비전 아포코리아
Apostille Convention Member (effective 1995-04-30)
South Africa Document Authentication Guide
Submitting Korean documents to South Africa?
Check the required documents and issuing agencies, the translation, notarization, and apostille process, and official South African agency information.
3-second summary — South Africa acceded on 1994-08-03 and the Convention took effect 1995-04-30, so public documents meeting Convention requirements can be submitted with an apostille alone (no consular authentication required). Private documents must be notarized first.
HCCH official status — Accession deposited 1994-08-03 · entry into force 1995-04-30 · Applies with Korea: yes (no objection by Korea). HCCH Apostille Convention status table (checked 2026-10-03)
What documents are you submitting to South Africa?
Click a document to see its issuing agency, whether it can be issued online, and authentication notes. Only links marked Official are official sites of government, court, or public agencies.
Family / Personal
Certificate of Family Relations · Basic Certificate · Marriage Relation Certificate
Issuing agency — Korean courts (city/district/town/township office handling family relation registration)
Electronic Family Relation Registration System (Official) ・ Gov24 (Official)
Education / Career
Degree Certificate · Criminal Record Report
Issuing agency — School attended/graduated from (degree certificate) / National Police Agency (criminal record report)
Corporate / Business
Certified Copy of Corporate Register · Business Registration Certificate
Issuing agency — Registry office (corporate register) / National Tax Service (business registration certificate)
Official agency names and URLs are current as of the time of review and may change.
Authentication Process for Submission to South Africa
How do you prepare Korean documents for submission to South Africa? The general flow is as follows.
Guide by Purpose of Submission to South Africa
Required documents vary by receiving agency and situation, so the items below are representative examples for reference only, not a definitive list.
International Marriage
A marriage relation certificate and certificate of family relations may be used, but the exact list must be confirmed.
Employment / Immigration
A criminal record report and degree certificate may be used, but the exact list must be confirmed.
Study Abroad
A degree certificate and academic transcript may be used, but the exact list must be confirmed.
Business / Incorporation
A certified copy of the corporate register and business registration certificate may be used, but the exact list must be confirmed.
Bringing Documents from South Africa to Korea
If you are submitting a document issued in South Africa to Korea, it must go through the apostille process at a South African competent authority.
South African competent authorities — Magistrates and Assistant Magistrates, Registrars and Assistant Registrars of the Supreme Court, persons designated by the Director-General of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) — specifically the Legalisation Section of the Department of Justice and DIRCO in Pretoria.
HCCH data indicates no fee is charged, but actual operating practice may vary — please contact the relevant authority for current information. E-apostille and translation certification systems are still being confirmed.
South Africa Official Agencies
The links below are guidance from official and quasi-official South African agencies. Please check the latest information before actual submission.
Please always re-verify the exact application method, required documents, and fees on the official sites above.
How Vision ApoKorea Can Help
Finding it difficult to prepare everything yourself? From document issuance to translation, notarization, and apostille, Vision ApoKorea can walk you through the required steps and handle them for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do documents submitted to South Africa require an apostille?
South Africa acceded on 1994-08-03 and the Convention took effect on 1995-04-30, so public documents meeting the Convention's requirements can be submitted with an apostille alone, without consular authentication.
Where do South African documents get an apostille?
The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) are confirmed as the apostille competent authorities. HCCH data indicates no fee is charged, but please contact the relevant authority for current operating practice.
How should translation be handled?
The translation certification system was not confirmed, so please check directly with the receiving agency.
How much does it cost?
Official fee data was not confirmed, so we do not provide an exact amount. You can request an individual quote via Get a Quote.
Can I submit multiple documents at once?
Yes, you can submit several documents together. Let us know the quantity via Get a Quote.
