How Certification Works
ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.
🔒Six steps, so your super fund accepts it the first time. This video is not public yet — enter the access code to watch it.
Before any super fund releases your money, they must confirm it is really you. You do this with a certified copy of your passport (and sometimes other ID). Getting this right the first time is the single biggest thing you can do to avoid delays.
What a certified copy must have
The certifier looks at your original document, then endorses the photocopy — ideally with a stamp — that includes all of the following:
- The wording “I certify this to be a true copy of the original document”
- The date it was sighted
- The certifier’s signature
- The certifier’s printed name and their position (e.g. Public Notary, Justice of the Peace, Australian Consulate official)
What makes certification INCORRECT
Funds reject certifications constantly for small errors. It is incorrect if:
- The date is missing
- Any element is missing — no signature, no printed name, or no stated position
- It was certified by someone not approved for your fund (for example a lawyer, where the fund only accepts specific certifiers) — always check who your fund accepts
- The wording isn’t a proper true-copy certification
Some funds want a “hold your ID” photo
In addition to a certified copy, some super funds now ask you to send a photo of yourself holding your passport or ID next to your face — a selfie-style verification — to prove the document belongs to you. If your fund asks for this, take a clear, well-lit photo where both your face and the ID details are readable.
Who can certify — in Australia
Commonly accepted certifiers in Australia include a pharmacist, a GP (doctor), an accountant (CPA, CA or IPA member), a Justice of the Peace, a police officer, a bank manager, and Australia Post (many post offices offer a document certification service).
Who can certify — outside Australia
An Australian Consulate or Embassy, a public notary, or a Justice of the Peace. Here is an example of an Australian Embassy certification:
We can certify for you too
As a Registered Tax Agent, we prepare and stamp statutory declarations and can help with certification — including witnessing remotely by audio-visual (video) link under the Commonwealth remote witnessing rules. If you’d prefer, you can also come to us in person. This is our official stamp:
