Certified copies
Get a certified copy online
Certified copies made online by a partner notary on the notarity platform, with an apostille on the copy when it is going abroad.
What a certified copy is
A certified copy is a copy of an existing document that a notary confirms is identical to the original. Authorities, universities, employers and registries often ask for one instead of a scan or a photocopy you certify yourself, typically of a passport or ID card, a residence permit, a diploma, a criminal record certificate, a company register extract or a utility bill as proof of address. You show the original to a partner notary on the notarity platform in a video appointment, and the partner notary certifies that the copy matches it. The copy does not have to be certified in the country that issued the original.
What it is booked for
The document already exists, and the recipient needs a copy that a notary confirms matches the original. Nobody signs. Common examples:
- Proof of address
- A utility bill, phone bill or bank statement showing your address, for example when a bank or register abroad asks for certified proof of address.
- Passport & ID copy
- A certified copy of your passport or national ID, often needed to verify an account with a bank or a company register abroad. You show the original in the video appointment.
- Birth, marriage & divorce certificates
- Certified copies of civil status documents, for example for a visa, a marriage abroad or a change of name.
- Diplomas & transcripts
- Certified copies of degrees, diplomas and transcripts, for studying or working abroad or for the recognition of a qualification.
- Residence registration (Meldezettel)
- Your Austrian Meldezettel, the confirmation of registration, certified against the original, for example for an authority or bank that needs proof of residence in Austria.
- Register extracts
- Commercial register excerpts and certificates of incorporation or good standing, certified as true copies. If the notary should confirm their content instead, book a certification of facts.
Copy or original
Apostille on the copy, or on the original?
A partner notary can issue a certified copy and apply an apostille to that copy. If the receiving authority specifically requires the apostille on the original document, it has to come from the competent authority in the country where the original was issued. Ask the recipient which one they need. If the copy is going abroad, you usually need an apostille.
Find out whether you also need an apostilleWhat you need
A device with camera and microphone
A computer, tablet or smartphone for the video appointment.
A stable internet connection
So the video appointment runs without interruptions.
A valid passport or EU identity card
For the identity verification before the appointment.
The original document
You show it to the partner notary in the video appointment, so the copy can be compared with it.
A clear scan of it
A high-quality scan or photo, PDF preferred, with all pages in one file in the order the recipient needs.
The recipient's instructions, if any
For example a stamp on every page or the passport number in the certificate. Add them to the booking notes so the partner notary can follow them.
How it works
Your certified copy, step by step
How it works
Your certified copy, step by step
Upload a scan of the document
Book an appointment and upload the scan or photo of the document you want certified.
Verify your identity
In your notarity account, with a valid passport or EU identity card, before the appointment. Whoever shows the original in the appointment verifies their identity too.
Show the original in the video appointment
You meet a licensed partner notary at the time you booked and show them the original document.
Certification
The partner notary certifies that the copy matches the original. This usually takes a couple of minutes.
Apostille, where ordered
If you added an apostille during booking, it is usually issued immediately after the appointment, on the certified copy.
Download
The certified copy, with the apostille if ordered, is available in your notarity account within minutes.
Shipping, where you need paper
If you ordered a hard copy, the partner notary prepares and ships it after the appointment, usually the same day or the next working day.
Frequently asked questions
The authority asked for a certified copy. Is a copy certified online what they mean?
A partner notary on the notarity platform certifies that the copy matches the original you show in the video appointment, and can apply an apostille to that copy. Whether a particular authority accepts it is for the recipient to confirm, so check with them before you book. Documents certified online cannot be guaranteed to be accepted by all authorities.
Can I get a certified copy of an official document, such as a criminal record certificate, with an apostille?
Yes. Partner notaries can issue a certified copy of the document and apply an apostille to that certified copy. If the receiving authority specifically requires the apostille on the original document, it must be issued by the competent authority in the country where the original was issued.
Can I get a certified copy of my passport for use abroad?
Yes. A partner notary can certify a copy of your passport or ID online, for example for account verification with a company registry abroad. You show the original passport or ID in the video appointment. The notary does not need to be from the destination country; with an apostille where required, the certified copy can be used internationally. Ask the recipient what they need.
Does someone else have to show the original document?
You or another participant invited to the appointment can show it. Whoever shows the original has to complete the identity verification, because the partner notary confirms that the copy matches the original and that the person presenting it matches the photo.
How do I fill in a form that the notary needs to complete, such as a Verification of Identity form?
Upload the form filled in as far as possible with all the information you have. Leave the notary-specific fields blank, such as the notary's name, place, date, signature and seal; the notary completes these when preparing the appointment.
Can I get a certified copy for use in the UK?
Yes. If you were asked for a "certified true copy", select the United Kingdom as destination country when you book: a UK notary then certifies the copy, and the booking form shows their open slots. For use within the UK, an apostille is often not needed; for use outside it, a UK apostille from the FCDO usually is, digital or on paper. A UK apostille takes longer than described above: the digital one is usually ready within 24 hours on working days, the paper one, as Express Apostille, in 3 to 4 working days.
Book an appointment now
Online notarisations with partner notaries on notarity are a simple, fast and flexible way to have your copy certified.