How Much Does a DIRCO Apostille Cost in South Africa?
If you need a South African document Apostilled for use overseas, you may be wondering how much the DIRCO Apostille process costs.
The important distinction is that DIRCO does not charge a fee for its legalisation service.
Certificate Assistance charges a separate service fee per document because we manage the Apostille process on behalf of our clients.
You send your original document to Certificate Assistance, we handle the DIRCO submission and collection process, and once the process is complete, we courier your document back to you.
Our charge is therefore for the service we provide to the client and is not a fee charged by DIRCO.
Does DIRCO Charge for an Apostille?
No. DIRCO states that its legalisation services are offered free of charge.
DIRCO's Legalisation Section handles qualifying South African public documents that need to be legalised for use outside South Africa.
Depending on the destination country and document requirements, the document may receive an Apostille Certificate or a Certificate of Authentication.
Why Does Certificate Assistance Charge a Service Fee?
Our clients are not paying us for the Apostille certificate itself.
They are paying Certificate Assistance to manage the process for them.
Instead of having to manage the DIRCO submission and collection process themselves, clients can send their documents to us and we handle the process on their behalf.
Our service includes:
• Receiving your document.
• Checking the document for the applicable service requirements.
• Preparing it for submission.
• Handling the DIRCO submission process.
• Collecting the completed document.
• Arranging for the completed document to be couriered back to you.
Certificate Assistance charges a service fee per document for providing this service.
How Does the Certificate Assistance Apostille Service Work?
The 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 applicable requirements and service arrangements.
3. You send the original qualifying document to Certificate Assistance.
4. We manage the DIRCO submission process on your behalf.
5. Once the legalisation process is complete, we collect your document.
6. The completed document is couriered back to you according to the agreed delivery arrangement.
This service is particularly useful for clients who do not want to manage the DIRCO process themselves or who are located outside Pretoria or outside South Africa.
How Long Does the Certificate Assistance Apostille Service Take?
Our current Apostille service lead time is approximately 7–14 days.
Certificate Assistance handles DIRCO submissions and collections as part of our service.
The exact turnaround can depend on when your document reaches us, the type of document being submitted and whether there are any issues with the document.
Courier time to and from Certificate Assistance should also be considered separately when planning around a deadline.
What Documents Can Require DIRCO Legalisation?
Different types of South African public documents may require legalisation for use overseas.
These can include qualifying:
• Unabridged or Full Birth Certificates
• Unabridged or Full Marriage Certificates
• Death Certificates
• Letters of No Impediment
• Police Clearance Certificates
• Citizenship-related documents
• Other qualifying South African public documents
The correct process depends on the document and the country where it will be used.
Does Every Document Need an Apostille?
No.
Whether you require an Apostille depends partly on the destination country and the authority receiving the document.
For countries where the applicable Apostille Convention requirements are met, an Apostille Certificate may be used.
For other destinations, a Certificate of Authentication or another legalisation procedure may be required.
You should confirm what the receiving authority requires before beginning the process.
Do I Have to Go to DIRCO Myself?
Not necessarily.
Clients can choose to manage their own legalisation arrangements where appropriate, but DIRCO also provides routes for documents submitted by courier and through registered service providers.
Certificate Assistance provides a managed service for clients who prefer to send their documents to us and have us handle the DIRCO submission and collection process.
This can be especially convenient if you live far from Pretoria or are currently overseas.
Can I Use Certificate Assistance If I Live Overseas?
Yes.
Clients living overseas can contact Certificate Assistance regarding South African documents that need to go through the DIRCO legalisation process.
You send the required original document to us in South Africa.
We manage the applicable DIRCO process and, once completed, arrange for the document to be couriered back to you.
International courier times should be considered separately from the Apostille service lead time.
What Should I Check Before Sending My Document?
Before couriering an original document, contact Certificate Assistance first.
Tell us:
• What type of document you have.
• Where the document was issued.
• Which country the document will be used in.
• What the receiving authority has asked you to provide.
This allows us to check the applicable service requirements before you send an important original document.
What Is the Total Cost of Apostilling a Document?
There is no DIRCO charge for its legalisation service.
If you use Certificate Assistance, you pay our service fee per document for managing the process on your behalf.
The overall amount can also depend on courier arrangements and the specific service required.
Because requirements can differ between clients and documents, contact Certificate Assistance for the applicable service price before sending your documents.
Need Help With a DIRCO Apostille?
Certificate Assistance provides a managed Apostille service for clients in South Africa and abroad.
You send your document to us, we handle the applicable DIRCO submission and collection process, and once completed, your document is couriered back to you.
Our fee is a Certificate Assistance service charge and should not be confused with a DIRCO fee.
Contact Certificate Assistance with the type of document you have and the country where it will be used so that we can confirm the requirements and provide the applicable service price.
