12/08/2026
To get a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) apostille in Sydney, you must submit original Australian government documents or notarized private papers. Direct public appointments in Sydney face wait times of up to 4 to 6 weeks, costing $105 per document, though mail-in options and authorized agents offer faster alternatives.
Key DFAT RequirementsOriginal Public Documents: Birth, death, and marriage certificates (excluding ceremonial versions), as well as police checks and corporate documents, can be processed directly without notarization.
Private and Educational Documents: University degrees, commercial agreements, or power of attorney forms must first be signed and sealed by an Australian Notary Public.Translations: Any foreign-language translation must be performed by a credentialed NAATI translator following strict DFAT formatting guidelines.
Submission Options in SydneyIn-Person Appointments: Bookable via Smartraveller, though subject to extensive multi-week booking delays.Mail-In Service: Documents can be mailed to the DFAT state office, though turnaround takes longer standard processing windows.Agent Lodgement: Commercial channeling services and local notaries can attend the Sydney DFAT office on your behalf to bypass public booking queues
