DOCUMENT LEGALISATION & APOSTILLE SERVICES SOUTH AFRICA - F.A.Q

Yes!  We specialise in helping people just like you prepare your documents to be used in foreign countries.  

We can certainly handle the legalisation or acquiring an apostille certificate on your behalf.

You send or drop off your documents to us, and we will handle the rest, often in as little as a few days. This process consists of three steps:

1. Document preparation – we ensure your documents meet the criteria of each process step.
2. Document authentication – we will have your documents authenticated by the appropriate authorities in South Africa. 
3. Document legalisation – we will have your documents legalised at the embassy or consulate of the destination country.

Contact our friendly specialists to discuss your options and answer your questions. We would be happy to hear from you!
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We know that everyone's situation is unique and may have different notary services or document legalisation needs. Our document legalisation specialists will work closely with you to ensure that all documents receive the proper certification that is required for the relevant country and situation. If you would like to clarify the process on your documents or have any special requests, please Message Us
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Each Competent Authority must keep a register that records the date and number of every Apostille it issues, as well as information relating to the person or authority that signed or sealed the underlying public document.

Recipients may contact the Competent Authority identified on the Apostille and ask whether the information on the Apostille corresponds with the information in the register.

The High Court, DIRCO or Notary Public can be contacted in South Africa.

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Ordering and quoting online is simple and safe. Complete the secure online form to get a no-obligation quotation with a time estimate for completion. You can use the secure incorporated facility to upload any documents you would like us to check.

Apostilles issued in accordance with the requirements of the Convention must be recognised in the country where they are to be used.

Apostilles may only be rejected when:
• their origin cannot be verified (i.e., when the particulars on the Apostille do not correspond with those in the register kept by the Competent Authority that allegedly issued the Apostille); or
• their formal elements differ radically from the Model Certificate annexed to the Convention.

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Ordering and quoting online is simple and safe. Complete the secure online form to get a no-obligation quotation with a time estimate for completion. You can use the secure incorporated facility to upload any documents you would like us to check.

The Hague Conference on Private International Law was established in 1893 and became a permanent intergovernmental organization in 1955. Today, the Hague Conference is the pre-eminent World Organization dealing with cross-border legal issues in civil and commercial matters. Its mission is to work towards a world in which individuals and companies can enjoy a high degree of legal certainty in cross-border situations.

Responding to the needs of a globalizing international community, the Hague Conference develops multilateral Conventions (45 since 1893) and assists with their implementation and practical operation. These Hague Conventions deal with such diverse fields as Apostilles; service of process abroad; taking of evidence abroad; shares, bonds, and other securities; child abduction, intercountry adoption, maintenance obligations, etc. These Conventions serve to build bridges between various legal systems while respecting their diversity. The Secretariat of the Hague Conference is called the Permanent Bureau.
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The word “Apostille” (pronounced a-pos-TEE, not a-pos-TEAL or a-pos-TILL-ee) is of French origin. It comes from the French verb “apostiller”, which derives from the old French word apostille meaning “annotation”, and before it the Latin No suggestions, a variation of the word postea, which means “thereafter, afterwards, next” (Le Nouveau Petit Robert: Dictionnaire alphabétique et analogique de la langue française, Paris, 2004). Usage of the words “Apostille” and “apostiller” dates to the end of the 16th century in France. Thus, an Apostille consisted of an annotation in the margin of a document or at the end of a letter.

During the negotiations on the Hague Apostille Convention, the term “Apostille” was preferred because of its novelty. According to the reporter: “Following a discussion on terminology [in the French language], the word Apostille has been preferred because of its appealing novelty.” The meanings of the word Apostille described above are still valid today.
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In South Africa, Apostille Certificates are issued primarily by

1. The Registrar of the High Court, where documents have been

• Authenticated by a notary public.
• Translated by a sworn translator.

2. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation's (DIRCO) in respect of the following documents

• Unabridged birth and marriage certificates.
• Police clearance certificates.
• Degrees, diplomas, and transcripts.
• Matric certificates, school transfer certificates and reports.
• Driver's license confirmation letter.
• Medical Reports.

Louwrens Koen Attorneys deliver comprehensive Apostille certificate services. Contact us Tel: 0870010733 or Email info@louwrenskoen.co.za for more information.

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Ordering and quoting online is simple and safe. Complete the secure online form to get a no-obligation quotation with a time estimate for completion. You can use the secure incorporated facility to upload any documents you would like us to check. 

• When a document issued in South Africa is required to be used in another country which is also a signatory to the Apostille Convention, an Apostille Certificate will be issued either by the High Court or by the Department of International Relations (DIRCO). This will be the end of the Apostille process.
• Where a document is required to be used in a country which is not a signatory to the Apostille Convention (such as China or the UAE) the document will receive an Authentication of Signature Certificate (not an apostille certificate), which must be issued by DIRCO, irrespective of whether the document has gone to the High Court first.
• Once authenticated by DIRCO, the document must then be submitted to the relevant country's Embassy for legalisation. Only once legalised by the Embassy will the authentication process be complete.

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The Hague Apostille Convention, formally known as the “Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents”, is an international agreement governing how a document issued in one country can be certified for legal purposes in another.  

This certification is called the apostille process. Any country that is a signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention will legally recognise documents from other signatory countries if these documents have first been “apostilled”.

Therefore, countries that are not a signatory to The Hague Apostille Convention cannot obtain an apostille on their official documents. The appropriate document legalisation process to certify the signatures on documents for these countries is called authentication and embassy attestation.

For more information on the Hague Apostille Convention, contact us. We would happily discuss your documents and how to best have them processed for use abroad. Call us at 087 0010 733 or submit an online form to get an obligation-free online quotation.

An Apostille is an internationally recognised certificate that verifies the authenticity of a South African document's signature and seal. You typically require one when a foreign authority (in a country that is part of the Hague Convention) needs to confirm that your South African public document is genuine.

Apostilles are accepted by all member states of the Hague Apostille Convention. If your destination country is not a member (such as the UAE or China), your documents must instead undergo a multi-stage Authentication and Embassy Attestation process.

An Apostille is a simplified, one-step legalisation for Hague Convention countries. Authentication is the first step in a longer "chain" process required for non-Hague countries, usually involving the High Court, DIRCO, and final approval by the destination country's Embassy.

Absolutely. We understand that every situation—from international adoptions to complex corporate mergers—is different. Our specialists provide tailored guidance to ensure your specific documents meet the exact criteria of the receiving country.

Yes, if you intend to use a South African POA for legal actions abroad, it must almost always be legalised. This process typically starts with our Notary Public verifying your signature before the document proceeds to the High Court or DIRCO.

Yes. You can courier your documents to our Pretoria offices, and we will manage the entire High Court, DIRCO, and Embassy process on your behalf. Once legalised, we can courier them directly to your international address.

DIRCO (Department of International Relations and Cooperation) will not apostille or authenticate an original South African degree or diploma without a corresponding verification letter from SAQA. This letter confirms that your qualification is registered on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) and is genuine.

Generally, all tertiary qualifications—including Higher Certificates, Diplomas, and Degrees (Undergraduate and Postgraduate)—must be verified by SAQA before they can be legalised for international use.

The standard turnaround time for SAQA to issue a verification letter is typically between 15 and 25 working days. This timeline depends on how quickly your specific university or college responds to SAQA's verification request.

Yes. A common pitfall is having an outstanding financial balance at your university. If your student account is not settled, the institution may refuse to verify your records, which halts the SAQA process.

No. While SAQA handles tertiary qualifications, school-level qualifications (such as the National Senior Certificate) must be verified by Umalusi before they can proceed to DIRCO for legalisation.

For many jurisdictions, a notarised and High Court-authenticated copy of your degree may be acceptable. However, most high-stakes visa applications (such as those for the UAE, Qatar, or China) specifically demand the legalisation SAQA verification letter authenticated by DIRCO. 

We provide end-to-end management of the academic legalisation chain. Our service includes:

• Compliance Audit: Reviewing your documents to ensure they meet SAQA and DIRCO standards.
• Application Management: Facilitating the verification request with SAQA on your behalf.
• Final Legalisation: Hand-delivering the verified documents to DIRCO or the High Court for the final Apostille or Embassy Attestation.

This is an official document issued by the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) in South Africa. It confirms the validity of your license, the date it was first issued, the vehicle codes you are authorised to drive, and that your license has not been suspended or cancelled.

Foreign governments cannot verify the authenticity of an RTMC signature on their own. By obtaining an Apostille (for Hague Convention countries) or Authentication (for non-Hague countries), you provide the foreign transport authority with the legal proof that the letter is a genuine South African public document.

You must apply directly to the RTMC. They typically require a copy of your ID and your current driver’s license. While you can apply yourself, many clients find the process slow; our service includes the facilitation and collection of this letter to ensure it moves directly into the legalisation chain.

Generally, no. Most countries will not apostille the plastic card itself. Instead, they require the RTMC Verification Letter to be apostilled. In some specific cases, a Notary Public can certify a "notarised copy" of your card, which is then authenticated by the High Court, but the RTMC letter remains the "gold standard" for license conversions.

Most foreign authorities require the letter to be "fresh," usually issued within the last 3 to 6 months. If your letter is older than this, it may be rejected, and you will need to apply for a new one before it can be legalised.

Yes. We frequently assist South Africans already living in the UK, Australia, Europe, or the Middle East. We can manage the application with the RTMC on your behalf, obtain the necessary Apostille or Embassy Attestation in Pretoria, and courier the final documents directly to your international address.

The most common documents include:

• Special Power of Attorney (POA): Authorising an agent or lawyer abroad to sign on your behalf.
• Property Sale/Purchase Agreements: The formal contract of transfer.
• Spousal Consent Forms: Required in many jurisdictions to confirm a spouse's agreement to the sale.
• Mortgage & Finance Documents: Documents required by foreign banks to secure property funding.

Because these are private legal documents (not issued by a government department like Home Affairs), they almost always follow the Notary Public route:

1. Notarisation: You must sign the original document in the presence of a Notary Public who verifies your identity and witnesses your signature.
2. High Court Authentication: The Notary’s signature is then authenticated by the High Court (Gauteng Division, Pretoria) to confirm they are a registered practitioner.
3. Final Legalisation: Depending on the destination, the document receives an Apostille (Hague countries) or proceeds to DIRCO and the relevant Embassy for Attestation (Non-Hague countries like the UAE or China).

Foreign authorities often reject General POAs because they are too broad. A Special Power of Attorney drafted specifically for a single property transaction (identifying the Erf/Plot number) is much more likely to be accepted by foreign notaries and registries.

Real estate transactions often have strict "transfer dates." A rejection at a foreign land registry due to an incorrect stamp or a missing High Court authentication can cause the sale to fall through, leading to significant financial penalties or the loss of a deposit.

As experts in notary public services and document legalisation, we ensure your property documents are "Registry-Ready" before they leave South Africa. We manage the entire chain of attendances at the High Court, DIRCO, and foreign embassies.

Issued by the SAPS Criminal Record Center (CRC), a PCC is an official document that confirms whether or not any criminal convictions are recorded against your name in South Africa. It is a standard requirement for almost all international visa and immigration applications.

Let's get your clearance moving.
Every day you wait is another day added to the government's backlog. Whether you are in South Africa or already abroad, we take the stress out of the SAPS and DIRCO chain.

While the SAPS document itself does not have an "expiry date," most foreign embassies and authorities will only accept a PCC that was issued within the last six months. If your PCC is older than this, you will likely need to apply for a fresh one before it can be legalised.

Yes. You can have your fingerprints taken at your nearest South African Embassy or local police station abroad. You then courier those prints to our offices in Pretoria, and we will manage the submission to the SAPS CRC and the subsequent legalisation at DIRCO on your behalf.

You must provide a full set of fingerprints (taken on the official SAPS 91(a) form), a clear copy of your South African ID or Passport, and the required application fee.

The SAPS CRC processing time can vary from 7 to 21 working days depending on their current backlog. Once issued, the DIRCO Apostille process currently takes an additional 4 to 6 weeks, though expedited services are occasionally available.