What is Taiwan Attestation?

Taiwan attestation is the process of getting your South African documents officially verified by the Taipei Liaison Office in Pretoria. Taiwan is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, which means a standard apostille is not enough — documents must go through the full multi-step embassy attestation chain before they are recognised in Taiwan.

The Taipei Liaison Office in Pretoria functions as Taiwan’s consular representative for South Africa. It attests documents only after they have been authenticated by DIRCO. This is required for anyone planning to work, study or do business in Taiwan, including the popular TEFL teaching positions.

Embassy or Liaison Office?

South Africa does not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan. The Taipei Liaison Office in the Republic of South Africa (Pretoria) handles all consular and document attestation functions that would normally be done by an embassy. People still commonly call it “the Taiwan embassy” — same function, different name.

Taiwan Attestation Process (4 Steps)

1

Notarisation (1 day)

Private documents (degrees, TEFL certificates, employment letters) are first notarised by a Notary Public. Government-issued documents like birth certificates and police clearance skip this step.

2

High Court Authentication (3 days)

The High Court authenticates the notary’s signature.

3

DIRCO Authentication (~1 week)

DIRCO issues a Certificate of Authentication, verifying the High Court stamp.

4

Taipei Liaison Office Attestation (5–10 working days)

The Taipei Liaison Office in Pretoria verifies the DIRCO authentication and stamps the document. Embassy fees vary by document type and are passed through at cost.

Documents Commonly Attested for Taiwan

  • Degrees, Diplomas & TEFL Certificates — The biggest single use case. Taiwan’s buxiban (cram school) and public school TEFL market hires hundreds of South Africans each year. Schools require attested original degree + TEFL certificate.
  • Police Clearance Certificates — Mandatory for all Taiwan work permit applications. Must be less than 6 months old at submission.
  • Birth Certificates — Required for dependant visa applications and family relocation.
  • Marriage Certificates — For spouse residency permits in Taiwan.
  • Academic Transcripts — For postgraduate study at Taiwanese universities and Mandarin language programme applications.
  • Medical Health Certificates — Some Taiwan work visa categories require medical fitness certificates.
  • Commercial DocumentsCIPC documents, contracts, powers of attorney for business establishment.

Common Reasons for Taiwan Attestation

  • TEFL Teaching — Taiwan’s English-teaching market is one of the most popular destinations for South African teachers. Both buxibans (private cram schools) and public school programmes (TFETP, FET) require attested degree, TEFL/CELTA certificate and police clearance. See our teacher-abroad guides.
  • Tech & Engineering Roles — Taiwan’s semiconductor industry (TSMC and the broader supply chain) recruits internationally for specialist engineering roles. Attested qualifications and police clearance are mandatory.
  • Study at Taiwanese Universities — National Taiwan University, NTHU, NCKU and the Mandarin language centres all require attested transcripts, degrees and police clearance for the Resident Visa for Study.
  • Family Reunification & Spouse Visas — Joining a partner who is working or studying in Taiwan.
  • Business & Trade — Setting up Taiwan operations or executing cross-border contracts.

Heading to Taiwan?

Whether for TEFL, tech or study — we handle the full attestation chain from notarisation to the Taipei Liaison Office stamp. Get a same-day quote.

What We Need From You

  • Certified copy of your South African ID or passport
  • Original documents to be attested (or certified copies, depending on document type)
  • Confirmation of which Taiwan visa category you are applying under (TEFL, work, study, family) so we can confirm the right document set
  • Your intended departure date — so we can plan urgency

Translation Note

Many Taiwanese authorities require Chinese (traditional script) translation alongside the attested English document. This is normally done by an authorised translator in Taiwan once you arrive, or in some cases by a sworn translator in South Africa. We can advise on translator partners.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Taiwan part of the Hague Apostille Convention?

No. Taiwan is not a Hague Apostille Convention member. South African documents must go through the full attestation chain: notarisationHigh CourtDIRCO → Taipei Liaison Office.

Where is the Taiwan embassy in South Africa?

Taiwan does not have a formal embassy in South Africa. The Taipei Liaison Office in Pretoria handles all consular and document attestation functions. Same role as an embassy, different name.

How long does Taiwan attestation take?

Full chain: 2–4 weeks. Liaison Office step alone (if documents already DIRCO-authenticated): 5–10 working days. We recommend starting at least 6 weeks before your visa appointment.

What documents does Taiwan require attested?

Depends on visa category. TEFL: degree, TEFL/CELTA certificate, police clearance. Tech & engineering: degree, professional registration, police clearance. Study: academic transcripts, degree, police clearance. Spouse visa: marriage certificate, birth certificates for dependants.

I’m a TEFL teacher heading to Taiwan. What do I need?

Standard TEFL pack: attested original degree (Bachelor’s minimum), attested TEFL or CELTA certificate (120 hours minimum), attested SAPS police clearance (less than 6 months old), passport, passport photos. Schools sometimes also ask for an attested transcript. We bundle the four-document pack at a discounted rate — WhatsApp for the bundle quote.

Can I courier my documents?

Yes. Nationwide courier service (R250 local). We can also courier attested documents directly to Taiwan via international courier (R1,000 — Asia zone).

Get a Quote

Address

The Campus, Bryanston
Gauteng 2021, South Africa

Business Hours

Monday - Saturday
08:00 - 18:00

WhatsApp Call Us