Need someone to act on your behalf overseas? A power of attorney must be signed before a Notary Public and apostilled before foreign authorities will accept it. Our in-house Notary drafts, notarises and legalises your POA—all under one roof.📞 087 001 0733 | ✉️ info@apostille.co.za[Book an Appointment →]
A power of attorney (POA) is a legal document that authorises another person (the "agent" or "attorney-in-fact") to act on your behalf in legal, financial or personal matters. When used internationally, the POA must be:
Without proper notarisation and apostille, foreign authorities, banks and registries will reject your power of attorney.
Property Transactions
Business Matters
Financial Affairs
Legal Proceedings
Estate & Inheritance
Personal Matters
Grants broad authority to act on your behalf across multiple matters.Use when:
Caution: Grants wide-ranging powers—ensure you trust your agent completely.
Grants specific, limited authority for a particular transaction or purpose.Use when:
Recommended: More controlled—authority ends when the specific task is complete.Not sure which you need? Tell us what you're trying to accomplish and we'll advise on the appropriate type.
We draft your power of attorney based on:
Already have a POA drafted? We can review and notarise your existing document.
You attend our Pretoria office to sign the POA in person before our Notary Public:
This step cannot be done remotely—you must sign in person before the Notary.
The notarised POA is submitted to the High Court:
For Hague countries: Process complete—ready for use.
For countries like the UAE, China, Qatar:
POA Drafted
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Notarisation (you sign in person)
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High Court Apostille
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DIRCO Authentication (non-Hague only)
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Embassy Attestation (non-Hague only)We handle everything: Drafting
Notarisation
Legalisation
One location, one provider—no running between offices.
When you attend our office to sign your POA, bring:✅ Your South African ID or passport – Original, not a copy✅ Your agent's details:
✅ Details of the transaction/authority:
✅ Any documents provided by the receiving party:
If the receiving party (overseas lawyer, bank, etc.) has provided specific instructions or a template, bring this with you.
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| POA drafting | From R650 |
| Notarisation | R950 |
| Drafting + Notarisation | From R1,400 |
Already have your POA drafted? Notarisation only: R950
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| High Court Apostille | R450 |
| DIRCO Authentication | R850 |
| Embassy Attestation | Varies by country |
| Package | Fee |
|---|---|
| Draft + Notarise + High Court (Hague countries) | From R1,850 |
| Draft + Notarise + High Court + DIRCO (non-Hague) | From R2,700 |
| Full legalisation, including embassy | From R3,500 |
[Get a Quote →]
| Stage | Duration |
|---|---|
| Drafting | Same day (if requirements clear) |
| Notarisation | Same day (when you attend) |
| High Court Apostille | 1-2 working days |
| DIRCO Authentication | Contact us for current times |
| Embassy Attestation | 3-14 days (varies by embassy) |
For Hague countries: 2-3 working days total.
For non-Hague countries: 2-4 weeks total.
Urgent? Contact us—we can often expedite attendance at the High Court.
You Must Sign in Person
The Notary must witness you signing and verify your identity. This cannot be done remotely or by video call. You must physically attend our Pretoria office.Agent Doesn't Need to Be Present
Only you (the person granting authority) need to sign before the Notary. Your agent does not need to attend.
Overseas Clients
If you're currently overseas and need a POA for South African matters, you have two options:
Revocation
Powers of attorney can be revoked at any time by the person who granted them. If you need to cancel a POA, contact us.
Expiry
POAs can be drafted with or without an expiry date. For specific transactions, we recommend including an expiry date or stating the POA ends when the specific task is complete.
TranslationsS
Some countries require Arabic, Chinese, or other language translations. We arrange certified translations when needed—the translation is included in the apostille chain.
Can I sign the POA remotely or by video call?
No. South African law requires you to sign in the physical presence of the Notary Public. This is a legal requirement that cannot be bypassed.Can someone else sign on my behalf?
No. You personally must sign the POA. That's the entire point of notarisation—the Notary verifies that YOU signed the document.Do I need to know exactly what powers to grant?
Have a general idea of what you need (sell property, manage bank account, sign contracts, etc.). We'll help draft the specific wording.The overseas party sent me a template—can you use it?
Yes. If the receiving party has specific requirements or a template, bring it and we'll incorporate their requirements.
How long is a POA valid?
It depends on how it's drafted. It can be valid indefinitely, until a specific date, or until a specific task is completed. We'll discuss this when drafting.Can I grant POA to someone in another country?
Yes. Your agent can be located anywhere. They'll use the apostilled POA in that country to act on your behalf.
What if I need multiple POAs for different purposes?
We can draft multiple POAs in one appointment. Each document is notarised and apostilled separately.
Can a company grant a power of attorney?
Yes. A director or authorised person signs on behalf of the company. You'll need to bring company registration documents and a resolution authorising the POA.
Book an appointment at our Pretoria office. Bring your ID and your agent's details—we handle the rest.[Book an Appointment →]Contact us:
Walk-ins welcome for straightforward POAs—but booking guarantees availability.
