Stat Dec: Does The Witness Have To Be Australian?

[muffin]

Hi there,

I posted a topic asking about documents for Australian tourist visa a while ago. Now me and my boyfriend are writing a stat dec. I was just wondering if we have to declare it in front of an Australian who falls into the category only. We are both in Thailand at the moment. Does the witness have to be of Australian citizenship? Can it be a Thai who is in the occupation listed by the Aus Embbasy?

Thanks for your help.

[Jai Dee]

I have completed Stat Dec's in the past for various legal matters.

The Witness does not have to be an Australian citizen... a Thai from one of the approved occupations will be OK.

[awarrumbungle]

I would double check that with the embassy. I know they offer witnessing services there for a stat daec when you get married here. It does cost $20 though.

[Mighty Mouse]

A statutory declaration is the written form of sworn evidence.

By signing the statutory declaration, the writer is swearing that the information contained therein is true and correct.

The person witnessing the signature also signs the declaration to verify that the writer signed the document in their presence. The witness is not verifying or supporting the contents of the declaration.

The Embassy has listed a class of professions whose witnessing signature will be acceptable to them. Just about all of those people are identifiable by either an offical number or their names listed in some sort of government register.

This means that those people can be traced and contacted if need be.

There are many such people in Thailand who you can use to witness your statutory declaration signature.

I advise you to obtain the signature of a government official who is also able to stamp the statutory declaration with their official seal of office. (such as a police station.)