3.8 Certification of Documents / Countersigning

You can certify a document as a true copy of the original by getting it signed and dated by a professional person, like a Solicitor or an OISC Registered Advisor

• You may be asked by a client to certify a document on their behalf acting in your professional capacity as an OISC Registered Advisor.

• Usually, this will be for things like Travel document applications, British Passport Applications and Naturalisation Applications

• You can take the photocopied document and the original and certify the copy by:

  • writing 'Certified to be a true copy of the original seen by me' on the document

  • signing and dating it

  • printing your name under the signature

  • adding your occupation, address and telephone number

• You can countersign photos. In most cases you are required to confirm that:

  • You have known the client for more than 2 years

  • The client is who they claim to be

  • As far as you know, all the information they have put on the form is true

Note: DO NOT be tempted to complete and confirm this if you have not known the client for the requisite length of time, you will be committing fraud, which if discovered could lead to you being prohibited from practicing as a lawyer or immigration adviser and possibly facing criminal charges.