Two countries
Apostille from Australia to United States
At a glance
Can a document from Australia be used in the United States?
| Result | Apostille applies. |
|---|---|
| Australia | Uses apostilles member since 1 |
| United States | Uses apostilles member since 1 |
| Apostille issued by | |
| Fee in Australia | A$105 (per apostille or authentication)2 |
| Processing time in Australia | Not published by the office2 |
| Last checked |
Step by step
How to get a document from Australia ready for the United States
- Ask the overseas authority which documents it needs legalised, because DFAT cannot tell you whether you must have it.2
- Check that DFAT can legalise your document and whether you need an apostille or an authentication certificate.2
- If the document is not an original Australian public document, have an Australian notary public notarise it first.2
- Fill in the Document Legalisation Request Form, signed and dated, and submit it with the documents by mail or in person.3
- In person, book an appointment online or hand in the documents at an Australian Passport Office, and pay the fee with a credit or debit card; several documents can be lodged in one appointment.3
- DFAT adds the certificate directly on the document and returns it; bring a self-addressed registered post envelope if you want it returned by mail.2
- Give the document, with its apostille or legalisation, to the office in the United States that asked for it.
Situations
When the answer changes
- Private documents.A private document, such as a power of attorney or a contract, is first signed in front of a notary public, and the apostille then goes on the notary’s certificate. A copy of a public document from another country is first certified by a notary public, then apostilled.
- The other direction. For a document from the United States used in Australia, the apostille or legalisation starts in the United States. Apostille from United States to Australia
Note: What the apostille confirms
An apostille only confirms the signature, the role of the person who signed and any seal or stamp on the document. It does not confirm what the document says. The office that receives the document decides what it accepts.
Questions
Questions about documents from Australia for the United States
Is an apostille from Australia accepted in the United States?
Yes. An apostille from Australia is enough for the United States: both are members of the Apostille Convention (Australia since 16 March 1995, the United States since 15 October 1981). The apostille is issued in Australia by Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). The published fee in Australia is A$105. The office in the United States that receives the document decides what else it needs. Last checked 18 October 2026 against the HCCH status table.
Who issues the apostille for a document from Australia?
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). The apostille is always issued in the country the document comes from, not in the United States.
How much does the apostille cost in Australia?
The published fee in Australia is A$105. Fees can change, so check the office's own page before you apply.
Do I need to notarise a private document first?
Yes. A private document, such as a power of attorney or a contract, is first signed in front of a notary public in Australia. The apostille then goes on the notary's certificate.
Does the United States also need a translation?
The office in the United States that receives the document decides. Ask it before you start whether it needs a translation, and whether the translation needs its own certification.
Sources and verification
Sources
- HCCH status table: Apostille Convention (1961)
- Notarial services in Australia
- How to get your documents legalised
- United States of America - Competent Authority (Art. 6)
- Requesting Authentication Services
- Request for Authentications Service (DS-4194)
- Status
- Last verified: (18 October 2026)
- How it was checked
- Checked by our team against the sources above
- Next review
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