Apostille & Legalisation
The Destination Country Determines the Route
DIRCO requires the applicant to state the country where a document will be used so the correct apostille or authentication route can be followed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does DIRCO ask where my document will be used?
The destination country determines whether an Apostille Certificate or Certificate of Authentication is appropriate.
Can I request an apostille without naming the country?
DIRCO requires the destination country to determine the correct process.
Can the same South African document need different processing for different countries?
Yes. The legalisation route depends on the destination country's applicable system.
Source: DIRCO – Legalisation Services