Short answer: no, a notary public is not a gazetted officer. A notary is a lawyer appointed under the Notaries Act, 1952 to notarise affidavits, agreements and copies. A gazetted officer is a senior government officer. Use a gazetted officer when your form says “gazetted officer”, and a notary when it asks for notarisation.
Both sign and stamp documents, so it’s easy to think they’re interchangeable. They aren’t — and offices know the difference. Here’s how they compare, and how to tell which one you need.
Key differences at a glance
Is a notary a gazetted officer?
No. A notary is a private legal practitioner given a licence to notarise. They are not a government officer whose appointment appears in the Gazette. If your form specifically asks for a gazetted officer, a notary stamp may be rejected.
Documents going abroad?
We handle MEA apostille for 120+ Hague countries (Saudi Arabia, China, Europe, USA) and embassy attestation for the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and more — state, MEA and embassy stages done for you, with pan-India courier pickup.
When to use a notary
- Affidavits for general use, declarations and undertakings
- Rent agreements, sale agreements and indemnity bonds
- Power of attorney
- True copies of documents
- The first step before SDM, MEA and embassy attestation for many documents
We offer notary attestation in Delhi, usually the same day.
When to use a gazetted officer
- Exam, university and scholarship forms that ask for gazetted attestation
- Photograph attestation
- Character certificates for government jobs
- Passport annexures or forms that name a gazetted officer
See gazetted officer attestation near you.
Notary vs oath commissioner
An oath commissioner administers the oath on affidavits meant for courts. A notary can do that and much more — agreements, POAs and true copies — and notarisation is widely accepted outside court too. For court filings, follow the court’s instructions.
What about a magistrate?
Some offices want an affidavit “attested by a first class magistrate”. That’s a third option, and neither a notary nor a gazetted officer’s ordinary attestation replaces it. Read first class magistrate affidavit or compare all three in notary vs SDM vs magistrate.
Not sure which attestation your form needs? Send a photo of it on WhatsApp or call +91 93109 70010 — we tell you the exact process before you spend any money.
Frequently asked questions
Is a notary public a gazetted officer?
No. A notary is appointed under the Notaries Act, 1952 and is not a gazetted government officer.
Can a notary attest instead of a gazetted officer?
Only if the office accepts it. If the form specifically says gazetted officer, use a gazetted officer.
What is the difference between a notary and an oath commissioner?
An oath commissioner administers oaths on affidavits mainly for courts; a notary can notarise affidavits, agreements, POAs and true copies for wider use.
Do I need notary attestation before embassy attestation?
For many personal and commercial documents, yes — notarisation is the first step before state and MEA attestation.
SK Document Centre has helped people in Delhi NCR with attestation, affidavits, apostille and embassy legalisation for over a decade. Questions about your documents? WhatsApp us.
