Overseas residents to be married in Australia

If you are born overseas you will need an Overseas passport or a birth certificate translated in English (an Australian passport is not acceptable). If you have been married before you will need to produce proof of how last marriage ended, decree absolute (final divorce papers) or a death certificate in English. (Translations to be verified by the Australian Embassy in your country)

All of these papers must be brought with you on your arrival to Australia for sighting by the Celebrant. Please note that you cannot be married in Australia unless you have these original papers with you.

You can obtain a Notice of Intention to Marry from the Australian High Commission, Embassy or the Australian Foreign Affairs Department in your country or you can download it from www.ag.gov.au/celebrants and then click on "Notice of Intended Marriage form". Page 4 of the Form will tell you who can witness the form for you. You need to get the form witnessed at the Australian Embassy or Consulate in your country and then either fax or post it to me. It cannot be lodged in your country. This form can be lodged by mailing it to myself: John B Smith CMC at P.O.Box 2393, TAREN POINT, NSW 2229 Australia, arriving at least 32 days prior to the wedding. I will arrange all of the Legal Marriage Paper work necessary for you to be married here.

You will be given a presentation marriage certificate on your wedding day. You will need to obtain a stamped registered copy of your full legal marriage certificate from the registry office before leaving Australia. The following website will provide you the necessary papers to do this. www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/marriages/applicationForm.htm and download. You will need three forms of identification and payment to the BDM of $38.00 to accompany the application form.
If you live in a European country or Asian country, you may need to obtain the Apostille stamp in Australia from the Dept of Foreign Affairs and Trade on your official marriage certificate making your marriage legal in your country. A fee of $20 must be included with the submission. (Address: Level 10, Angel Place, 123 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000; Tel: 02-9356 6240 Fax: 02-93564238) This stamp is required, otherwise, your marriage may not be recognised in your own country. Please check if this is necessary with your own Consulate before leaving the country. This stamp can not be obtained in your own country!
This can be done before you leave Australia in person or by a mail.

In countries like China authentication is required by that consulate. See below

Back to top of page

1 Do the documents executed in Australia for use in Hong Kong SAR or Macao SAR need to be authenticated by the Chinese Embassy or consulates?
No.
Please note that this Consulate will, under no circumstances, be responsible for the delay of the application processing due to insufficient supporting documents.
2. Does the Consulate bear responsibility for the contents of the documents authenticated?
No.
3. Can application for authentication of documents be mailed to Chinese Consulate-General in Sydney?
No.

General Requirements on Authentication as shown on the reverse of the application form.
1. One properly filled-in and duly signed Application Form for Authentication.
2. The original document authenticated by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)New South Wales State Office (Address: Level 10, Angle Place, 123 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000; Tel: 02-9356 6240 Fax: 02-93564238)and its complete duplicate.
3. Proof of identity with photo (such as valid passport) and its duplicate if the applicant appears at the consulate in person. If a designated representative lodges the application, he shall hold a Power of Attorney signed by the applicant and the proof of identity with photo of the representative as well; if the application is for an institution, the designated representative shall hold a letter of accreditation from the institution and the proof of identity with photo of the representative.
4. All photocopies of documents should be made on A4-size paper.
5. The "PICK UP FORM" you get when you lodge the application is the only proof for collection; when lost, you may not able to collect the document.
6. There is a fee of AU$30 payable per document of non-commercial purposes such as certificate of birth, death or marital status, proof of identity, civil action, etc.
There is a fee of AU$60 payable per document of commercial purposes including registration of company, credit rating, inheritance, real estate cases etc.
7. Processing time: 4 working days. For example, an application is submitted on Mon. and normally can be collected on Thu. The payment should be made on collection.

My defenition after having been successful in this matter:

As per item 3 above, a representative must have a power of attorney signed by one of the bridal party relative to this matter only and appear at the consulate with photo ID and photocopy of same, and the marriage certificate stamped by the Dept of Foreign Affairs and Trade, duplicated for authentication, as well as the signed authentication application by the party who provided the power of attorney, and photocopoy of applicants passport, and fee as described of AU$30. See item 6 above.

A representative may be found at a legal firm who has drawn up the power of attorney or may recommend someone. An attorney or appropriate courier may be located in the yellow pages at www yellowpages.com.au

After documents have been dropped off for authentication they have to be fetched personally by the same person who dropped them of after 4 days with photo ID.

Good to arrive at the Cosulate at opening time 9 am or extensive waiting time is involved.

The authentication application may be downloaded as described above
http://sydney.chineseconsulate.org/eng/hzqz/t203757.htm

Back to top of page