Within Australia, staff within Australian Passport Offices in capital cities are authorised to provide services such as:

• issuing of Certificates of no Impediment to Marriage (CNI) (including witnessing the signature on the application form)
• legalisations of documents (Apostilles and Authentications).

Legalisation of Documents (authentications and apostilles)

Foreign governments sometimes need proof the signatures of Australian officials on documents are genuine before they can be accepted. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), through the Australian Passport Office in your capital city will certify that a signature, stamp or seal on an official Australian public document is genuine by checking it against a specimen held on file, print and attach a certificate in the form of an 'authentication' or an 'apostille' stating certain facts. The authentication or apostille is then signed by DFAT staff and sealed with a wet and a dry seal. For further information regarding document requirements including fees and charges, locations and the form to lodge documents refer to Smartraveller.

Certificates of No Impediment to Marriage

DFAT cannot provide advice regarding other countries' specific requirements in order for a marriage to be legal in a particular country. For details of marriage requirements you should contact the Embassy, High Commission or Consulate of the country in which you would like to marry for their advice. Refer to Smartraveller for further information regarding Certificates of No Impediment to Marriage including the application form.

Further enquiries

Visit Smartraveller for further information, including on appointments for services, and the required forms:

• My documents are in Australia
• My documents are overseas