Home Affairs Documents
Foreign Birth Certificates Follow the Country of Origin
A foreign birth certificate cannot be legalised by DIRCO; it must be legalised in the country where it was issued.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can DIRCO apostille a foreign birth certificate?
No. DIRCO says foreign public documents must be legalised in their country of origin.
What if the foreign certificate is needed in South Africa?
The issuing country normally handles the authentication or legalisation needed for international recognition.
Does living in South Africa change the rule?
No. The document's country of origin determines its initial legalisation route.
Source: DIRCO – Legalisation Services