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How to have your COVID-19 Digital Certificate notarised?
It has been three month since NSW entered into Lockdown due to the delta variant. The Public’s travel has been substantially affected. Following that NSW Government declared that the State would be in much freedom once the vaccination rate reach 80%, COVID-19 Digital Certificate and Vaccine Passport become a common topic in people’s daily life. Although the international travel is strictly monitored by the government, people are now aware that COVID-19 Digital Certificate would become a mandatory document to be carried on board an international plan. In this article, we will explain the frequently asked question in relation to the vaccination record, including how to receive your COVID-19 Digital Certificate, how to have it notarised, how to have it authenticated/apostilled and etc?
What is a COVID-19 Digital Certificate?
COVID-19 Digital Certificate is a proof of Vaccination issued by Australian government. It would record the type of vaccine that you had, the date of your vaccinations and the date from when the Certificate is valid. People would receive a copy of the COVID-19 Digital Certificate only when they complete the two doses of the approved COVID-19 vaccine. In Australia, the current approved vaccine are Pfizer and AstraZeneca.
It is known that most countries now require the travellers to have their COVID-19 Digital Certificate legalised by the government authority if they intend to travel overseas during the Pandemic.
How to obtain a copy of your COVID-19 Digital Certificate?
People would only receive a digital Certificate by using their Medicare of Individual Healthcare Identifier services through myGov account.
If you are not eligible for Medicare, you would need to link the Individual Healthcare Identifier service with your myGov account.
How to have your COVID-19 Digital Certificate legalised?
If you intend to use the COVID-19 Digital Certificat in a foreign country, you may be required to have the Certificate to be issued with an authentication or apostille certificate. Before you can have the Certificate legalised by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Australia, you need to have the Certificate notarised by a notary public in your state.
As the Certificate is issued in a digital form, there are currently news articles circulating, regarding the forged Certificate. In this case, the notary public is required by the rules to verify the authenticity of the Certificate. In the case that it is an essential and critical service, you are allowed to meet the notary public in person with precautions so that the notary public can verify the authenticity of the Certificate. Considering that the Certificate would only be able to access with your login details of myGov account, there are no other means that you can forward the original link to the notary public. In this case, you would need to meet the notary public in person and log into your myGov account in the presence of the notary public.
Following verifying the authenticity of your Certificate, the Notary Public would be able to issue a Notarial Certificate and seal it with a print copy of the digital Certificate. Your COVID-19 Digital Certificate is therefore notarised. You can continue with the legalisation service in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Following the easement of lockdown measures, the Government has restarted international travel for fully-vaccinated citizens and permanent residents. It is important to have your documents ready so that there would be no delay on your travel plan. We can also help you attend the legalisation service in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. If you have any queries, please feel free to contact us.
Disclaimer: This publication provides general information of an introductory nature and is not intended and should not be relied upon as a substitute for legal or other professional advice. While every care has been taken in the production of this publication, no legal responsibility or liability is accepted, warranted, or implied by the authors or our firm, and any liability is herby expressly disclaimed.
Ge Wu is the solicitor director of Legal Point Lawyers & Attorneys. He has been admitted to practise law since 2005. Throughout his practice, Ge Wu predominantly practises in the areas of Property Law, Immigration Law, Commercial Law, Civil Litigation and Family Law.
His experience covers all aspects of property law, commercial/retail lease, immigration law and civil litigation, while at the same time, he also has experience in family law, criminal law and other areas such as will-drafting and general advice.
He has frequently been instructed by corporate clients in pre-acquisition due diligence reports, structuring property development, land/shopping centre acquisitions, G.S.T. and stamp duty advice for buying/selling businesses, as well as share transfers and company re-structures.
Ge Wu has been appointed as Notary Public since 2011 and started to provide Notary Public service to clients from different cultural backgrounds.
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