Witnessing & Certifying New Zealand Documents

The New Zealand High Commission in London can witness signatures on documents, take an affidavit, affirmation, or statutory declaration and certify official documents for use under New Zealand law. For legal services on foreign documents contact a UK notary or the Embassy/High Commission of that country.

This service is available by appointment only, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11am - 12 noon.

All witnessing must take place at the New Zealand High Commission, 80 Haymarket, London SW1Y 4TQ.

We can also make certified copies of original documents which can be received by post or in person. Please contact our office to arrange this.

To make an appointment, please phone 020 7930 8422. Hold to speak to the receptionist who will book a time to have your documents witnessed or certified. Appointments are made through this line only. We encourage those with appointments to check this page for up-to-date opening hours before coming to New Zealand House.

Those requiring notarial services outside the hours specified should contact a United Kingdom notary or John McLinden of the New Zealand Lawyers' Society to arrange for a New Zealand solicitor to carry out the service. John McLinden can be reached on +44 (0)20 7405 6114.

A full list of services and prices follows:

• To certify a copy of a document (i.e a birth certificate, passport)
  Cost: £20.00 (one document); £10.00 (each additional copy)
  Please note: For full copies of NZ passports (all pages) you must bring the pre-photocopied pages. This is necessary when applying for British naturalisation.
  Cost: £40.00 per passport.
• To have your document witnessed, to swear an affidavit or to make a statutory declaration.
  Cost: £40.00 (one document); £20.00 (each additional copy)
  Please note: Bring your passport or drivers licence with you as ID.

Fees are payable by cash or verified cheque only.

Authenticating documents for use overseas

Before certain New Zealand documents can be used overseas, document authentication may be necessary.

This is usually required where overseas officials are not able to determine on sight the authenticity of New Zealand documents. To check the requirements, contact the relevant authorities in the country concerned or their overseas representatives.

The authentication process varies depending on the document type and country requirements.

For information on authenticating a document, please see the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.

For apostille or authentication see the New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs.

If your document needs to be legalised by the British authorities for use in the United Kingdom, then after authentication by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs in NZ and the New Zealand High Commission in London you can take it to the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office for legalisation.