Can DIRCO apostille a document in a language other than English?

Yes, DIRCO can apostille documents in any of South Africa's 11 official languages. The receiving country may require a sworn translation.

Can I apostille a certified copy instead of the original?

Yes, if certified by a SA notary public. The notary's signature is what DIRCO verifies and apostilles.

Document Services

South African Document Apostille & Authentication

Q: Do I need an apostille for a SA police clearance?

Typically yes, if the receiving country is a Hague Convention member. Some countries accept SAPS clearances without apostille.

South Africa is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. South African documents intended for use abroad must be apostilled or authenticated by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO). This guide explains the process, costs, required documents, and how to get an apostille from outside South Africa.

What Is an Apostille?

An apostille is an official certificate that authenticates the origin of a public document. Under the Hague Convention of 1961, an apostille issued by one member country is recognised by all other member countries, eliminating the need for further legalisation.

South Africa joined the Hague Apostille Convention in 2024. Previously, documents required a longer "authentication and legalisation" chain. Now, a single apostille sticker from DIRCO is sufficient for use in any of the 125+ Hague Convention member countries.

Documents That Need Apostille

Civil Status Documents

Birth certificates (abridged and unabridged)
Marriage certificates
Death certificates
Divorce decrees
Name change certificates

Educational Documents

Matric certificates (NSC)
University degrees and diplomas
Academic transcripts
SAQA evaluations
Professional registrations

Commercial Documents

Company registration certificates (CIPC)
Powers of attorney
Board resolutions
Affidavits and statutory declarations
Tax clearance certificates

Legal Documents

Police clearance certificates (SAPS)
Court orders and judgements
Notarised documents
Wills and estate documents
Adoption orders

Apostille Process via DIRCO (In South Africa)

Step 1Prepare Your Documents

Ensure all documents are original or certified copies. Some documents may need to be notarised by a South African notary public first. DIRCO will not apostille photocopies.

Step 2Submit to DIRCO

Submit documents in person or by post to:

DIRCO Legalisation Section
OR Tambo Building, 460 Soutpansberg Road, Rietondale, Pretoria
Tel: +27 12 351 1000
Hours: Monday-Friday, 08:00-12:30 (submissions), 14:00-15:30 (collections)

Postal submissions are accepted. Include a prepaid return envelope (registered or courier) for document return.

Step 3Pay the Fee

Service	Cost (ZAR)
Apostille per document	R100
Authentication (non-Hague countries)	R100
Urgent/expedited processing	R200

Step 4Collect Apostilled Documents

Standard processing takes 5-10 working days. Expedited processing is available for an additional fee (1-3 working days, subject to availability). Collect in person or receive by post.

Getting an Apostille From Abroad

If you are outside South Africa, you have several options:

Through your SA embassy: Some South African embassies and high commissions can facilitate the apostille process by forwarding documents to DIRCO. Contact your nearest mission to confirm they offer this service. Processing takes longer (4-8 weeks).
Through a trusted contact in SA: Authorise someone in South Africa (with a power of attorney) to submit documents to DIRCO on your behalf.
Through a professional service: Several document authentication agencies in South Africa offer postal and courier-based apostille services for a fee (typically R500-R1,500 per document including courier).
By post directly to DIRCO: Send original documents by international registered mail to DIRCO with a prepaid return envelope. This is the riskiest option due to postal delays.

Non-Hague Countries (Full Legalisation)

For countries that are not members of the Hague Convention, SA documents require the traditional "chain legalisation" process:

Step	Action	Who
1	Notarise the document	SA Notary Public
2	Authenticate the notary's signature	High Court of South Africa
3	Authenticate/legalise the document	DIRCO
4	Further legalisation by the destination country's embassy in SA	Foreign embassy in Pretoria

This process can take 2-4 weeks in total and costs more due to multiple fees at each stage.

Frequently Asked Questions

An apostille itself does not expire. However, the underlying document may have an expiry or the receiving country may require documents to be recently issued (e.g., police clearance certificates are typically accepted only if less than 6 months old). Always check the requirements of the country where you intend to use the document.

DIRCO can apostille documents in any of South Africa's 11 official languages. However, the receiving country may require a sworn translation into their language. It is advisable to have documents translated by a sworn translator before apostilling.

If you need a South African police clearance certificate (issued by SAPS or the Criminal Record Centre) for use abroad, yes, it typically needs to be apostilled by DIRCO if the receiving country is a Hague Convention member. Some countries accept SAPS clearances without apostille -- check with the specific embassy.

DIRCO can apostille a certified copy if it has been certified by a South African notary public (not just a commissioner of oaths). The notary's signature is what DIRCO verifies and apostilles. This is useful when you need to keep the original document.

Processing Times

Standard: 5-10 working days
Expedited: 1-3 working days
Via embassy: 4-8 weeks
Full legalisation: 2-4 weeks