If you need to use a South African Unabridged Birth Certificate overseas, you may be asked to have the original certificate Apostilled before it can be accepted by the foreign authority.
Certificate Assistance assists clients with the DIRCO Apostille process in South Africa. We are registered with DIRCO as an agent and handle the submission and collection process on behalf of our clients.
Our current Apostille service lead time is approximately 7–14 days. We submit documents to DIRCO every Wednesday and collect completed documents the following Wednesday.
For this service, we require the original Unabridged Birth Certificate that needs to be Apostilled.
What Is a South African Unabridged Birth Certificate?
An Unabridged Birth Certificate, also referred to as a full birth certificate, is an official South African civic document issued by the Department of Home Affairs.
It contains birth registration information and may be required for certain immigration, citizenship, visa, family, residency or other official processes outside South Africa.
When the certificate needs to be presented to a foreign authority, you may also be asked to have it Apostilled or authenticated.
Whether an Apostille is required depends on the destination country and the requirements of the authority receiving your document.
Can a South African Unabridged Birth Certificate Be Apostilled?
Yes, qualifying original South African Unabridged or Full Birth Certificates issued by the Department of Home Affairs can be submitted to DIRCO for legalisation.
The original certificate must meet the applicable DIRCO requirements, including the required signature and stamp from the issuing authority.
A computer printout or certificate that does not contain the required signature and stamp may not be accepted for DIRCO legalisation.
For this reason, it is important to check your document before arranging the Apostille process.
Do You Need the Original Birth Certificate?
Yes.
For our DIRCO Apostille service, we require the original qualifying Unabridged Birth Certificate.
A scanned copy, photograph or ordinary photocopy cannot replace the original document required for this process.
If you are currently living outside South Africa and have the original certificate with you, contact Certificate Assistance before sending it so that we can provide the correct delivery instructions.
How Long Does It Take to Apostille an Unabridged Birth Certificate?
Certificate Assistance currently advises clients to allow approximately 7–14 days for our Apostille service.
We are registered with DIRCO as an agent and follow a regular submission and collection schedule.
Documents are submitted to DIRCO every Wednesday and completed documents are collected the following Wednesday.
The exact turnaround therefore depends on when your original document reaches us.
If your document arrives in time for a Wednesday submission, it can be included in that submission cycle.
If it arrives after the weekly submission, it may need to wait until the following Wednesday.
Courier and international delivery times should be allowed for separately.
Our DIRCO Apostille Process
Our process is straightforward:
1. Contact Certificate Assistance and tell us which document you need Apostilled and the country where it will be used.
2. We confirm the requirements applicable to our service.
3. You send us the original Unabridged Birth Certificate.
4. We prepare the document for our next applicable DIRCO submission.
5. We submit documents to DIRCO every Wednesday.
6. We collect completed documents the following Wednesday.
7. Your completed document can then proceed to the agreed collection or delivery arrangement.
Our current Apostille service lead time is approximately 7–14 days, depending on when your original document reaches us.
Does Every Country Require an Apostille?
No.
An Apostille is generally used when a qualifying South African public document will be presented in a country where the Apostille Convention applies.
If the destination country does not fall under the applicable Apostille process, a Certificate of Authentication or another legalisation procedure may be required instead.
You should confirm the exact requirements with the embassy, consulate, immigration authority or organisation that will receive your document before beginning the process.
Can I Apostille My Birth Certificate While Living Overseas?
Yes.
If you are living outside South Africa and already have the original qualifying South African Unabridged Birth Certificate, Certificate Assistance can assist with the South African DIRCO submission and collection process.
You will need to send the original document to us in South Africa.
Once it reaches us and the document requirements have been confirmed, it can be included in the appropriate submission cycle.
International courier time should be allowed for separately.
What If I Do Not Have an Unabridged Birth Certificate Yet?
If you do not yet have the required Unabridged or Full Birth Certificate, the certificate must first be obtained through the appropriate Department of Home Affairs process.
The Apostille is a separate process that takes place after the qualifying original certificate has been issued.
Do not send an unsuitable computer printout or copy for Apostille processing without first confirming whether it meets the current legalisation requirements.
What Should I Check Before Sending My Birth Certificate?
Before sending your original certificate, check that:
• You have the correct Birth Certificate required by the receiving authority.
• The document is an original qualifying certificate.
• The certificate contains the required Home Affairs signature and stamp.
• You know the country where the document will be used.
• You have confirmed whether that authority requires an Apostille or another form of authentication.
Contact Certificate Assistance before couriering the original so that we can confirm the current requirements and provide delivery instructions.
Need Your South African Unabridged Birth Certificate Apostilled?
Certificate Assistance assists clients in South Africa and overseas with DIRCO Apostille submissions and collections.
We are registered with DIRCO as an agent, submit documents every Wednesday and collect completed documents the following Wednesday.
Our current Apostille service lead time is approximately 7–14 days.
We require the original qualifying document that needs to be Apostilled.
Contact Certificate Assistance before sending your Unabridged Birth Certificate so that we can confirm the requirements and provide the correct delivery instructions.
