Have tried to do a search on this but no luck so far.

We need to get our passports certified and some other paperwork for both our medicare and mortgage application.

Does anyone know the process in Australia - do we literally just call a Justice of the Peace and arrange for them to do it? Anyone have any idea how much this might cost and the timeframe involved? Finally will it matter if we get them certified in NSW and then register for Medicare and buy a house in QLD (long story!)

Many thanks
Em

We get our documents certified at the local pharmacy. I kid you not!

Almost all offices or large workplaces have a JP somewhere. If either of you work, ask around there if there's a JP on the premises. My husband is one, but for work purposes only, so he's not on any advertised lists. He sometimes spends hours certifying documents for people and never charges a cent.

Failing that, as the earlier poster has said, many pharmacists are JPs so check at your local chemist shop!

Just to add to what Nicky has said, you'll find JPs at shopping centres, around here anyway. There's usually a JP available one day a week at each shopping centre signing documents etc for free. Check with your local shopping centre.

Mrs JTL

I work with a lady who is a JP in Qld, and she tells me that they are not allowed to charge - certifying docs is a free service

It shouldn't cost you anything to get documents certified down-under........ leastways i don't charge anything when I authenticate signatures!

They recently did away with what used to be called Commissioners of Declaration; now there are a whole heap of people qualified to witness signatures such as; nurses, chemists, doctors, the legal fraternity, real estate agents (not salespersons), teachers, and other professionals.

I'm fairly sure this is applicable in all states too?

No. Its WA only I once had some Queensland transfer documents returned with declaration witnessed by a miner

Great thanks for all the advice will post with how we get on when we finally get there (are in Singapore at the moment)

Thanks again!

The manager of our local Post Office was kind enough to certify our docs's ...

all 32 of them ...

No charge as well! ...

we had ours done by post office too- but chose a time when they are not too busy and the employee has to have worked there for 5 years.

Also police stations sometimes do them- at least our local one does.

All has now become clear as to why the visa application process wants certified copies of everything!

They have no idea that the system in other countries is radically different and we have to pay mega bucks. (I know a Dr who had to have his certified by a Notary and that cost £200!!)

They must imagine we just pop down to our local shopping centre!

Yip, I worked with a DB administrator who told me him and his wife did the JP certification cos they were bored (hmmm, boring marriage maybe ), and they were not allowed to charge for the service.

He did say he now wished he hadn't done it

JTL

Hi,

Just thought I'd feed back. We tried several chemists to no avail but in the end found a couple of JPs in different banks and duly did it all without a charge!

Thanks again for advice.

ditto

Here's the queensland free JP in the public list.. just rock up at the place on the list and get it done.

http://www.justice.qld.gov.au/jps/centres.htm