Outside of consular, passport and notarial services, which are provided by the Australian Consulate-General, we are unable to provide further information than is outlined below.
Please also note the Australian Consulate-General does not manage enquiries relating to visas, immigration-citizenship or entry-exit requirements to Australia, New Caledonia or Wallis-and-Futuna, or Canada and we are unable to escalate applications or issues with the authorities in Australia, New Caledonia or Wallis-and-Futuna, or Canada.
Notarial Services available at the Australian Consulate-General in Noumea
Legal authorities and services in Australia, New Caledonia and Wallis-and-Futuna
Notarial Services available at the Australian Consulate-General in Noumea
Notarial services are procedures which facilitate legal recognition of documents in Australia. A limited range of notarial services can be provided by the Australian Consulate-General in Noumea. These services are for Australian documents, or foreign documents intended for use in Australia.
Regarding certified copies of original documents, we cannot issue a certified copy of a document that is expired or has been tampered, altered, or otherwise damaged. Fees are charged per document requiring certification, each document photocopied and certified separately. We are unable to photocopy multiple documents onto one page. We will photocopy your documents and apply the following certification: "This is a true copy of the document presented to me". These are DFAT approved words and cannot be changed. The Australian Consulate-General in Noumea is not authorised to provide other variations of certifications.
Relevant officers at the Australian Consulate-General in Noumea can provide notarial services as Authorised Consular Employees or Consular Officers (diplomats), empowered under the Consular Fees Act 1955.
It is your responsibility to ensure you present the correct forms and documents and provide correct instructions for the notarial service you require, including advising which identification documents you need to present and the category of officer required to perform the service. If you are unsure, consider seeking legal advice. Neither the Australian Government nor the Australian Consulate-General in New Caledonia can guarantee the legal effectiveness of the document or the accuracy of its contents.
Please check the Consular Notarial and Passports Services - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
Please also check Certificates of no impediment to marriage for documents issued by the Australian Consulate-General for marriages.
Please note notarial services are on appointment only and that fees apply.
From 3 April 2017, fees are payable only by credit or debit card (American Express is not accepted), in Pacific Francs (XPF). Please contact us for current fees converted to Pacific francs (XPF).
For further information and appointments, please contact our Consular Office (ph. +687 27 01 20 – email: [email protected]).
Legal authorities and services in Australia, New Caledonia and Wallis-and-Futuna
The Australian Consulate-General in Noumea cannot provide legal advice on legal or other services in Australia or in New Caledonia and Wallis-and-Futuna.
If you require legal advice or services, consider contacting relevant legal practitioners and authorities in Australia or in New Caledonia and Wallis-and-Futuna.
To assist you as best possible, please check the following websites and contact relevant authorities and practitioners directly in Australia or in New Caledonia (including for Wallis-and-Futuna):
- Attorney-General's Department (ag.gov.au) – Attorney-General’s Department, including for information on legal frameworks and documents, including serving a legal document across international borders
- AGS – Australian Government central legal services provider
- Notarial services | Smartraveller - Notarial services in Australia including finding a Notary Public or a Justice of the Peace in Australia
- Australian Bar Association (austbar.asn.au) – including finding a lawyer (barrister or solicitor) in Australia
- Accueil | Cour d'appel de Nouméa (justice.fr) - Noumea Court of Appeal with links to lawyers and notary publics in New Caledonia (including for Wallis-and-Futuna)
- Bar Association of New Caledonia and Wallis-and-Futuna (Barreau de Nouméa) – including list of lawyers and the House of Lawyers – Maison de l’Avocat
Please note there is currently one Justice of the Peace (JP) in New Caledonia, registered for Queensland and also able to provide notarial services for certain Commonwealth documents or documents from other Australian States and Territories. For further information, please contact the JP directly:
Mr Patrick Chautard - Mobile number: +687 51 49 86 - Email: [email protected]
Further information on the Queensland JP can be sought from the Queensland Department of Justice and Attorney-General - Justices of the Peace Branch (https://www.qld.gov.au/law/legal-mediation-and-justice-of-the-peace/justice-of-the-peace) - Phone: 1300 301 147 (from Australia) or +61 7 3328 4811 (from overseas) - Email: [email protected]