Birth certificates, marriage certificates & more for international use
The Department of Home Affairs is responsible for issuing vital civil documents in South Africa. These documents are essential for immigration, visa applications, international marriage, and other overseas purposes.
We assist with obtaining original certificates from Home Affairs, which can then be apostilled by DIRCO for international use. We handle the entire process so you don't have to queue at Home Affairs.
~2 weeks from Department of Home Affairs
For international use, many countries require unabridged (full) versions of certificates rather than abridged (short) versions. The key differences are:
| Feature | Unabridged Certificate | Abridged Certificate |
|---|---|---|
| Parents' Details | Full names and ID numbers of both parents | Limited or no parent information |
| International Use | Accepted internationally | Usually not accepted |
| Apostille | Can be apostilled by DIRCO | May not be accepted for apostille |
| Visa Applications | Required by most embassies | Often rejected |
We offer a convenient end-to-end service that includes:
We apply for your certificate at Home Affairs on your behalf.
Once ready, we collect your certificate from Home Affairs.
We can submit your certificate to DIRCO for apostille certification.
We courier your completed documents directly to you.
No — not for a government-issued document. An apostille issued by DIRCO authenticates the signature and seal of the South African official who issued your document, so its legal validity comes from DIRCO — the government department — not from whoever submits it. You only need a notary to first certify private documents such as affidavits, powers of attorney, certified copies, or sworn translations. An attorney’s qualifications do not make an apostille any more valid — a specialist submission agent like Easy Services Group lodges and collects the identical government apostille, usually faster and for less than legal fees.
An unabridged birth certificate is the full version of a birth certificate that shows both parents' details, including their full names and identity numbers. This is required for international use, visa applications, and apostille purposes.
Home Affairs certificates typically take around 2 weeks to process. Processing times can vary depending on the type of document and Home Affairs workload.
A Letter of No Impediment (also called a single status certificate) is a document from Home Affairs confirming that you are legally free to marry. It's required when getting married in another country.
Yes, if you're using a Home Affairs certificate in another country that's a member of the Hague Convention, it needs to be apostilled by DIRCO. We can handle both the certificate procurement and apostille process for you.
We handle the queues for you. Get your certificates without the hassle.