Can You Get a Document Notarised Without ID?

Usually not. A notary must be satisfied of your identity before witnessing your signature, normally by seeing original photo identification such as a passport. Without any identification, most notaries will decline. If your passport is lost, expired or being renewed, some notaries may accept a combination of other documents instead. Ask before you book.

Key takeaways

• Checking identity is central to a notarial act. A notary who cannot confirm who you are will usually decline.
• The standard is original photo ID, ideally a current passport for documents going overseas.
• If you lack a passport, some notaries accept a combination of other documents, at their discretion.
• Some foreign bodies require passport details in the notarial certificate, so alternatives may not work for them.
• Where possible, replace the missing ID first. It is usually quicker than a refused document.

Why does a notary need your ID?

When a notary witnesses your signature, the notarial certificate tells a foreign court, registry or bank that the person named in the document is the person who signed it. That statement is only worth something if the notary has actually confirmed your identity. Foreign authorities rely on it, often without any other way to check, and the notary is professionally responsible for getting it right.

So identity checks are not a formality. A notary who notarises a document without being satisfied of the signer's identity risks enabling fraud, such as someone selling property in another person's name, and risks the document being rejected or later challenged. That is why notaries are cautious, and why "no ID" usually means "no notarisation". Our guide to identity verification by a notary explains how checks are usually done.

What ID does a notary usually want?

For documents going overseas, a current passport is the standard primary identification, because it is internationally recognised and many foreign bodies expect its details in the notarial certificate. For documents used in Australia, a current driver licence or other government photo ID is often accepted. Many notaries also ask for a second document, such as a licence, a Medicare card or a bank card, particularly where the name or address matters.

What if your passport is lost, expired or being renewed?

This is the most common situation. If your passport has expired, some notaries will accept it together with other current identification, because it still shows your photograph and details. If it has been lost or is with an embassy for renewal, a notary may consider a combination of other documents, such as a driver licence, a birth certificate, a citizenship certificate and a bank card, depending on what the document is and where it is going.

The deciding factor is often the foreign body. If its instructions require a current passport, or passport details in the certificate, alternatives will not help, however many documents you bring. In that case, the practical answer is to wait for the new passport, or to ask the foreign body whether it will accept another form of identification. Tell the notary about your situation when you book, so they can say what they will accept.

Situation	What may work	Watch out for
Passport expired	Expired passport plus current photo ID	Some foreign bodies want a current passport
Passport lost or being renewed	A combination of other documents	Passport details may be required
Name has changed	ID plus marriage or change of name certificate	Names must link to the document
No photo ID at all	Very limited; ask the notary first	Most notaries will decline
Only a digital licence	At the notary's discretion, often as supporting ID	A screenshot is never enough
Foreign passport only	Usually acceptable as primary ID	Check it is current

Can someone vouch for you instead?

In some legal systems, a person who knows you can confirm your identity to a notary under oath, as a so-called credible witness. Australian notarial practice does not generally rely on that as a substitute for documents, although a notary may take into account that they know you personally, for example as a long-standing client. Whether a notary will act on personal knowledge, or on someone else's confirmation, is their professional judgement, and foreign bodies may still want documentary identification recorded in the certificate.

Do not assume that bringing a friend or relative to vouch for you will be enough. Ask the notary in advance what they accept.

What about older people without current ID?

Older people often have no current passport or driver licence, for example because they no longer travel or drive. For documents used in Australia, such as statutory declarations, a JP or other witness may accept other identification, such as a pension or seniors card together with a Medicare card and a bank card. For documents going overseas, such as a pension life certificate or an inheritance document, the foreign body may set its own requirements, and a notary will want reliable identification.

If an older relative needs a document notarised and has no current photo ID, it is often worth applying for a photo card from the state road authority, which many states issue to non-drivers, or renewing their passport. Our guide to proof of life certificates covers one common case for older people.

What about people without any documents?

Some people genuinely have no identity documents, for example after fleeing a country, losing everything in a disaster, or never having been issued them. Notarisation is usually not the right starting point in that situation, because a notary cannot create identity where there is no evidence. The first step is usually to obtain identity documents, through the relevant government agency, a consulate, or organisations that help people establish identity. For immigration matters, Home Affairs can often accept other evidence when documents are genuinely unavailable. Our guide to what to do when an original document is unavailable covers the options.

What does the notary record?

Many notaries record in their register, and sometimes in the notarial certificate itself, the identification you produced, such as your passport number, issuing country and expiry date. That record is part of what makes the act reliable, and part of why foreign bodies prefer internationally recognised identification. If you produce a combination of other documents, the notary may note each one. Our guide to the notarial register explains what notaries keep.

What if the notary still says no?

A notary may decline if they are not satisfied of your identity, even after considering alternatives. That is their professional judgement, and it protects you as well as the people who rely on the document. Ask what would satisfy them, replace the missing identification if you can, and ask the receiving body whether it accepts another route. Another notary may take a different view in borderline cases, but none should notarise a document where identity genuinely cannot be confirmed. Our guide to when a notary can refuse to notarise explains why.

What about certified copies of documents without ID?

Certifying a copy is slightly different: the certifier compares a copy with the original document, so for a standard certified copy, the key thing is the original, not your identity. Some certifiers still ask for identification, particularly for identity documents or where the form asks them to confirm a likeness, and a notary certifying a copy for overseas use may want to know who you are and why you hold the document. Our guide to certifying copies of someone else's documents covers that situation.

How do you avoid the problem?

1. Check your passport's expiry well before you need a document notarised.
2. Read the foreign body's instructions for any identification requirement, such as passport details.
3. Tell the notary your situation when booking if your ID is missing, expired or in another name.
4. Bring every identity document you have, originals only, plus any name change evidence.
5. Replace missing ID first where the document is not urgent.

What does this look like in practice?

Here is an illustration, not a real case. Hamid's Australian passport is with the Passport Office for renewal, and a bank abroad wants a notarised declaration from him within two weeks. He calls a notary to ask whether he can still sign.

The notary asks what the bank's instructions say. They require passport details in the certificate, so a combination of other documents will not do. Hamid asks the bank whether it will accept his driver licence instead; the bank agrees to wait for the new passport. He books the notary for the day after his passport arrives, and the declaration is notarised with his new passport details.

In short

You usually cannot get a document notarised without identification, because confirming who you are is central to a notarial act. A current passport is the standard, especially for overseas documents. If yours is lost, expired or being renewed, some notaries may accept a combination of other documents, unless the foreign body requires passport details. Tell the notary your situation when you book, and replace missing ID where you can. Our document notarisation services page explains how this works with us.

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Missing ID and a document to notarise? Send us the document's instructions and what ID you hold, and we will explain each step before you book.