Certifying copies of your documents for admissions

You will be asked to provide a certified copy of your document as part of your application. This information also applies if you are changing your legal name on your university record.*

Your identity document will have to be certified or verified by an approved person before you can submit it online.

In your application you can upload or share most certified documents digitally, where appropriate. To know what documents are needed for your application and how to submit them, please visit the ‘Things you need to do’ section of your application.

To access your application, please go to Continue your application.

*If you’re needing to certify documents for other purposes or reasons, we recommend that you arrange a time with a Justice of the Peace.

For admissions purposes, you can either have your document certified or verified. If you’re uploading your documents online, we recommend that you certify your documents.

• To certify your document means that your document has been confirmed as true and authentic by an approved person with a formal statement. This usually includes the certifier’s information and details
• To verify your document means that your document has been viewed and confirmed by an approved person to be true and authentic. A signature may be added, but it does not include the verifier’s information and details. Student Hubs are the only ones who can verify documents for admissions purposes

If you are in New Zealand, copies of your documents can be certified by an approved person, such as a:

• Justice of the Peace*
• Lawyer
• Court Official, such as a Court Registrar or Deputy Registrar
• Notary Public

*This includes online JP services.

To find a Notary Public in New Zealand, please visit the Find a Notary page.

You can also bring your original documents to be verified by our friendly staff at the Student Hubs.

Our friendly staff can verify these documents for you and help you to upload your document to your application portal. Please note:

• Student Hubs can only verify documents used for admissions purposes.
• Student Hubs are the only ones who can verify documents for admissions purposes
• Verifications by Student Hubs cannot be used for other purposes. If you need documents signed for other purposes, we recommend getting in touch with a Justice of the Peace

If you are outside New Zealand, copies of your documents can be certified by an approved person, such as a:

• Notary Public
• Commissioner of Oaths
• New Zealand Embassy, High Commission, or Consulate staff*
• Apostilles

*In exceptional cases, we can also accept the equivalent from an Australian or a United Kingdom embassy or High Commission.

Please note that these services may differ between countries.

When you have your documents correctly certified, the approved person normally uses a stamp that has their details on it.

If they do not have a stamp or the stamp does not have their details, the approved person must clearly write:

• Their full name including surname*
• Their title
• Their registration number (if applicable)
• Their location
• Their signature
• The date

*A certification by a Justice of the Peace may include their initials and surname.

Each page must be:

• Correctly witnessed with "Original Sighted, Certified True Copy" on each page
• Dated
• Signed

We do not accept certification from:

• Police officers
• Principals
• School Advisors/Guidance Counsellors
• WINZ
• StudyLink
• Religious ministers
• Other tertiary providers
• Medical Professionals, including doctors, pharmacists and optometrists
• Armed Services Personnel
• Embassy/Consulate offices other than the New Zealand Embassy or Consulate*

*In exceptional cases, we can also accept the equivalent from an Australian or a United Kingdom embassy or High Commission.

If you need further guidance regarding what is or is not accepted, please email studentinfo@auckland.ac.nz.

Alternatively, you can visit Student Hubs with your original documents for assistance.