Overview
A SAQA apostille is needed when you must prove the level and standing of a South African qualification abroad. SAQA — the South African Qualifications Authority — issues a certificate of evaluation that benchmarks your qualification against the National Qualifications Framework. Once you hold that certificate, an apostille makes it valid in the 125+ member states of the Hague Apostille Convention.
SAQA evaluations are used for skilled-migration visas, professional registration, and recognition of South African qualifications by foreign universities and employers. The same evaluation route is also used in reverse — to recognise foreign qualifications inside South Africa — although for international use it is the SAQA certificate that gets apostilled.
Quick Facts
- Apostille Type: DIRCO (or High Court)
- Processing Time: ~1 week (apostille); add 4-6 weeks for SAQA
- Document Required: SAQA certificate of evaluation
- Evaluation Body: SAQA (higher-education qualifications)
Get Your SAQA Letter Apostilled — From R1,650
DIRCO Apostille: R1,650 per document (~1 week). We apostille your SAQA verification letter. WhatsApp us for a free quote.
What is a SAQA Evaluation?
A SAQA evaluation, formally a certificate of evaluation, is SAQA's assessment of where a qualification sits on the South African National Qualifications Framework. It states the level and the comparable South African qualification, which gives foreign institutions a trusted benchmark for your degree, diploma or professional qualification.
When You Need a SAQA Evaluation
Whether you need a SAQA evaluation depends on the destination or employer. Some foreign universities, professional registration bodies and immigration authorities specifically request a SAQA certificate of evaluation. Others accept the qualification directly once it is apostilled. If you are unsure, send us your admission or visa checklist and we will confirm whether a SAQA evaluation is required before apostille.
SAQA vs Umalusi
SAQA evaluates higher-education qualifications — degrees and diplomas. Umalusi verifies school-leaving qualifications — the matric / National Senior Certificate. If you are apostilling a matric certificate instead, see our matric certificate apostille guide. For a university qualification, see our degree apostille guide.
Need the SAQA Evaluation Itself First?
SAQA (the South African Qualifications Authority) issues the evaluation — timelines and outcomes are SAQA’s own. If you don’t yet have your SAQA letter, we offer full application assistance for R3,450: we prepare your application pack, submit it, track it through SAQA’s ~2-week processing, and receive the letter ready for the apostille step. Already applied yourself? Our submit & collect service (R1,000) handles the physical hand-in and collection so your letter flows straight into the apostille.
Combined with the DIRCO apostille (R1,650, ~1 week), a typical single-qualification total is R5,350 plus courier.
The Process
Have Your SAQA Letter Ready
The SAQA verification letter (certificate of evaluation) benchmarks your qualification against the National Qualifications Framework. This is the document that gets apostilled.
Choose DIRCO or High Court
Apostille via DIRCO (R1,650, ~1 week) or the High Court (R1,650, 1-3 working days). Both carry identical legal validity.
Submit for Apostille
Your SAQA letter is submitted to DIRCO in Pretoria, or to the High Court, for the apostille certificate to be attached.
Collection & Delivery
Once apostilled, we collect your document and courier it to you (R250 locally, R800-R1,300 internationally).
Common Uses
- Skilled-migration visas - Points-based immigration systems that benchmark your qualification level
- Professional registration - Foreign professional bodies confirming your qualification standing
- University admissions - Postgraduate entry where a SAQA benchmark is requested
- Employment abroad - Employers verifying the level of your South African qualification
- Recognition of foreign qualifications - The SAQA evaluation route also benchmarks overseas qualifications for use in South Africa
- Licensing and trades - Regulated occupations that require an evaluated, apostilled qualification
Complete Cost Breakdown
Understanding the cost helps you budget for the apostille of your SAQA verification letter. Here is a detailed breakdown of what to expect:
| Service | Cost (ZAR) | Timeline | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIRCO Apostille | R1,650 per document | ~1 week | Standard processing via Department of International Relations |
| High Court Apostille | R1,650 per document | 1-3 working days | Option — same legal validity as DIRCO |
| Sworn Translation | R1,000 per page | Varies | Only for non-English-speaking destinations |
| Local Courier | R250 | 1-2 business days | Within South Africa |
| International Courier (Zones 1-4) | R800-R1,300 | 3-14 business days | Depending on destination zone |
Total Cost Estimate
The apostille of your SAQA verification letter comes to:
- SAQA letter apostille (DIRCO): R1,650 (~1 week, plus courier)
- SAQA letter apostille (High Court): R1,650 (1-3 working days, plus courier)
- Urgent route: Choose the High Court for the apostille step (1-3 working days) once your SAQA letter is in hand
Our recommendation: Confirm with your destination whether a SAQA verification letter is required, then have it ready for apostille. Contact us for a personalised quote based on your qualification and destination.
Don't have the original document yet? Ask us — we'll talk you through your options.
Why Use a Professional Apostille Service
You can submit to DIRCO or the High Court yourself, but the apostille step is detail-heavy and a rejected submission can cost you weeks. Here is why most clients use us once they hold their SAQA certificate:
Apostille Done Right
The apostille step needs the certified SAQA document submitted to the right authority in the right format. We handle the DIRCO or High Court submission correctly so it is not returned for missing or incorrectly certified documents.
One Point of Contact
We deal with DIRCO or the High Court, the courier, and any sworn translator on your behalf, so you are not coordinating several offices while planning a move.
Track Record and Accountability
Easy Services Group has processed over 1,000 documents with a 99.8% first-time acceptance rate, serving clients in 120+ countries from our Johannesburg base.
Ready to get started? Get a free quote for your SAQA apostille, or WhatsApp us for immediate assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a SAQA verification letter?
SAQA is the South African Qualifications Authority. A SAQA verification letter, also called a certificate of evaluation, benchmarks a qualification against the South African National Qualifications Framework. It is used to confirm the level and standing of a South African qualification abroad. Once you hold your SAQA letter, we apostille it for international use.
How much does it cost to apostille a SAQA certificate in South Africa?
An apostille on a SAQA verification letter costs R1,650 per document via DIRCO (~1 week) or R1,650 via the High Court (1-3 working days). Courier is R250 locally or R800-R1,300 internationally. See our full apostille cost guide.
Do I need a SAQA evaluation for my degree?
It depends on the destination or employer. Some foreign universities, professional bodies and immigration authorities ask for a SAQA evaluation to benchmark your South African qualification, while others accept the degree directly with an apostille. Send us your requirement checklist and we will confirm whether a SAQA letter needs apostilling for your case.
How long does the SAQA apostille take?
Once you hold your SAQA verification letter, the apostille step takes about 1 week via DIRCO or 1-3 working days via the High Court.
What is the difference between SAQA and Umalusi?
SAQA, the South African Qualifications Authority, evaluates higher-education qualifications such as degrees and diplomas. Umalusi verifies school-leaving qualifications such as the matric / National Senior Certificate. A university qualification goes through SAQA; a matric certificate goes through Umalusi. We apostille the resulting letter either way.
Will a SAQA apostille be accepted in every country?
An apostille is valid in the 125+ member states of the Hague Apostille Convention, including the UK, USA, Germany, Canada, Australia, and recent members such as China, Saudi Arabia and the Philippines. For the few non-Hague countries such as the UAE and Qatar, you need embassy attestation instead, which we also handle.
Do I need a sworn translation of my SAQA certificate?
Only if your destination country does not accept English documents. Non-English-speaking countries usually require a sworn translation of an apostilled SAQA certificate, which costs R1,000 per page. We can arrange accredited sworn translations alongside the apostille.
Do you offer nationwide SAQA apostille service?
Yes! While we're based in Johannesburg, we serve clients throughout South Africa. Once you have your SAQA certificate of evaluation, send it to us and we apostille it, then courier the document back to you.