The Australian High Commission in Colombo continues to offer Notarial services during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Notarial Acts
Notarial service appointments are conducted at the Australian High Commission in Colombo, on Mondays and Wednesdays, excluding some Sri Lankan and Australian public holidays.
Some Australian Federal and State laws require that a signature on a document be witnessed by an Australian Consular Officer or have other procedures applied before the document can be used for legal purposes, or in an Australian court of law. Solicitors, justices of the peace, and notaries public normally perform these functions in Australia. It is possible for solicitors, justices of the peace or public notaries in Sri Lanka to also perform these services. You should always clarify with the receiving authority whether local witnesses are acceptable.
Notarial services are provided by Consular Officers for Australians. They are also provided in cases where the documents are Australian in origin, or are intended for use in Australia, or have been requested by an Australian Federal, State or Local Government authority. We are unable to provide notarial services related to visa or migration, please refer to our Visas and migration page of our website for further information.
Consular staff cannot provide advice on specific legal requirements, including what documents need to be signed or certified. Papers should be presented to officers in an ordered fashion and clear instructions should be given on your particular requirements. If you are unsure of the legislative requirements relating to witnessing signatures on a particular document, you should seek independent legal advice.
Please note, by witnessing a signature on a document, neither the Australian Government nor the Australian High Commission guarantees the legal effectiveness of the document or the accuracy of its contents.
For more detailed information on legalising documents overseas, please visit Smartraveller.
Fees for Notarial Services
The fees for Notarial services increase on 1 January every year. Fees paid for Notarial services are non-refundable. Fees for Notarial services overseas can be found on Smartraveler.
Payment:
Payment must be made in LKR by credit or debit card at the time of lodgement. Cash payments are not accepted. Fees are subject to exchange rate fluctuations and/or increases in the notarial service fees.
List of things Notarial clients need to bring when attending an appointment:
- Identification documents (passport and drivers licence)
- Valid Visa/Master Debit or Credit cards only for payment
- Original documents (to certify or witness)