There’s a handful of technicalities you’ll need to understand when embarking on your migration journey . Australia has unique requirements for how your documents are completed, certified and translated, so it might not be obvious if you’ve never been through this part of the process before. Here’s an overview for getting everything right from the beginning.
What are ‘Certified Copies’ and how do you get them?
Copied documents can be vulnerable to editing and manipulation, so normal copies are considered unreliable by most government agencies to be used as certifiable proof – this is why ‘certified copies’ are necessary for many applications.
A certified copy is simply a copy of your document which has been approved by an eligible person as being authentic and matching its original. The best part is that normally Certified Copies are FREE. Just take the original documents together with the copies for an authorised person to certify. Ah! Coloured copies are always better!
Where can you get Certified Copies?
- an Australia Post near you
- Any pharmacy
- Police Stations
- A JP (Justice of the Peace) in your council area (Just Google it).
- Even your dentist or chiropractor
Visit the Department of Home Affairs’ list of approved occupations.
NAATI Certified Translators
You may have seen or heard about NAATI Certified Translators during your application journey. The National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) is a non-government organisation recognised for certifying translators who can provide approved translations of documents in your visa application.
If you need an ‘official’ translation for your application, this can be done by a NAATI Certified Translator. To find a NAATI Certified Translator just go to https://www.naati.com.au/ > Find a Translator and select the language you need. All is normally done via email. Easy and quick.
What is a Passport Photo?
Just like your certified copies and translations, your passport photo has some special requirements too. A passport photo will be necessary to complete an identity declaration, for example. Passport photos must be:
- less than 6 months old
- good quality colour, not laser copies
- a full-face view of your head and shoulders, and
- taken against a plain light-coloured background.
- taken within the correct height and width specifications
Where can I get a Passport Photo done?
Often the easiest way to get a passport photo done is at a post office, a pharmacy or even newsagents near you. Your photos are normally ready in a few minutes and you pay a small fee.
Police Checks
In general, people would need an Australian Police Check issued by AFP (Australian Federal Police) if they have lived in Australia and also from the country or countries they have lived in the past. This is when it could get tricky. Some countries are required to issue more than one type of Police Check. Some are easily issued online, free of charge, others may require a bit more effort.
Australian Police Check Step-by-Step
- 2.3 Purpose Type: Commonwealth Employment / Purpose
- Purpose of Check: 33 - Immigration/Citizenship - for supply to the Department of Home Affairs
Police Check from other Countries
- Select the Country
- Select Police Check > Details
- And follow the instructions.
What is a Statutory Declaration?
Statutory Declaration or simply Stat Dec is a written statement that you sign and declare to be true and correct before an authorised witness. You can be charged with a criminal offence if the information is false.
How to make a Statutory Declaration?
You can find Stat Dec forms online. If downloading online, always make sure you get your form from a Government website. To make your life easier, you can go to the https://www.ag.gov.au/legal-system/publications/commonwealth-statutory-declaration-form for a Commonwealth Statutory Declaration form.
Who is an Authorised Witness?
Well, not just anybody can sign your Stat Dec. We will list some of the authorised witnesses below. You can find the complete list on the declaration form itself.
- JP (Justice of the Peace) in your council area (give old Google a go again)
- Police Officer
- Pharmacist
- Medical Practitioner
- Dentist
Important!
This must be in person and done in writing. You cannot get a document witnessed via webcam or Skype.
Your approved witness should:
- check your identity (Remember to bring your passport or ID)
- remind you that you are claiming your statement (and any attachments) is true
- tell you that there are penalties for making false statements
- check that the form is completed correctly
You must sign your statutory declaration:
- in front of the approved witness
- with a pen
- You cannot use an electronic or digital signature.
This is normally a FREE Service.