Immigration Assist

  Fast, Expedited Home Affairs Service When time is critical, waiting months for Home Affairs to retrieve your Vault Birth Certificate is simply not an option. Whether you are applying for British citizenship, Portuguese nationality, or an urgent passport renewal, Immigration Assist offers a fast and expedited Vault Birth Certificate service to help you obtain your documents quickly and efficiently. What Is a Vault Birth Certificate? A Vault Birth Certificate is a certified copy of the original handwritten birth registration stored in the archives of the Department of Home Affairs. It includes the parents’ full names and signatures, the registrar’s handwritten notes, original stamps and seals from the date of registration, and the Director General’s certification. Because it comes directly from the original birth register, it is regarded as the most authentic and tamper-proof record of a person’s birth in South Africa. Why You Might Need an Urgent Vault Copy A Vault Birth Ce...

Clearing your criminal record can open doors to employment, travel, and peace of mind. At Immigration Assist, we guide you through the expungement process from start to finish, helping you move forward with confidence. The Process of Expungement Expungement is a multi-step process, but the outcome can be life-changing. Here is how it works: Step 1: We begin by collecting your fingerprints and applying for a Police Clearance Certificate. This document outlines your criminal record and confirms when the offence occurred. Step 2: We submit your record to the Department of Justice to apply for expungement. This step involves a formal application and supporting documentation. Step 3: Once approved, you will receive a new Police Clearance Certificate confirming that your record has been cleared. Who Is Not Eligible for Expungement You may not qualify for expungement if: Your conviction is less than ten years old You have multiple convictions You were convicted of serious offen...

  If you are a UK citizen living in South Africa and your passport is nearing expiry, you can renew it without travelling to the United Kingdom. Immigration Assist simplifies the process by guiding you through each step, from preparing your documents to submitting your application and arranging secure courier delivery. For expert assistance, visit our UK Immigration Services page or contact us directly. How to Renew Your UK Passport from South Africa UK passport renewals are completed online through His Majesty’s Passport Office (HMPO). You will need to fill out the online application form, upload a compliant digital photo, make payment, and courier your old passport to the UK when instructed. Immigration Assist ensures your documents meet HMPO requirements and that your application is correctly submitted to avoid delays. Required Documents for UK Passport Renewal To renew your UK passport, you will need: Your current or expired UK passport A digital photo ...

When you need to use your South African qualifications or professional documents abroad, they must be authenticated and legalised through a process known as apostille certification. At Immigration Assist, we manage the entire process from start to finish, ensuring your documents are accepted by foreign authorities quickly and efficiently. Apostille for Educational Documents The process for legalising educational documents depends on the type of qualification. Degree or Diploma Certificates Before a degree or diploma can be apostilled by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), it must first be verified by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). SAQA confirms the authenticity of the qualification directly with the issuing institution. Once verified, the document is submitted to DIRCO for apostille certification. Matric Certificates Matric certificates must be verified by either the Department of Basic Education (DBE) or Umalusi, the national council ...

If you are planning to emigrate, marry abroad, apply for a visa, or study internationally, you will likely be asked to submit official South African documents. These documents must be apostilled to be accepted in most foreign countries. What Does Apostille Mean? An apostille is a certificate issued by the South African government that confirms a document is authentic and legally valid for use abroad. It verifies that the signature, stamp, or seal on the document is genuine. South Africa is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. This means that any document issued in South Africa with an apostille is accepted in over 120 countries without the need for further legalisation. What Is an Apostille Certificate in South Africa? An apostille certificate is issued by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) in Pretoria. It is a small folded certificate attached to your original document, confirming its authenticity. Documents that commonly require apostilles includ...

The introduction of Section 4L of the British Nationality Act 1981 has created new opportunities for many South Africans with British ancestry to finally claim citizenship that was previously denied because of gender discrimination in nationality law. At Immigration Assist, we have helped numerous clients successfully apply under this new section; particularly through the UKM and ARD routes — depending on whether their connection to the United Kingdom comes from their maternal or paternal line. What Is a Section 4L Application? Section 4L was introduced to correct historic inequalities in British nationality law. Before 1983, British citizenship could not normally be passed down through the maternal line. This section now allows people who would have been British if women had been able to transmit nationality in the same way as men, to register as British citizens. Applicants who are approved under Sec...