Legalisation of Official (Public) Documents
Consular notarial services are rendered to South African citizens and foreign nationals requiring South African public documents to be legalised for use abroad. These services are rendered to provide legal validity to South African public documents to enable a person to use the documents outside the Republic of South Africa. Legalising documents means
that official (public) documents executed within the Republic of South Africa for use outside the Republic of South Africa are affixed, sealed and signed either with an Apostille Certificate (where countries are party to The Hague Convention) or with a Certificate of Authentication (where countries are not party to The Hague Convention). Note: The full description is The Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 (Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents). Please visit The Hague Conference on Private International Law – http://www.hcch.net for further information on signatory countries. Note: South African diplomatic or consular representatives abroad can legalise official documents only if these were legalised by the relevant foreign authority in their country of accreditation, for use within South Africa. South African diplomatic or consular representatives abroad cannot issue Apostille Certificates.
