APOSTILLE / AUTHENTICATION

How does an “Apostille” work?

Before obtaining an Apostille Certificate for South African public documents, you’ll need to verify that the country that will be receiving the document (the Country of Destination) is a signatory/member/contracting state to the Apostille Convention (Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Consular Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents). A public document issued in South Africa often has to be apostillised or legalised (officially “authenticated” when it is going to be used in a foreign country). In fact, it is the signature and/or stamp on public documents that require the Apostille.

Documents that often have to be apostillised include:
Home Affairs documents and Police Clearances:

• Police Clearance Certificates
• Birth Certificate
• Marriage Certificate
• Death Certificate
• Divorce Decrees
• Letter of No Impediment to be married abroad