Expanding your business internationally? Opening a foreign bank account? Setting up an overseas branch? Your South African company documents must be apostilled or authenticated before foreign authorities, banks and business registries will accept them.📞 087 001 0733 | ✉️ info@apostille.co.za[Get a Quote →]
Foreign institutions cannot verify South African company documents directly. Apostille or authentication confirms your documents are genuine and issued by recognised South African authorities.Common reasons for company document legalisation:
Company documents follow different legalisation routes depending on their source:
Documents downloaded or issued directly by CIPC (Companies and Intellectual Property Commission) go through DIRCO:
CIPC Document
↓
DIRCO Apostille/Authentication
↓
Embassy Attestation (non-Hague countries only)Documents created by the company itself (resolutions, POAs, agreements) require notarisation first:
Company Document
↓
Notarisation by Notary Public
↓
High Court Apostille/Authentication
↓
DIRCO Authentication (non-Hague countries)
↓
Embassy Attestation (non-Hague countries)Not sure which route applies? Send us your document list and destination country—we'll confirm the correct process for each.
| Document | Description |
|---|---|
| Certificate of Incorporation | Proof company is registered in South Africa |
| Company Registration Certificate | Current company status confirmation |
| Memorandum of Incorporation (MOI) | Company's founding document (certified by CIPC) |
| Annual Returns | Confirmation of annual compliance filings |
| Director Appointments | CM29 forms showing director details |
| Director Changes/Terminations | Records of directorship changes |
| Company Name Change | Documentation of name amendments |
| Share Register Extract | CIPC record of shareholding |
| Document | Description |
|---|---|
| Board Resolutions | Decisions by board of directors |
| Shareholder Resolutions | Decisions by shareholders |
| Powers of Attorney | Authority to act on company's behalf |
| Share Certificates | Proof of share ownership |
| Company Agreements | Contracts, joint ventures, partnerships |
| Financial Statements | Audited accounts and reports |
| Letters of Good Standing | Confirmation of company status |
| Agency Agreements | Appointment of agents or distributors |
| Commercial Invoices | For trade and customs purposes |
| Certificates of Origin | Proof of South African manufacture |
Tell us:
We'll confirm the exact route and documents required. Foreign institutions often request specific documents—getting this right upfront saves time and money.
For CIPC documents:We can download current CIPC records on your behalf, or you provide existing documents.For internal documents:Prepare resolutions or other documents. We can assist with drafting if needed.
Internal company documents are notarised by our in-house Notary Public. This includes verifying company authority and witnessing authorised signatures.
For destinations like UAE, China, or Qatar, documents proceed to the relevant embassy for final attestation.
Completed documents are couriered to you or available for collection.
Don't have your company documents to hand? We can obtain them for you:Documents we can download from CIPC:
Replacement documents:If original certificates have been lost, we can obtain certified replacements from CIPC.Timing:CIPC document downloads: 1-3 working days Document legalisation: Additional time depending on route
For UK, Germany, Netherlands, Australia, USA and 120+ other Hague members:
| Document Type | Process |
|---|---|
| CIPC documents | DIRCO Apostille |
| Notarised documents | High Court Apostille |
No embassy step required.
For UAE, China, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam and others:
| Document Type | Process |
|---|---|
| CIPC documents | DIRCO Authentication → Embassy |
| Notarised documents | High Court → DIRCO → Embassy |
Embassy fees vary significantly. Some embassies charge substantial amounts per document—confirm exactly which documents are essential before proceeding.
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| CIPC document download | R350 |
| DIRCO Apostille (per document) | R850 |
| Embassy attestation | Varies by country |
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Notarisation (per document) | R950 |
| High Court Apostille | R450 |
| DIRCO Authentication (non-Hague) | R850 |
| Embassy attestation | Varies by country |
| Package | Hague Country | Non-Hague Country |
|---|---|---|
| Single CIPC document | R1,200 | From R2,500 |
| Single notarised document | R1,400 | From R3,200 |
| Company registration pack (3-5 docs) | From R4,000 | From R10,000 |
Embassy fees can be substantial. UAE, China and Middle Eastern embassies often charge R500-R2,000+ per document. We'll provide exact costs before proceeding.[Get a Detailed Quote →]
Banks typically require:
Registration authorities often require:
Tender requirements vary but may include:
Always confirm exact requirements with the foreign institution before legalising documents. Unnecessary documents mean unnecessary costs.
Confirm requirements firstForeign institutions have specific document requirements. Get written confirmation of exactly what's needed before starting the legalisation process.Embassy fees vary widelySome embassies charge minimal fees; others charge R1,000+ per document. For multiple documents, costs add up quickly. Only legalise essential documents.Document ageSome institutions require documents issued within a specific period (e.g., 3 or 6 months). Check before using older documents.Authorised signatoriesBoard resolutions and POAs must be signed by authorised directors. We verify authority before notarising.TranslationsSome countries require Arabic, Chinese, or other language translations. We arrange certified translations when needed.
Can I apostille a document I downloaded from CIPC myself?Yes, as long as it's a certified document from CIPC (with their stamp/verification). Uncertified downloads may not be accepted.Do all directors need to sign resolutions?Depends on your MOI requirements and the resolution type. We'll advise based on your company's governance rules.How long does company document legalisation take?For Hague countries: 1-2 weeks. For non-Hague countries: 2-4 weeks depending on embassy processing times.Can you help draft board resolutions?Yes. Tell us what authority needs to be granted (e.g., opening bank account, appointing representative) and we'll draft appropriate resolutions.What if my MOI has been amended?We can obtain the current consolidated MOI from CIPC, or legalise amendment documents separately—depending on what the foreign institution requires.Do Close Corporations (CCs) follow the same process?Yes. CC documents (CK1, CK2, founding statement) follow similar routes. CCs are being phased out, but existing CC documents can still be legalised.Can you legalise documents for a foreign company's South African subsidiary?Yes, if the subsidiary is registered with CIPC as a South African entity.
Don't risk rejection or delays. Tell us which documents you need, where they're going, and we'll confirm the exact process and cost.[Get a Quote →]Contact us:
