Certificate of Final Inspection
A Certificate of Final Inspection (CFI) is issued by the principal certifier at the end of building work, confirming the final inspection has been carried out and the work is complete and compliant.
In NSW the CFI is one of the documents that closes out a project. The principal certifier carries out mandatory inspections at set stages through construction, and the final inspection confirms the completed work matches the approved documentation and meets the relevant standards.
For most residential work the CFI is issued alongside or as part of the occupation certificate process, which is what actually permits the building to be occupied. Lenders, insurers and future purchasers will commonly ask for these documents, so they matter well beyond handover.
Practically, the certificate depends on the paperwork being complete: engineering certification, waterproofing and termite documentation, glazing and energy compliance, and any conditions of consent being satisfied. Gaps in that trail are the usual reason a final inspection is delayed.