Privacy Policy

Last updated: 26 August 2026

Certificate Assistance respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information you provide to us. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store and protect personal information when you use our website, contact us, request a quotation or use our document assistance services.

Certificate Assistance is a private document assistance service and is not affiliated with the South African Department of Home Affairs, SAPS, DIRCO or any other government department or authority.

1. Personal Information We May Collect

Depending on the service you request, we may collect information including:

We only request personal information that is reasonably necessary to provide the service requested.

2. How We Use Your Information

We may process personal information for purposes including:

We do not use personal information for purposes that are incompatible with the reason it was collected unless permitted or required by law.

3. POPIA

Certificate Assistance processes personal information in accordance with the principles of the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (POPIA).

We aim to ensure that personal information is:

4. Sensitive Documents

Some of our services may require clients to provide copies of passports, identity documents, birth certificates, marriage certificates, fingerprints or other official records.

We treat these documents as confidential and use them only for the purpose of providing the service requested, fulfilling legal or administrative requirements, or where otherwise authorised by the client or required by law.

5. Sharing of Personal Information

We do not sell personal information.

Where necessary to provide a requested service, information or documents may be shared with appropriate third parties, including:

Only information reasonably necessary for the relevant purpose will be shared.

6. International Clients and Cross-Border Processing

Certificate Assistance assists clients located in South Africa and abroad.

Where documents or information must be sent internationally, we take reasonable steps to ensure that personal information is handled appropriately and only transferred where necessary to provide the requested service.

Clients should be aware that privacy laws in other countries may differ from South African law.

7. Information Security

We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information from:

No website, email system or electronic transmission method can be guaranteed to be completely secure. Clients should therefore take reasonable precautions when sending sensitive documents electronically.

8. Retention of Personal Information

We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary to:

When personal information is no longer required, it may be securely deleted, destroyed or de-identified where appropriate.

9. Cookies and Website Information

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to support website functionality, understand website usage and improve visitor experience.

Cookies may collect information such as browser type, device information, pages visited and general website activity.

You can control or disable cookies through your browser settings, although some website functionality may be affected.

10. Third-Party Websites

Our website may contain links to third-party websites or services.

Certificate Assistance is not responsible for the privacy practices, security or content of third-party websites. Visitors should review the privacy policies of those websites before providing personal information.

11. Your Rights

Subject to applicable law, you may have the right to:

Some information may need to be retained where required by law or where there is another lawful basis for retaining it.

12. Marketing Communications

We will not send unnecessary marketing communications without an appropriate basis for doing so.

Where applicable, you may ask us to stop sending marketing communications at any time.

Service-related communications regarding an active enquiry, application or transaction are not considered marketing messages.

13. Children's Personal Information

Where a service relates to a minor, personal information should be provided by or with the authority of a parent, guardian or other legally authorised person.

We do not intentionally collect children's personal information without an appropriate lawful basis.

14. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our services, website, business practices or applicable legal requirements.

The latest version will be published on this website with the updated effective date.

15. Contact Us

For privacy-related enquiries, requests or concerns, please contact:

Certificate Assistance
Email: info@certificateassistance.com
Website: www.certificateassistance.com

If you believe your personal information has been processed unlawfully, you may also lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa.