At certain stages of the application process for approval as a provider of VET-FEE HELP, you will be asked to produce “Certified Documents.” These are copies of important documents which need to be certified as true copies of the originals by a person authorised to do so.

The following is a guide to help you prepare your Certified Documents correctly.

A certified copy is a copy (often a photocopy) of a primary document, that has on it an endorsement or certificate that it is a true copy of the primary document. It does not certify that the primary document is genuine, only that it is a true copy of the primary document.

Who can certify a copy?

It is usual for documents to be certified by a person who is authorised as a witness for statutory declarations under 1993 No. 156 Statutory Declarations Regulations – Schedule 1. This schedule provides a wide range of authorised occupations and office holders who may certify a document, so finding a suitable person should not normally present a significant difficulty.

How do I obtain a certified copy?

Before certifying a document, the certifier must ensure that the copy to be certified is an identical
copy of the original. A suggested wording for the certification is as follows:

I certify that this appears to be a true copy of
the document produced to me on <date>.
Signature
Name
Qualification (eg JP, Pharmacist)

Documents in languages other than English

A certifier should not certify a document in a language other than English unless they can be sure that
the original and the copy are identical. A solution to this is to have the original photocopied in
the presence of the certifier.

Multiple page documents

If the original is a multiple page document, each page must be checked against the copy to
ensure that it is correct. The certifier can then proceed as follows:

• Sign or initial each page
• Certify the last page as follows:

I certify that this <number of pages> page
document, appears to be a true copy
of the document produced to me on <date>.
Signature
Name
Qualification (eg JP, Pharmacist)