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Legal Processes - Notarial Services

The Notarial Section is open from 09.00 - 17.00 Monday to Friday only.

To ensure a prompt and efficient service, please contact us (Tel: +41 (0) 022 799 9100) to arrange an appointment before you come to the office.

Please note that any documents to be provided for the Swiss authorities that are not in one of the three official languages of Switzerland (French, German or Italian) must be officially translated.

Consular officials at the Australian Consulate-General in Geneva are authorised to perform certain notarial acts, these include:

• Certifying copies of original documents

The original document must be present to be sighted. There is no need to bring copies; copies will be done by us.

If you require certified copies of documents and you don’t wish to come in person, you may address your written request, with any relevant instructions, to the Consular and Passports Manager. If all the papers are in order and payment has been made, processing will be completed within 3 working days.

Please provide the following:

 - Your original documents (we strongly recommend that you forward documents by registered mail)
 - A stamped addressed envelope for the return of your documents
 - Proof of payment for the notarial service – please see below for payment method and current fees.

• Witnessing of signatures on certain documents

This service requires an appointment at the Australian Consulate General in Geneva.

It is the responsibly of the client to present the documents to be witnessed in the correct form and to provide the correct instructions for witnessing.

Please note, by witnessing a signature on a document neither the Australian Government nor the Australian Consulate General in Geneva, guarantees the legal effectiveness of the content of a document or the accuracy of its content.

• Authentication (legalisation) of documents

Documents originating or executed in Australia, whether private or public, are often required to be “authenticated” (or “legalised”) before they can be used.

Authentication does not, however, verify the truth or accuracy of the contents of a document.

The precise requirement for each authentication is a matter for the Swiss authorities to determine and should be confirmed with them before an appointment is made.

• Statutory Declarations

Taking of Statutory Declarations (to download a blank statutory declaration form please use this link - http://www.ag.gov.au/statdec)

• Administration of Oaths and Affirmations
  
• Witnessing of signatures on Notices of Intended Marriage and Certificates of No Impediment to Marriage and issuing the declaration.
  
• Witnessing signatures for the renewal of Australian Driver’s Licenses (overseas driver’s license kits)

Note that Apostilles cannot be performed overseas; these must be obtained from Australia. If you require an Apostille or more information on obtaining an Apostille please visit the Department of Foreign Affairs Smartraveller website for more information. 

Also, note that some services, such as signing mortgage documents or powers of attorney, may require a longer wait as specific staff are required for these acts and are not always available straight away.

Payment Method

Under the Consular Fees Act of 1995, fees are charged for these services. Our fees are updated monthly against the current exchange rate. Please see below for current fees.

If you wish to make a bank transfer, please use the information provided below.

If you choose to pay at the Post Office, blank payment slips are available at the Post office which you should complete as per the information provided in the following link.

example payment slip

We also accept payment by cash (Swiss Francs only).

We do not accept payment by credit card.

FOR ALL THE ABOVE SERVICES PLEASE BRING SUITABLE IDENTIFICATION, e.g. YOUR PASSPORT

Please note that this is not the equivalent to an Apostille.

Fees for Notorial Services (July 2010)