Apostille & Legalisation for Australian Marriage Certificates
A practical guide to when an Australian marriage certificate needs an apostille or legalisation for overseas use.
If you need to use your Australian marriage certificate overseas, the overseas authority may ask for an apostille or legalisation.
Start with the right certificate
Before you do anything else, you need the official marriage certificate, not the ceremonial certificate you receive on the day.
Start here:
What is the difference?
Apostille
This is usually used for countries that accept apostilles under the Hague system.
Legalisation
This is usually used for countries outside that system and may involve extra embassy or consular steps.
Common reasons people need it
People often need apostille or legalisation for:
- overseas visa or residency paperwork
- foreign banking or property matters
- name-change administration overseas
- general legal proof of marriage outside Australia
Related guides
Ready to get married?
Start with the booking form
Fill out the booking form and pay the fee, then prepare your Notice of Intended Marriage with NOIM Easy. Once we receive your paperwork and check availability, we confirm the date, time, and place for your short legal marriage.