Notarising Immigration Documents for a Germany Visa Application from Australia

Last reviewed: 26 September 2026. German residence rules change, and the German mission or foreigners' authority handling your case is the only reliable source on what it will accept.

Germany is unusual in two ways that matter to anyone applying from Australia. Australian citizens have a privileged position in German immigration law. And German authorities care a great deal about certified copies and translations, often more than about notarisation as Australians understand it. Get those two points right and most of the paperwork falls into place.

Australian citizens may not need a visa before they go

Australian citizens can enter Germany without a visa for short stays. Australia is also one of a small group of countries whose citizens may enter without a visa and then apply for a residence permit from inside Germany, at the local foreigners' authority (Ausländerbehörde), rather than getting a national visa from a German mission beforehand.

That changes the planning. Documents may be presented in Germany, to a local authority, rather than at the embassy in Canberra or a consulate in Australia. You still need to prepare Australian documents before you leave, because authenticating them from Germany is slow.

Whether applying from inside Germany suits your case, for example for work you cannot start until the permit is granted, is a question for the authority or an adviser. It is also different if you hold a passport other than Australian.

There is also a working holiday arrangement between Australia and Germany for younger Australians. Its conditions are set by Germany and change, so check them with the German mission.

What German authorities typically ask for

Certified copies. German authorities often want an officially certified copy (beglaubigte Kopie) rather than a plain photocopy, particularly for degrees and civil documents. Ask who they accept as a certifier for a copy made in Australia. An Australian notary's certified copy is one option. German missions in Australia may also offer certification of copies and signatures for use in Germany, so it is worth asking which the authority prefers.

Translations. Documents not in German often need a German translation. German authorities frequently expect it to be done by a translator sworn or publicly appointed in Germany. Some accept English documents without translation. Ask the authority:

• Will you accept this document in English?
• If not, must the translator be sworn in Germany, or will you accept a translation made in Australia?

Apostilles on Australian public documents. Where an authority wants an Australian birth or marriage certificate authenticated, the usual route is a DFAT apostille. Germany is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, but check its status against the HCCH status table on the day. Registry certificates may go to DFAT directly, without a notary.

By purpose

Work and the EU Blue Card

Skilled work routes, including the EU Blue Card, depend on your qualification being recognised in Germany. For a university degree, the first check is usually whether your university and degree are listed as comparable in the German database for foreign qualifications (anabin). If they are not, you may need a Statement of Comparability from the German Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB).

Regulated professions, such as medicine, nursing, teaching, engineering in some states and law, need a separate recognition decision from the competent German body. That body sets its own document rules, often including certified copies and German translations.

Before you certify anything, find out which body assesses your qualification and what form it wants your documents in. A notarised copy made for the wrong body is wasted.

Family reunification

Joining a spouse or partner in Germany means proving the relationship, usually with a marriage certificate. An Australian marriage certificate for this purpose is generally apostilled, and may need a German translation. If you married outside Australia, the certificate is authenticated in the country that issued it, not here.

Study

Admission is a matter for the university, often through a central applications service. The university sets its own rules on certified copies of transcripts and degrees. Some accept a certified copy made by an Australian notary. Others want certification from a German mission or a German body. Ask the admissions office.

Where an Australian notary fits

• Certified copies of Australian degrees and transcripts, where the German body accepts an Australian notary's certification
• Witnessing signatures on declarations or powers of attorney for use in Germany, for example to let someone in Germany sign a lease or open an account for you
• Notarising documents that DFAT cannot authenticate directly, before an apostille

An Australian notary cannot certify a foreign degree or a foreign civil certificate. Those are handled in the country that issued them.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an appointment at the German embassy before I move? Not always, as an Australian citizen. Check whether your purpose lets you apply from inside Germany, and prepare your Australian documents before you leave either way.

The foreigners' authority wants a "beglaubigte Kopie" of my degree. Is a JP's certification enough? Probably not. JP certifications are for domestic use and are not recognised overseas. Ask whether they accept an Australian notary's certification or want it done by a German mission.

Can I get my Australian documents apostilled from Germany? Apostilles are issued in Australia by DFAT, so someone has to deal with DFAT. Doing it before you leave is far simpler.