Notary Public, Apostille, Hague Convention, DIRCO … What does it all mean? This article will guide you in the right direction.

Apostille certificates are a result of the Hague Convention that allows documents issued in one country to be accepted as official documents in another country. The authentication of public officials' signatures on documents are made in order to be used outside South Africa.

If you are planning to travel abroad for work or study purposes, or are getting married you may have come across a few legal terms that you might have you bamboozled. After reading this article, we hope that you will have a better understanding of what a Notary Public (or just a Notary) is, what functions a Notary is responsible for, and what it means to have a document notarised for legal use abroad.

Here’s a short guide to help ensure that your documents for use outside South Africa are legally valid.

An Apostille is a certificate that authenticates the origin of a public document. This article explains when you need an Apostille.

In the case of a life partner who is a foreign citizen, you can apply for a spousal visa when you’re in a permanent relationship or married to a South African Citizen or a foreigner that has a permanent residency permit in South Africa. This is where a Spousal Affidavit will be necessary to process your application.

In this article we focus on what possible documents you require as a South African planning to teach English in China

An Apostille is a certificate that authenticates the origin of a public document.

The simple answer is no. Documents that are going to be used for overseas purposes, be it for an individual or company, can only be signed before a notary public.