If you are required to present documentation originating from South Africa or you need to sign documentation for use in another country, it is likely that such documentation must first go through a process of being legalised, or otherwise commonly referred to as “authenticated”. The type of authentication or seal/endorsement required depends on the document type.
It is important to firstly distinguish between documents that must be authenticated by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (“DIRCO”) or by a Notary Public and thereafter, a High Court of the Republic of South Africa.
DIRCO is a governmental authority that, among other things, Legalises or authenticates official (public) documents executed within the Republic of South Africa for use outside the Republic of South Africa by means of an Apostille Certificate or a Certificate of Authentication.
Broadly speaking, documents that are issued by a South African governmental department (ie. Unabridged Birth Certificates) will need to be authenticated by DIRCO, while if the document is not issued by a South African governmental department, the document will most likely need to be authenticated by a Notary Public and thereafter the High Court. All our services below offer a telephonic or email consultation prior to any attendances wherein we confirm which type of authentication required.
Examples of documents that need to go to DIRCO for authentication include:
- Original unabridged or full birth, marriage and/or death certificates;
- Original (valid) letters of no impediment (marital status);
- Letter confirming an individual’s citizenship status (letters confirming naturalization) and renunciation letters as issued and duly signed and stamped by the authorised Home Affairs official;
- Original (valid) Police Clearance Certificates as issued, signed and stamped by the South African Police Service (SAPS);
- Original adoption papers signed and stamped by the relevant Presiding Officer / Commissioner of Child Welfare of the Children’s Court (Department of Justice and Constitutional Development) or the Registrar of Adoptions at the Department of Social Development; and
- Original Confirmation Letters as issued (stamped and signed) by the Department of Transport – Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) confirming that the applicant holds a valid driver’s licence.
Other documents also need to go to DIRCO for authentication but these documents must also pass through other relevant departments or organisations before authentication can take place, these include:
- Export related documentation;
- School and Transfer certificates (Grade 1 – 11);
- Matric Certificates (Grade 12);
- Tertiary Qualifications;
- Trade Certificates;
- Medical Certificates; and
- Divorce Orders and Settlement Agreements (wherein the destination country is not a signatory to the Hague Convention).
We charge a nominal fee of R2,900.00 inclusive of VAT, which includes the following:-
- A telephonic or email consultation with one of our attorneys to discuss the document or documents needing legalisation and discussing the way forward;
- The drafting of a covering letter for the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO);
- Liaising with our agents in Pretoria;
- Organising and collating the relevant documentation;
- Liaising with our couriers;
- Courier charges to Pretoria and back to our offices; and
- Agents charges.
Thereafter, you can collect your DIRCO Apostilled document from our reception.