Quick Answer
An apostille is an official certificate that authenticates South African documents for legal use in 125+ countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention. In South Africa, apostilles are issued by DIRCO (for government documents) or the High Court (for notarised documents). Processing takes 1-2 weeks for DIRCO and 3 days for High Court apostilles.
In This Guide
What Is an Apostille?
An apostille (pronounced "a-po-STEEL") is an official certificate that verifies the authenticity of a public document for international use. The term comes from French, meaning "certification" or "annotation."
When you need to use a South African document in another country, foreign authorities need assurance that your document is genuine. An apostille provides this assurance through a standardised certificate that is recognised internationally.
Key Point
An apostille does NOT certify the contents of your document are true - it only confirms that the document was legitimately issued by the stated authority in South Africa.
What Does an Apostille Look Like?
An apostille is a square-shaped certificate (minimum 9cm x 9cm) that is attached to or stamped onto your original document. It contains:
- Country of origin (Republic of South Africa)
- Name of the person who signed the document
- Capacity of the signatory
- Name of the authority whose seal/stamp appears
- Place and date of issue
- Issuing authority (DIRCO or High Court)
- Certificate number
- Seal/stamp of the issuing authority
- Signature of the issuing official
When Do You Need an Apostille?
You need an apostille when presenting South African documents to authorities in countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention. Common situations include:
Immigration
Visa applications, permanent residency, citizenship applications abroad
Education
University applications, qualification verification, student visas
Marriage
Getting married abroad, name changes, divorce proceedings
Employment
Work permits, professional registration, background checks
Business
Company registration abroad, contracts, power of attorney
Legal
Court proceedings, property transactions, inheritance matters
Types of Apostilles in South Africa
South Africa has two types of apostille authorities, depending on the type of document:
| Feature | DIRCO Apostille | High Court Apostille |
|---|---|---|
| Document Types | Government-issued documents | Notarised/private documents |
| Examples | Birth certificates, police clearances, degrees, marriage certificates | Powers of attorney, affidavits, declarations, contracts |
| Processing Time | 1-2 weeks | ~3 business days |
| Location | DIRCO Head Office, Pretoria | Any High Court in South Africa |
| Pre-requisite | Original government document | Document must be notarised first |
The Hague Convention Explained
The Hague Apostille Convention (officially the "Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents") was created in 1961 to simplify the process of authenticating documents for international use.
Before the Convention, getting a document authenticated for use abroad required a complex chain of certifications from multiple government departments and the foreign country's embassy. The apostille system replaced this with a single certificate.
Countries That Accept South African Apostilles
Some major Hague Convention member countries include:
View full list of member countries
Apostille vs Document Legalisation
If your destination country is NOT a member of the Hague Convention, you'll need full document legalisation (also called embassy attestation) instead of an apostille.
| Aspect | Apostille | Legalisation |
|---|---|---|
| For Countries | Hague Convention members (125+) | Non-member countries |
| Process Steps | Single step (DIRCO or High Court) | Multiple steps (DIRCO + Embassy) |
| Processing Time | 3 days - 3 weeks | 4-8 weeks |
| Cost | Lower | Higher (includes embassy fees) |
| Example Countries | UK, Germany, Australia, USA | UAE, China, Saudi Arabia, Qatar |
How to Get an Apostille in South Africa
Follow these steps to obtain an apostille for your documents:
Identify Your Document Type
Determine if you need a DIRCO apostille (government documents) or High Court apostille (notarised documents). This determines which authority to approach.
Prepare Your Documents
Obtain original documents. For High Court apostilles, you'll need to have documents notarised by a South African notary public first.
Submit to the Correct Authority
Submit documents to DIRCO in Pretoria (for government documents) or the High Court (for notarised documents). Consider using a professional service to save time.
Pay Fees & Wait
Pay the required government fees. DIRCO takes 1-2 weeks; High Court takes approximately 3 business days.
Collect Your Apostilled Documents
Collect your documents with the apostille certificate attached. Your documents are now ready for international use.
Costs & Processing Times
Apostille Processing Times (2025)
| Service | Processing Time |
|---|---|
| DIRCO Apostille | 1-2 weeks |
| High Court Apostille | ~3 business days |
| Notarisation (if required) | Same day |
For a personalised cost estimate, contact us via WhatsApp with your document details.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get an apostille on a copy of my document?
For DIRCO apostilles, you need the original government-issued document. For copies, you would first need to have the copy notarised by a notary public, then get a High Court apostille on the notarised copy.
How long is an apostille valid for?
An apostille itself does not expire. However, the underlying document may have validity requirements set by the receiving country. For example, some countries require police clearances to be issued within the last 6 months. Always check with the destination country's requirements.
Do I need to translate my document before getting an apostille?
The apostille is issued on the original document in its original language. However, many destination countries require a certified translation to accompany the apostilled document. Check the requirements of your destination country.
Can I apply for an apostille from outside South Africa?
Yes, you can authorise someone in South Africa to submit documents on your behalf, or use a professional apostille service like Easy Services Group. You would need to send your original documents to South Africa for processing.
What if my destination country is not in the Hague Convention?
For non-member countries (like UAE, China, Saudi Arabia), you need full document legalisation instead of an apostille. This involves authentication by DIRCO followed by attestation at the destination country's embassy. Contact us for legalisation services.
Need Help Getting Your Documents Apostilled?
Easy Services Group handles the entire apostille process for you - from notarisation to collection. Save time and avoid the hassle.