Overview
A marriage certificate apostille is essential when you need to prove your marital status abroad. Whether you're applying for a spouse visa, buying property overseas, or sorting out legal matters in another country, an apostilled marriage certificate validates your South African marriage internationally.
Quick Facts
- Apostille Type: DIRCO (government document)
- Processing Time: 1-2 weeks
- Document Required: Original unabridged marriage certificate
- Issuing Authority: Department of Home Affairs
Types of Marriage Certificates
South Africa issues different types of marriage certificates:
Unabridged Marriage Certificate
The full version showing complete details of both spouses, witnesses, and marriage officer. This is the version required for most international purposes.
Abridged Marriage Certificate
A shorter version with limited details. Generally not accepted for international use. You'll need to apply for an unabridged version.
Handwritten Marriage Register Extract
Old-style certificates from the marriage register. These can usually be apostilled but may need to be replaced with a modern certificate depending on destination requirements.
Common Uses
- Spouse visa applications - Most countries require apostilled marriage certificates
- Immigration applications - Proving marital status for family immigration
- Property purchases abroad - Required for joint property ownership
- Bank account opening - Some countries require proof of marriage
- Name change verification - Proving married name abroad
- Pension and insurance claims - Beneficiary verification
The Process
Obtain Unabridged Certificate
If you don't have an unabridged marriage certificate, apply at Home Affairs. Processing takes 2-8 weeks. We can assist with this application.
Document Verification
We verify your certificate is the correct format and suitable for apostille.
DIRCO Submission
Your original marriage certificate is submitted to DIRCO for apostille.
Collection & Delivery
Once apostilled, we collect and deliver your document.
Divorced or Widowed?
If you've been divorced or widowed and need to show your marital history, you may also need:
- Divorce decree - Notarised and apostilled through High Court
- Death certificate - Apostilled through DIRCO (if spouse deceased)
- Decree of restitution - For annulled marriages
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an unabridged marriage certificate?
Most countries require an unabridged marriage certificate for international use. This shows full details of both spouses. If you only have an abridged certificate, apply for the unabridged version from Home Affairs.
How long does it take to apostille a marriage certificate?
DIRCO apostille processing takes 1-2 weeks. If you need to obtain an unabridged certificate from Home Affairs first, add 2-8 weeks.
I was married abroad. Can you apostille my foreign marriage certificate?
DIRCO can only apostille South African documents. If you were married abroad, you'll need to either have that certificate apostilled in the country of issue, or register your marriage with Home Affairs to obtain a South African certificate.
My marriage certificate is very old. Is that a problem?
Old certificates can usually be apostilled if they're in good condition. However, if the document is damaged or in an outdated format, we recommend applying for a new unabridged certificate from Home Affairs.
Do you offer nationwide service?
Yes! While we're based in Johannesburg, we serve clients throughout South Africa. Courier your documents to us, and we'll handle everything.