is to establish a ‘chain of authentication’ in order to verify the signatures (and/or stamps or seals) appearing on a document. Consular officers at the Embassy are able to authenticate genuine Australian documents; however, you will need to make an appointment beforehand. Remember to bring the original document to the appointment. Once confirmed, the Consular Officer will then print on the back of the document, in Spanish, confirmation that the signature and seal are authentic. Please note that a fee will be charged for this service.

Witnessing signatures on documents

Australian Embassy consular officers can witness signatures on documents. However, you must make an appointment with the Embassy and bring in the unsigned document. You will be asked to provide original identity documents, such as your passport or driver’s licence. Please note that a fee will be charged for this service.

Certifying photocopies of documents

Australian embassy consular officers can also certify photocopies of documents, in either English or Spanish, confirming that the photocopy is a true copy of an original document sighted. You must make an appointment with the Embassy and bring the original document to be photocopied. Please note that a fee will be charged for this service.

N.B Please ensure that the document(s) relating to the notarial act(s) you require from the Australian Embassy are presented in the correct form and that you provide the correct instructions for witnessing any signatures on the document(s). If you are unsure of the legislative requirements relating to witnessing signatures on a particular document you should seek independent legal advice. Please note, by witnessing a signature on a document(s) neither the Australian Government nor the Australian Embassy in Madrid, Spain guarantees the legal effectiveness of the document(s) nor the accuracy of its contents.

To make an appointment at the Australian Embassy in Madrid for any of the above services, please phone the Consular Section Monday to Friday 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM on Tel. 91 3536635 or e-mail the Embassy on madrid.embassy@dfat.gov.au Please note that the Australian Honorary Consulate in Barcelona cannot perform any of these notarial services.