What is Apostille?

Firstly, An Apostille Certificate is only ever required if you have dealings outside of The Republic of South Africa. In addition, this includes any form of official paperwork. Therefore, Apostilles are required for work, business, legal issues, and personal matters. Subsequently, the most common requirements for an Apostille Certificate are overseas marriage, registering births, working or teaching abroad, foreign property purchases, and business transactions or contracts.

Hague Convention (HCCH)

To sum up, as per the Hague Convention of 1961. In short, there is a list of 91 countries/members that require a document to go through the Apostille document process.  In conclusion, the countries/members include:

Albania
Andorra
Argentina
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan

Belarus
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso

Canada
Chile
China
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic

Denmark
Dominican Republic

Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Estonia
European Union

Finland
France

Georgia
Germany
Greece

Honduras
Hungary

Iceland
India
Ireland
Israel
Italy

Japan
Jordan

Kazakhstan

Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg

Malaysia
Malta
Mauritius
Mexico
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco

Namibia
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nicaragua
North Macedonia
Norway

Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal

Republic of Korea
Republic of Moldova
Romania
Russian Federation

Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
Spain
Sri Lanka
Suriname
Sweden
Switzerland

Thailand
Tunisia
Türkiye

Ukraine
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United States of America
Uruguay
Uzbekistan

Venezuela
Vietnam

Zambia

Wrong vs Correct Apostille

Firstly, the actual certificate is a piece of paper approximately 15cms square. Moreover, it is permanently glued to another document with an embossing mechanism. In addition, this is often called the apostille seal or apostille stamp. Furthermore, this stamp is used to emboss the document with a government crest. As a result, the certificate is normally added to the front of a document.

We Accept:

• Firstly, we accept original unabridged or full birth, marriage, and/or death certificates. As well as the original (valid) letters of no impediment (marital status). Moreover, letters confirm an individual’s citizenship status (letters confirm naturalization). In short, we accept Renunciation letters as issued and duly signed and stamped by the authorised Home Affairs official.
• Secondly, Road2Asia accepts original (valid) Police Clearance Certificate is issued, signed, and stamped by the South African Police Service (SAPS). Also, known as the Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management. Previously referred to as the Criminal Record Centre (CRC).  (Note:  Furthermore, a Police Clearance Certificate is only valid for six (6) months from the date of issue.)
• We also accept original adoption papers that contain stamps and signatures by the relevant Presiding Officer / Commissioner of Child Welfare of the Children’s Court. Also known as the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development.
• Road2Asia also accepts original Confirmation Letters as issued (stamped and signed) by the Department of Transport. Moreover, also letters from the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) confirm that the applicant holds a valid driver’s license. 

We do not accept:

• We do not accept abridged certificates or computer printouts (in other words a shortened version of the unabridged certificate). Due to the fact that an abridged certificate is simply a computer printout. Consequently, it does not contain the signature and stamp of the issuing authority.
• Therefore, Road2Asia does also not accept a marriage certificate as issued by the marriage officer will not be accepted for legalisation purposes. Therefore, if you wish the marriage certificate to be legalised. Then the original unabridged marriage certificate, as obtainable from the Department of Home Affairs will be required.
• Road2Asia does not accept certified copies of i.e. birth, marriage, and death certificates. Also not letters of no impediment (marital status); as well as proof of citizenship; as well as travel documents or identity documents, etc. Furthermore, Road2Asia also does not accept documents that were certified as a true copy of the original by a Commissioner of Oaths.

Old Documentation

• Please take note that although the original document is an original and valid document, the signature of the official (or employee) who originally issued and signed the document might not be available on the DIRCO – Legalisation Section signature database, nor be obtainable from the specific government Department, as the official (or employee) who originally issued and signed the document is no longer employed at the specific Department. Therefore, this makes it impossible for the Legalisation Section to legalise the “old” document at such a late stage. Therefore it is advisable that the document should preferably not be older than one (1) year. Road2Asia furthermore recommends that customers must also verify with the relevant foreign representative in South Africa what their specific country requirements are.
• Furthermore, Letters of No Impediments (marital status) can be legalised if on an original, official Home Affairs letterhead, signed and stamped by the authorised Home Affairs official (Head Office only).  (These documents are only valid for a period of six (6) months from the date of issue.)  In addition,  The Department of Home Affairs confirmed that the Letter of No Impediments (marital status) is issued, stamped, and signed by the authorised official at the Head Office of the Department of Home Affairs only.  To conclude, Letters, as issued by the Regional Home Affairs offices, will not be accepted for legalization purposes, as these were issued without authorization.