Embassy Attestation FAQ

Embassy attestation is the process of getting your South African documents verified and stamped by a foreign embassy or consulate. It is required for countries that have not joined the Hague Apostille Convention. The full chain involves notarisation, High Court authentication, DIRCO authentication, and embassy legalisation.

An apostille is a single certificate accepted by Hague Convention member countries (UK, Australia, EU, etc.). Embassy attestation is a multi-step chain required by non-Hague countries (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, China, etc.). Attestation takes longer and costs more because it involves four separate verification steps. Read our full comparison guide.

Countries that have not signed the Hague Apostille Convention require embassy attestation. Common destinations include the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Egypt, Angola, Mozambique, and Ethiopia.

The full attestation chain takes 2 to 4 weeks. Notarisation takes 1 day, High Court authentication takes 3 days, DIRCO takes about 1 week, and embassy attestation takes 3 to 10 working days depending on the embassy. We recommend starting 4 to 6 weeks before your deadline.

Most official documents can be attested including birth certificates, marriage certificates, police clearances, university degrees, diplomas, transcripts, powers of attorney, company registration documents, and financial statements. See our full attestation guide for a complete list.

A full attestation chain (notary + High Court + DIRCO + embassy) costs R3,150 per document plus embassy fees. If your documents are already DIRCO-authenticated, embassy attestation only costs R1,500 per document plus embassy fees. Embassy fees vary by country.

In most cases, yes. Original documents or certified copies issued by the relevant authority are required. Some embassies accept notarised copies. We will advise you on the specific requirements for your destination country and document type.

Yes. We handle the entire attestation chain from start to finish. You send us your documents, and we take care of notarisation, High Court, DIRCO, and the embassy visit. You do not need to visit any office yourself.

The attestation chain has four steps: (1) Notarisation by a South African notary, (2) High Court authentication verifying the notary's signature, (3) DIRCO authentication confirming the document for international use, and (4) Embassy attestation by the destination country's embassy or consulate.

Some embassies require documents to be translated into their official language. We can arrange certified translation services as part of the attestation process. This is common for countries like China and some Middle Eastern nations.

Yes. We provide regular progress updates via WhatsApp or email throughout the process. You will know exactly which stage your documents are at and when to expect completion.

South African documents are widely accepted internationally once properly authenticated. Hague Convention countries accept apostilled documents. Non-Hague countries accept embassy-attested documents. The key is following the correct authentication process for each country.

The UAE requires additional attestation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and in some cases the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) after embassy attestation in South Africa. We can advise on the specific UAE requirements for your documents and coordinate the full process.

Yes. We work with clients worldwide. You can courier your documents to us, and we handle the full attestation chain in South Africa. Once complete, we courier the attested documents back to you anywhere in the world.

Contact us via WhatsApp, phone, or the form on our website. Tell us which documents you need attested and which country they are going to. We will provide a quote and timeline within 2 hours during business hours.