DIRCO Apostille
DIRCO Apostille, If you want to use South African Documents outside of South Africa –
In South Africa the Department of International Relations and Co-
Depending if the target country is a signatory to the La Hague convention or not documents are legalised by either Apostille which requires no further steps or Authentication which requires a further step at that specific governments Embassy.
Depending of the type of document this authentication must be done either by DIRCO or the High Court.
1. Documents that must be presented to DIRCO for Apostille and/or Authentication.
1.1. Original Documents:
• Unabridged certificates from Department of home Affairs.
• Police Clearance certificates.
• Medical Reports authenticated by HPCSA.
1.2. Copies authenticated by the relevant Government Departments
• Educational certificates authenticated by the Department of Education.
• Medical certificates and reports authenticated by the Health Professionals Counsel.
2. Documents that must be presented to the High Court for Apostille and /or Authentication.
• Notarised Copies of documents.
• If a Apostille is needed it will be done at the High Court.
• If the document has to legalised by a embassy the document has also have to be presented to DIRCO.
• Translations
3. Documents that have to be Legalised at Embassy’s.
When countries are not party to the La Hague convention a further step must be followed after authentication at the High Court.
• Document must be presented to DIRCO for further authentication.
4. PROCESS TO LEGALISE DOCUMENTS.
• Email us details of legalisation requitred.
• Scan and email Application List to us and we will reply with a indication of cost.
After we have returned the quotation or if we have answered your query satisfactory; Then
4.1. Download and Complete the Client Sheet.
4.2. Courier the following to us:
4.2.1. Client Sheet
4.2.2. Detail List
4.2.3 Original Documents
5. On Receipt of the documents we will;
i) We will confirm receipt.
ii) We will email you a invoice with banking details.
iii) Process the Legalisation
iv) On receipt of payment we will courier the certificates to u.
6. Lead Time (Lead Times are indications and will be confirmed with each order)
6.1. Apostille /Authentication at DIRCO: 1 to 2 working days.
6.2. Certification at Department Education etc. 2 to 5 working days.
6.3. Authentication School Quailifications at Umalisi : 5 to 7 working days:
6.4. Certification at embassy: 2 to 5 working days
7. Cost Fees and Payment
• R 445 for the first 3 documents nd R 165 per document there after.
• Embassy fees if applicable.
• Courier Fees
• Forex fees if applicable
• Payment is in advance on invoice
• Payment can be done via EFT or Pay Pal if paid from abroad.
• Cheque and Credit Card payments are not accepted
8. Services We Render
• Preparing documents for different Government Departments.
• Lodging the applications
• Collecting applications
• Controlling
Legalisation of Documents by means of Apostille or Authentication.Legalising documents means that official (public) documents are affixed, sealed and signed either with an Apostille Certificate (where countries are party to The Hague Convention) or with a Certificate of Authentication (where countries are not party to The Hague Convention). Documents that are Authenticated must usually also be certified by their local embassy.
APOSTILLE.
Signatories to the La Hague Convention abolishes the lengthy and costly requirements for the Legalisation of documents to a simple streamlined process The following countries are signatories to the La Hague Convention. Documents that qualify gets Apostilled. It means that documents are weighed against pre-
AUTHENTICATION.
When countries are not signatories of the La Hague Convention the same process as for Apostille must be followed. It means that documents are weighed against pre-
It is at this point that the difference between a Apostille and Authentication becomes evident as documents receiving a Authentication Certificate must now be presented to the Embassy of the country for which the document was intended.
What documents can be Apostilled or Authenticated.
It is very important to note that only qualifying documents drawn up, executed within South Africa can be Legalised by Apostille or Authenticated in South Africa.
South African representatives abroad can only legalise official documents if these were legalised by the relevant foreign authority in their country of accreditation, for use within South Africa.With other word they cannot legalise documents which originated in South Africa South African representatives abroad cannot issue Apostille Certificates, only Certificates of Authentication.
Documents that cannot be Legalised by Apostille or Authentication.
• Abridged, Vault Copies and Handwritten copies of Birth, Marriage and Death Certificates
• Any copy certified by any commissioner of oaths. , i.e. abridged certificates or marriage, birth, death or police clearance certificates; certified copies of letters of no impediment (marital status) or proof of citizenship; certified copies of travel documents or identity documents; and documents legalised by a Commissioner of Oaths to be true copies of the original, as these documents must follow the route of the Public Notary/Registrar of the High Court
• “Old” documentation: Please take note that although the original document is an original and valid document, the signature of the official (or employee) who originally issued and signed the document might not be available on the DIRCO – Legalisation Section signature database, neither be obtainable from the specific government Department, as the official (or employee) who originally issued and signed the document is no longer employed at the specific Department, which makes it impossible for the Legalisation Section to legalise the “old” document at such a late stage. Therefore it is advisable that the document should preferably not be older than one (1) year. The Legalisation Section furthermore recommends that customers must also verify with the relevant foreign representative in South Africa what their specific country requirements are.
The following Original Documents can be Legalised by Apostille or Authentication
• Police Clearance certificate within 3 months of issue.
• Unabridged Birth, Marriage and death Certificates computer printed, signed and stamped within I year of issue.
• Determination of Citizenship within 1 year of date of issue.
• Letter of No Impediment within 3 months from date of issue.
• Adoption Papers
• Letter of confirmation of driver’s license
Copies of Documents to be Legalised by Apostilled or Authenticated where Notary certification is not Necessary. (What is Notary Certification)
1. Department of Basic Education Primary and Secondary School Certificates including Transfer Cards Grade 1 to 11
* Transfer cards need to be signed and sealed and the education district director and deputy director. The principal of the school must provide a letter confirming that the pupil studied at the school – then lodge at the Department.
*The original certificate with a copy must be lodged
* The Department will verify if the institution is registered at the Department and if it is
* The copy will be signed and stamped and an original covering letter supplied.
* These documents must be submitted for Legalisation.( Apostille or Authenticate)
* If the institution is not registered with the department please see Legalisation of Notary Copy.
2. Department of Basic Education Grade 12
*The original certificate with a copy must be lodged
* The Department will verify if the institution is registered at the Department and if it is
* The copy will be signed and stamped and an original covering letter supplied.
* These documents must be submitted for Legalisation.( Apostille or Authenticate)
* If the institution is not registered with the department please see Legalisation of Notary Copy.
3. Department of Higher Education Institutions, Universities and Universities of Technology.
*The original certificate with a copy must be lodged
* The Department will verify if the institution is registered at the Department and if it is
* The copy will be signed and stamped and an original covering letter supplied.
* These documents must be submitted for Legalisation.( Apostille or Authenticate)
* If the institution is not registered with the department please see Legalisation of Notary Copy.
4. Health Professions Counsel: Medical Certificates.
* Medical certificates must be presented on the required forms and include X-
* The Health Professions Counsel will Attach a Certification document.
* The certification with the medical certificates can be Apostilled or Authenticated.
5. Divorce decrees and settlement agreements:
* The High Court where the divorce was granted must be contacted directly applications made for a certified copy.
* The Registrar must signed and stamped the decree and each page of the settlement (should the settlement be required)
These documents can then be Legalised by Apostille or Authentication.
6. All documentation regarding the registration of companies and of close corporations, registration of patent designs, trademarks and copyrights.
* Must first be stamped and signed (every page) by the relevant Registrar at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) – Companies and Intellectual Property Commission Office (CIPC), who is authorised to sign documents for international purposes.
* If the DTI – CIPC is unable to stamp and sign the documentation, then the customer needs to follow the route of the Public Notary/Registrar of the High Court.
* Then documents can be Legalised by Apostille or Authentication
Certain documents must be Verified by the Registrar of the High Court who will issue a certificate or may in certain circumstances Legalise the document by issuing a Apostille or Authentication Certificate.
1. These documents are usually copies of original documents where the document must verified by a Public Notary who will verify the document.
The following process must be followed.
* Copies plus the original documents are presented to the Notary who will verify the documents and affix a Notary Certificate.
* The High Court where the attorney is registered will certify the signature of the attorney.
* Documents can then be presented for Legalisation by Apostille or Authentication.
2. Examples of these documents are.
* All copies of original documents
* Copies of passports etc
* Qualifications of non-
* Official Translations