Can You Still Walk In to DIRCO for an Apostille in 2026?
If you need a South African document apostilled for use overseas, an important DIRCO procedure changed in September 2026.
From 1 September 2026, DIRCO discontinued its public walk-in service for Legalisation applications.
Individual applicants who want to submit documents in person now need to make an online booking before visiting the DIRCO Legalisation Section in Pretoria.
This is important for anyone preparing South African documents for immigration, employment, citizenship, study, marriage or another international purpose.
WHAT CHANGED AT DIRCO IN SEPTEMBER 2026?
DIRCO introduced a booking-based system for individual clients using its Legalisation Section.
From 1 September 2026:
• Public walk-in submissions were discontinued
• Individual applicants require a confirmed booking
• Online booking slots are available on selected working days
• No booking is required simply to collect completed documents
• Registered service providers continue to use the agency submission process
The change means you should no longer simply travel to DIRCO in Pretoria expecting to submit documents without an appointment.
WHERE IS THE DIRCO LEGALISATION SECTION?
The DIRCO Legalisation Section is located at:
OR Tambo Building
460 Soutpansberg Road
Rietondale
Pretoria
South Africa
DIRCO handles the legalisation of many South African public documents that need to be used internationally.
WHAT DOCUMENTS CAN DIRCO APOSTILLE?
Depending on the document and its preparation, documents commonly submitted for Apostille or Authentication include:
• Unabridged Birth Certificates
• Marriage Certificates
• Death Certificates
• South African Police Clearance Certificates
• Letters of No Impediment
• Certain citizenship documents
• Certain academic documents after the required verification
• Other qualifying South African public documents
Different document types may require different preparation before they can be submitted.
DO I NEED AN APOSTILLE OR AUTHENTICATION?
This depends mainly on the country where your document will be used.
If the destination country participates in the Hague Apostille Convention, an Apostille may be the appropriate form of legalisation.
For countries outside the Apostille Convention, a Certificate of Authentication and possibly further embassy or consular legalisation may be required.
Always confirm the requirements with the organisation, embassy, immigration authority or other body requesting your document.
CAN I BOOK A DIRCO APPOINTMENT MYSELF?
Yes.
DIRCO provides an online booking system for individual applicants who want to submit qualifying documents themselves.
You will need a confirmed appointment and proof of identification when attending.
The important change is that you can no longer rely on arriving as a public walk-in applicant without a confirmed booking.
CAN SOMEONE ELSE SUBMIT MY DOCUMENTS?
DIRCO has specific rules about representatives.
Immediate family members may be permitted to submit on behalf of one another subject to DIRCO's requirements.
Non-family representatives have additional authority and identification requirements.
Registered document service providers use a separate agency process.
This can be useful for people who are overseas, live far from Pretoria or simply do not want to manage the DIRCO submission and collection process personally.
HOW LONG DOES A DIRCO APOSTILLE TAKE?
Processing time depends on how the documents are submitted and whether all signatures and documents can be verified.
DIRCO currently indicates that registered service providers should allow approximately 1–2 weeks for processing.
Certificate Assistance currently estimates approximately 7–14 days for our DIRCO Apostille / Authentication service, depending on the document and DIRCO processing.
Processing times remain estimates and may change depending on DIRCO requirements, verification and workload.
HOW MUCH DOES CERTIFICATE ASSISTANCE CHARGE?
Our DIRCO Apostille / Authentication service is:
R700 per document
Estimated lead time:
7–14 days
Additional costs may apply if your document first requires another service such as notarisation, verification, courier delivery or embassy legalisation.
CAN CERTIFICATE ASSISTANCE HANDLE THE DIRCO PROCESS FOR ME?
Yes.
Certificate Assistance assists clients in South Africa and abroad with preparing and submitting qualifying South African documents for Apostille or Authentication.
This is particularly useful if:
• You live outside Pretoria
• You are already living overseas
• You cannot attend DIRCO personally
• You need assistance checking the document before submission
• You need the completed document couriered to you
• You are unsure whether additional preparation is required first
We can review your document and explain the relevant process before you proceed.
DOES DIRCO CHARGE FOR THE APOSTILLE ITSELF?
DIRCO states that its government Legalisation Service is provided free of charge.
When using Certificate Assistance, the fee you pay is for our professional document assistance, handling, submission, collection and related service — not a government fee for issuing the Apostille itself.
This distinction is important because Certificate Assistance is a private document assistance company and not a government department.
WHAT IF I AM LIVING OUTSIDE SOUTH AFRICA?
You do not necessarily need to return to South Africa simply to have a South African document apostilled.
Certificate Assistance regularly assists clients living overseas who need South African documents processed for international use.
Depending on the document, you may need to courier the original to South Africa.
Once the Apostille or Authentication process has been completed, international courier delivery can also be arranged.
NEED A DIRCO APOSTILLE?
Certificate Assistance can assist with South African documents that need to be Apostilled or Authenticated for use abroad.
DIRCO Apostille / Authentication: R700 per document
Estimated lead time: 7–14 days
Contact us with the document you have and the country where it will be used, and we can help you determine the correct processing route.
Certificate Assistance is a privately owned document assistance service. We are not affiliated with DIRCO, the Department of Home Affairs, SAPS or any other South African government department.
