Statutory declarations

This page explains how to make a statutory declaration in Victoria. Information on statutory declarations regarding Commonwealth matters can be found at ag.gov.au (External link) .

A statutory declaration is a written statement that you (the declarant) sign and declare to be true and correct in the presence of an authorised witness.

By signing it, you agree that the information in it is true. You can be charged with a criminal offence if the information is false. You can receive a fine of up to 600 penalty units, imprisonment for up to 5 years or both.

Statutory declarations are used for many purposes, including to:

• verify insurance claims
• prove your age
• apply for sick leave at work.

On this page

• Step 1: Download and fill out the form
• Step 2: Find someone to witness your declaration
• Step 3: Complete your declaration
  • in person
  • online

  Step 1: Download and fill out the form

  To make a statutory declaration in Victoria, download and complete the statutory declaration form below.

  Fill out the statutory declaration before meeting your authorised witness, but do not sign it. You must sign your statutory declaration in front of your witness.

  Date of Publication March 2019

  Step 2: Find someone to witness your declaration

  You now need to have your statutory declaration witnessed. Many people can witness a statutory declaration, including:

  • Justice of the Peace
  • police officer
  • court registrar
  • bank manager
  • medical practitioner
  • dentist.

  Please note that:

  • authorised witnesses do not have to accept a request to witness a statutory declaration
  • organisations who employ people who are authorised to witness a statutory declaration may not offer this service as an organisation.

  When making arrangements to have a statutory declaration witnessed, it is best to confirm beforehand that a witness is available at a convenient time and place.

  A full list of authorised witnesses is below.

  List of authorised statutory declaration witnesses

  Under Section 19 of the Oaths and Affirmations Act 2018 (as of 1 March 2019), previously Evidence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1958, the list of persons who may witness statutory declarations includes:

  • A person currently licensed or registered to practice in Australia as one of the following occupations:
    • Architect
    • Chiropractor
    • Conveyancer
    • Dentist
    • Financial adviser or financial planner
    • Legal practitioner
    • Medical practitioner
    • Midwife
    • Migration agent
    • Nurse
    • Occupational therapist
    • Optometrist
    • Patent attorney
    • Pharmacist
    • Physiotherapist
    • Psychologist
    • Trade marks attorney
    • Veterinary surgeon
    • Fellow of the National Tax Accountants’ Association
    • Member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand
    • Member of the Association of Taxation and Management Accountants
    • Member of CPA Australia
    • Member of the Institute of Public Accountants
    • A member of Engineers Australia, other than a student
    • A Registered Professional Engineer of Professionals Australia
    • Registered as an engineer under a law of the Commonwealth or a State or Territory
    • Registered on the National Engineering Register by Engineers Australia
    • For example, Director of the Australian Institute of Family Studies
    • An officer
    • A non-commissioned officer with 5 or more years of continuous service
    • A warrant officer
    • State
    • Territory
    • State authority
    • Territory authority
    • Local government authority
    • For example, a project officer employed as a VPS4 or an administrative assistant employed as a VPS2
    • A judicial officer
      • For example, a judge or magistrate
      • Chief Executive Officer
      • A member of Council staff with management responsibilities and reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer
      • Any other member of Council staff earning a salary of at least $124,000 (or a higher threshold, if specified by the Minister under s 97B of the Local Government Act 1989)
      • For example, an arbitrator or any person or body with authority to hear, receive and examine evidence

      Step 3: Complete your declaration

      You can complete your declaration in person or online.

      You cannot certify copies of documents online. If you need to attach a certified copy, you must get the documents certified in person.

      Completing your declaration in person

      Arrange to meet your witness

      When making arrangements to have a statutory declaration witnessed, it is best to confirm beforehand that a witness is available at a convenient time and place.

      Sign and initial each page

      When you and your authoring witness are together you both need to:

      1. sign or initial any alteration to the statutory declaration
      2. sign or initial each page.

      Complete and sign an exhibit certificate for each attachment

      If the statutory declaration refers to a separate document, you must sign a certificate attached to the document identifying it as an exhibit to the statutory declaration. You can download a template for the certificate below.

      The authorising witness must sign the certificate and insert their qualification as a statutory declaration witness.