What Is an Apostille
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...