Apostille Certificate Services

Obtaining an Apostille Certificate

Apostille Certificate Services 416 Kirkness Street, Arcadia, Pretoria, South Africa

Need Apostille or document legalisation services for an South African public document?

How to order

Apostille, Authentications, Embassy Attestations, Document Legalisation & Notary Public Services Pretoria

We attend the High Court Pretoria daily for the to obtain Apostille Certificates for certain documents. The Midcity can be a daunting and scary place if you don't know your way around. Rather let us attend to your document legalisation needs. Professional cost effective service. More than 10 000 happy clients.

Louwrens Koen Attorneys provide document legalisation services, through the use of apostille certificates, authentications and embassy legalisations for all South-African documents.

We offer an comprehensive document legalisation service, which service include, all relevant attendances.
As an expert Document Apostille, Authentication and Embassy Legalisation company we can not only expedite the legalisation process but also give you the assurance that your documents have been processed in the correct manner as required by government authorities all over the world. We handle it all for you!

Apostille Document Legalisation Experts
We are able to provide apostilles for virtually all South African documents and certificates. The process of issuing an apostille certificate varies from one document to another. The key to our service is ensuring your document is presented to the High Court, DIRCO and/or Embassy with the appropriate seals and signatures to ensure the Apostille Certificate is issued without delay and that ultimately your documents are accepted when presented to any interested parties outside of South Africa. We can also translate your documents.

How to order/get quotation for our Apostille Certificate Service.
Complete the online quotation and order form. Use the integrated facility to safely upload any documents you want us to check. We will give a no obligation quotation and time estimate. When accepted we will proceed.

Get an academic qualification certificate verification. Comprehensive academic qualification verification and legalisation services. Includes all relevant attendances such as (SAQA, Umalusi, Dept of Higher Education, Dept of Basic Education, High Court, DIRCO & Embassy). Process best left to document legalisation experts)

Degrees and Tertiary Qualifications needs to be verified by SAQA (South African Qualifications Authority). They issue verification letter confirming tertiary qualifications obtained in South Africa. The verification letters is for qualifications or part-qualifications registered on the NQF.

SAQA verifies the authenticity of South African qualifications for employers or individuals which verification in turn can be authenticated or apostilled by DIRCO. The verification result can is thus in the form of a letter to be legalised by DIRCO (The Department of International Relations and Cooperation). Also see our article DIRCO APOSTILLE SERVICE on this website.

Once DIRCO has received your academic certificate and the letter or verification from SAQA it is then apostilled and and a notice are sent for collection. Some institutions sometimes additionally require a letter from SAQA stating that the qualification was granted by a SAQA verified institution.

Each university degree diploma must be apostilled separately, meaning that for multiple apostilles may be required. The above is a truncated version of the various actions and protocols necessary to legalise academic qualifications. The process involves multiple attendances and actions. taking to long or getting bogged down in the process may cost you that overseas employment opportunity.

The process is best left to a professional document legalisation specialist. Louwrens Koen Attorneys provide a fast SAQA & DIRCO Apostille Certificate Service to assist you in legalising your South African academic documents for use overseas.

Since the implementation of strict Covid protocols it has become incrementally more difficult and time consuming to legalise your documentation in person at SAQA and DIRCO. No walk in customers are allowed and an appointment must be scheduled which may take an considerable time and cause significant frustration. Rather make use of a professional document legalisation company who will get your documents correctly apostilled and legalised in the shortest possible time in these restrictive times.

Get Quotation - Get Started
Most customers order and quote online. Submit online form and we will get right back to you.
If you are not sure how to complete the order form or need any advice on additional service do not hesitate to message us for professional free advice. Tel: 0870010733.

Document Legalisation for South-African Tertiary Qualifications with the South African Qualifications Authority

Tertiary Degrees and Diplomas need to be verified by SAQA Verification Letter before it can be Apostilled or Authenticated by DIRCO. Private individuals can apply on their own for a SAQA verification letter. Due to the complicated and time-consuming nature of the process, we strongly advise that SAQA verification and Document Legalisation best be done by Document Legalisation Experts. Contact us at Tel 0870010733 or get a no-obligation quotation to legalise your academic qualifications.

ORDER AND GET A QUOTE ONLINE

Ordering and quoting online is simple and safe. Complete the secure online form to get a no-obligation quotation with a time estimate for completion. You can use the secure incorporated facility to upload any documents you would like us to check.

Apostille Senior Certificate also known as Matric, National Technical Certificates. Comprehensive academic qualification verification and legalisation services. Includes all relevant attendances such as (Umalusi, Dept of Higher Education, Dept of Basic Education, High Court, DIRCO & Embassy). Involved time consuming process best left to document legalisation experts.

Umalusi (the Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education Training) is responsible for the verification of some academic certificates. Umalusi verifies certificates issued for all of the following qualifications:
• The Senior Certificate (SC or Matric) which was offered before 2008 (obtain a replacement Matric certificate here)
• The National Senior Certificate (NSC)
• The National Technical Certificate N3
• The National Senior Certificate: Colleges – phased out at the end of 2011
• The National Certificate: Vocational (NCV) commenced in 2007
• The General Education and Training Certificate for Adults (GETC: ABET)

Degrees and Tertiary Qualifications needs to be verified by SAQA (South African Qualifications Authority).

Umalusi verifies the authenticity of the above qualifications which verification in turn can be authenticated or apostilled by DIRCO. The verification result can is thus in the form of a letter to be legalised by DIRCO (The Department of International Relations and Cooperation). Also see our article DIRCO APOSTILLE SERVICE on this website.

Once DIRCO has received your academic certificate and the letter or verification from Umalusi is then apostilled and and a notice are sent for collection.

Each qualification must be apostilled separately, meaning that for multiple apostilles may be required. The above is a truncated version of the various actions and protocols necessary to legalise academic qualifications. The process involves multiple attendances and actions. taking to long or getting bogged down in the process may cost you that overseas employment opportunity.

The process is best left to a professional document legalisation specialist. Louwrens Koen Attorneys provide a fast Umalusi & DIRCO Apostille Certificate Service to assist you in legalising your South African academic documents for use overseas.

Since the implementation of strict Covid protocols it has become incrementally more difficult and time consuming to legalise your documentation in person at SAQA and DIRCO. No walk in customers are allowed and an appointment must be scheduled which may take an considerable time and cause significant frustration. Rather make use of a professional document legalisation company who will get your documents correctly apostilled and legalised in the shortest possible time in these restrictive times.

Do you need to use a public document from South Africa in a foreign country? You will need to obtain an Apostille Certificate if the Country of Destination is a signatory/member/contracting state to the Apostille Convention (Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Consular Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents). This procedure is known as "authentication" and is used to verify the origin of the public document. South Africa is a member country or state of the Hague Convention. An Apostille Certificate is required before legal SA documents may be used in a foreign country.

The Apostille Certificate is issued by an authority designated by South Africa, called the "Competent Authority". This certificate facilitates the exchange and verification of public documents between signatory countries of the Hague Convention. The Convention abolishes the legalisation process and replaces it with the single formality of an authentication certificate.

The person in the Country of Destination (where the document will be used) cannot judge the authenticity of the document based on face value as they may not be familiar with the identity or official capacity of the person who signed the document or the identity of the authority whose seal and/or stamp it bears. Therefore, the origin of a foreign public document must be certified by an official who is familiar with the document. The verification of any signature on a document is known as ‘authentication’.

An apostille is an internationally recognised document used to certify the authenticity of a document's signature, seal, or stamp. It is commonly used when documents are transferred from one country to another. The apostille is issued by an authorised government official, such as a notary public, and then authenticated by the issuing country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DIRCO) or the High Court.

Once the apostille is issued, it can be used in any other country that is a member of the Hague Convention, a multilateral treaty that establishes the rules and procedures for the authentication of documents. An apostille is a convenient and efficient way to verify the authenticity of documents that need to be transferred from one country to another. It is a form of international authentication that is accepted by most countries around the world.

By obtaining an apostille, individuals and organizations can ensure that their documents are properly certified and accepted by foreign authorities. The apostille process is straightforward and involves the document's signature, seal, or stamp being verified by an authorized government official, followed by authentication by the issuing country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Once the apostille is issued and attached to your document, it can be used in any other country that is a member of the Hague Convention, a multilateral treaty that establishes the rules and procedures for the authentication of documents. In other words, the apostille is an internationally recognised document that allows documents to be transferred from one country to another easily and confidently.

Can you help me to legalise or apostille my documents?

Yes! We specialise in helping people just like you prepare your documents to be used in foreign countries.

We can certainly handle the legalisation or acquiring an apostille certificate on your behalf.

You send or drop off your documents to us, and we will handle the rest, often in as little as a few days. This process consists of three steps:

Document preparation – we ensure your documents meet the criteria of each process step.
Document authentication – we will have your documents authenticated by the appropriate authorities in South Africa.
Document legalisation – we will have your documents legalised at the embassy or consulate of the destination country.

Contact our friendly specialists to discuss your options and answer your questions. We would be happy to hear from you!
SUBMIT ONLINE FORM to get free no-obligation quotation and timelines.

I have unique and specific circumstances. Can you assist?

We know that everyone's situation is unique and may have different notary services or document legalisation needs. Our document legalisation specialists will work closely with you to ensure that all documents receive the proper certification that is required for the relevant country and situation. If you would like to clarify the process on your documents or have any special requests, please Message Us
ORDER AND GET A QUOTE ONLINE

Ordering and quoting online is simple and safe. Complete the secure online form to get a no-obligation quotation with a time estimate for completion. You can use the secure incorporated facility to upload any documents you would like us to check.

What does an Apostille from South Africa look like?

This is one of the places you can use for adding FAQ answers on your website. You can edit all of this text and replace it with anything you want to answer for your client. Edit your FAQ page from the Pages tab by clicking the edit button.

Which Countries Subscribe to the Apostille Convention

If the recipient of my Apostille wants to verify my Apostille, what should I suggest?

Each Competent Authority must keep a register that records the date and number of every Apostille it issues, as well as information relating to the person or authority that signed or sealed the underlying public document.

Recipients may contact the Competent Authority identified on the Apostille and ask whether the information on the Apostille corresponds with the information in the register.

The High Court, DIRCO or Notary Public can be contacted in South Africa.

ORDER AND GET A QUOTE ONLINE

Ordering and quoting online is simple and safe. Complete the secure online form to get a no-obligation quotation with a time estimate for completion. You can use the secure incorporated facility to upload any documents you would like us to check.

Can Apostilles be rejected in the country where they are to be used?

Apostilles issued in accordance with the requirements of the Convention must be recognised in the country where they are to be used.

Apostilles may only be rejected when:
• their origin cannot be verified (i.e., when the particulars on the Apostille do not correspond with those in the register kept by the Competent Authority that allegedly issued the Apostille); or
• their formal elements differ radically from the Model Certificate annexed to the Convention.

ORDER AND GET A QUOTE ONLINE

Ordering and quoting online is simple and safe. Complete the secure online form to get a no-obligation quotation with a time estimate for completion. You can use the secure incorporated facility to upload any documents you would like us to check.

Tell me more about the Hague Conference on Private International Law

The Hague Conference on Private International Law was established in 1893 and became a permanent intergovernmental organization in 1955. Today, the Hague Conference is the pre-eminent World Organization dealing with cross-border legal issues in civil and commercial matters. Its mission is to work towards a world in which individuals and companies can enjoy a high degree of legal certainty in cross-border situations.

Responding to the needs of a globalizing international community, the Hague Conference develops multilateral Conventions (45 since 1893) and assists with their implementation and practical operation. These Hague Conventions deal with such diverse fields as Apostilles; service of process abroad; taking of evidence abroad; shares, bonds, and other securities; child abduction, intercountry adoption, maintenance obligations, etc. These Conventions serve to build bridges between various legal systems while respecting their diversity. The Secretariat of the Hague Conference is called the Permanent Bureau.
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Origin of the Word Apostille - Hague Apostille Convention

The word “Apostille” (pronounced a-pos-TEE, not a-pos-TEAL or a-pos-TILL-ee) is of French origin. It comes from the French verb “apostiller”, which derives from the old French word apostille meaning “annotation”, and before it the Latin No suggestions, a variation of the word postea, which means “thereafter, afterwards, next” (Le Nouveau Petit Robert: Dictionnaire alphabétique et analogique de la langue française, Paris, 2004). Usage of the words “Apostille” and “apostiller” dates to the end of the 16th century in France. Thus, an Apostille consisted of an annotation in the margin of a document or at the end of a letter.

During the negotiations on the Hague Apostille Convention, the term “Apostille” was preferred because of its novelty. According to the reporter: “Following a discussion on terminology [in the French language], the word Apostille has been preferred because of its appealing novelty.” The meanings of the word Apostille described above are still valid today.
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Where are documents Apostilled in South-Africa?

In South Africa, Apostille Certificates are issued primarily by

1. The Registrar of the High Court, where documents have been

Authenticated by a notary public.
Translated by a sworn translator.

2. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation's (DIRCO) in respect of the following documents

Unabridged birth and marriage certificates.
Police clearance certificates.
Degrees, diplomas, and transcripts.
Matric certificates, school transfer certificates and reports.
Driver's license confirmation letter.
Medical Reports.

Louwrens Koen Attorneys deliver comprehensive Apostille certificate services. Contact us Tel: 0870010733 or Email info@louwrenskoen.co.za for more information.

ORDER AND GET A QUOTE ONLINE

Ordering and quoting online is simple and safe. Complete the secure online form to get a no-obligation quotation with a time estimate for completion. You can use the secure incorporated facility to upload any documents you would like us to check.

What is the difference between apostilling and authenticating a document?

When a document issued in South Africa is required to be used in another country which is also a signatory to the Apostille Convention, an Apostille Certificate will be issued either by the High Court or by the Department of International Relations (DIRCO). This will be the end of the Apostille process.
Where a document is required to be used in a country which is not a signatory to the Apostille Convention (such as China or the UAE) the document will receive an Authentication of Signature Certificate (not an apostille certificate), which must be issued by DIRCO, irrespective of whether the document has gone to the High Court first.
Once authenticated by DIRCO, the document must then be submitted to the relevant country's Embassy for legalisation. Only once legalised by the Embassy will the authentication process be complete.

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I keep hearing about the Hague Apostille convention. What is this?

The Hague Apostille Convention, formally known as the “Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents”, is an international agreement governing how a document issued in one country can be certified for legal purposes in another.

This certification is called the apostille process. Any country that is a signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention will legally recognise documents from other signatory countries if these documents have first been “apostilled”.

Therefore, countries that are not a signatory to The Hague Apostille Convention cannot obtain an apostille on their official documents. The appropriate document legalisation process to certify the signatures on documents for these countries is called authentication and embassy attestation.

For more information on the Hague Apostille Convention, contact us. We would happily discuss your documents and how to best have them processed for use abroad. Call us at 087 0010 733 or submit an online form to get an obligation-free online quotation.

GET YOUR DOCUMENTS AND CERTIFICATES CORRECTLY ATTESTED (LEGALISED) TO APPLY FOR FOREIGN STUDIES OR EMPLOYMENT

ATTESTING DOCUMENTS AT EMBASSIES

Legalising documents with foreign embassies and consulates in South Africa can be tiresome. Calls unanswered, emails ignored, and websites without clear advice confuse most customers. We make the whole task a lot easier.
Our embassy legalisation service will ensure your important documents are correctly submitted to the relevant embassy. We process documents every day to ensure a quick turnaround. Knowledge of each I'd like to point out that knowledge of each consulates attestation requirements makes that no delays occur.

We can arrange for your documents to be processed through most of the embassies and consulates in South Africa. Every embassy has its own rules and procedures for submitting documents. Our experienced team know how to correctly apply for the relevant stamp or certificate.
Our document legalisation experts apply for the relevant stamp or certificate correctly at more than a hundred embassies in Pretoria. We have working relationships with most embassies as we legalise thousands of documents per year with various embassies on a regular basis.
We offer a comprehensive embassy document attestation service. We can arrange your documents to be legalised attested in just a few days.

Comprehensive Embassy Document Attestation Service
We take care of the entire process. Send us your documents and save yourself a lot of trouble.
One simple to complete the order form to complete and post with your documents.

Click for Online Quotation & Order Form

On receipt, your documents are checked for suitability and to confirm the best way to process them. Click here for the list of commonly legalised documents.We then attend the various governmental departments, translator, High Court, DIRCO (Department of Foreign Affairs) and the relevant embassy. It can take up to 10 attendances at multiple institutions to legalise your documents up to embassy level.

We add embassy fees onto our account. We first get a quotation of costs, especially if the documents are for corporate or business purposes. Some embassies charge substantial fees for these corporate legalisations.We understand that attesting documents for use abroad can be complicated. We are here to make your life easier. Do not hesitate to contact us for help or advice. You are also welcome to visit our offices to discuss your options, costs, and estimated time frames.

For further information please contact:

Get no obligation Document Legalisation Quotation and answers to your specific document legalisation needs. Most customers order and quote online. Submit online form and we will get right back to you. If you are not sure how to complete the order form or need any advice on additional service do not hesitate to message us for professional free advice. Tel: 0870010733.

Comprehensive Apostille, Authentication, Embassy Attestation & Document Legalisation Services Pretoria. Louwrens Koen Attorneys.

Document Legalisation Service specialise in obtaining Apostille Certificates for all original South-African public, company, commercial and educational documents.

Apostille is a French word (pronounced "ah-poh-steel"), meaning a certificate issued by a government of a country, authenticating the signature and or seal of a public official on a public document issued by that country, and intended for use in a foreign country.

South-African public, company, commercial or educational documents, including documents witnessed, certified and sealed by an South-African Notary Public, when affixed or attached with an Apostille Certificate issued by the South-African Government, will automatically be accepted for legal use in foreign countries signatories to the Hague Convention.

Apostille Certificates are restricted in their use to those countries which are signatories to The Hague Convention otherwise a full embassy or consulate legalisation procedure necessary.

The following countries have AGREED to participate in "The Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents"
Albania	Lithuania
Andorra	Luxembourg
Antigua & Barbuda	Macau (SAR of China)
Argentina	Macedonia
Armenia	Malawi
Aruba	Malta
Australia	Marshall Islands
Austria	Mauritius
Azerbaijan	Mexico
Bahamas	Moldova
Bahrain	Monaco
Barbados	Mongolia
Belarus	Montenegro
Belgium	Montserrat
Belize	Namibia
Bermuda	Netherlands (The), including: Aruba, Suriname, Netherlands Antilles: (Curacao, Bonaire, St Martin, St Eustatius, and Sabah)
Bosnia-Herzegovina	New Zealand
Botswana	Niue
British Guyana	Norway
Brunei Darussalam	Oman
Bulgaria	Peru
Cape Verde	Panama
Cayman Islands	Poland
China (Hong Kong-Special Administrative Region (SAR) only)	Portugal
Colombia	Romania
Comoros Islands	Russian Federation
Cook Islands	St. Christopher (Kitts) & Nevis
Costa Rica	St. Georgia & South Sandwich Islands
Croatia	St. Helena
Cyprus	St Pierre & Miquelon
Czech Republic	St. Lucia
Denmark	St. Vincent & the Grenadines
Dominica	Samoa
Dominican Republic	San Marino, Republic of
Ecuador	Sao Tome and Principe
El Salvador	Serbia
Estonia	Seychelles
Fiji	Slovakia
Finland	Slovenia
France including: French Guiana, French Polynesia, Guadeloupe, Martinique, New Caledonia, Reunion, St. Pierre, Miquelon and Wallis and Futuna	South Africa
Germany	South Korea
Georgia	Spain
Greece	Suriname
Grenada	Swaziland
Guernsey	Sweden
Guyana	Switzerland
Hong Kong (SAR of China)	Tonga
Honduras	Trinidad and Tobago
Hungary	Turkey
Iceland	Tuvalu
India	United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland, including: Anguilla, Guernsey, Bahamas, Isle of Man, Barbados, Jersey, Bermuda, Montserrat, British Antarctic Territory , St. Georgia & the South, Sandwich Island, British Virgin Islands, St Helena Cayman Islands, Tonga & Caicos Islands, Dominica, Turks & Caicos, Falkland Islands, Virgin Islands, British Gibraltar
Ireland	United States of America, including: 50 USA States, The District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam (Territory of), Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands
Isle of Man	Ukraine
Israel	Uruguay
Italy	Uzbekistan
Japan	Vanuatu
Kazakhstan	Venezuela
Korea (Republic of)	Yugoslavia
Latvia
Lesotho
Liberia
Liechtenstein

An Apostille Certificate is the appropriate form of legalisation, if your South-African South-African public document is required to operate in any of the above participating Hague Convention countries.

ORDER AND GET A QUOTE ONLINE

Ordering and quoting online is simple and safe. Complete the secure online form to get a no-obligation quotation with a time estimate for completion. You can use the secure incorporated facility to upload any documents you would like us to check.

Comprehensive Embassy Document Legalisation Services in Pretoria, South-Africa.

Our offices are located within a radius of 5 kilometres of more than a hundred embassies in the Capital of South Africa. We have working relationships with most embassies as we legalise thousands of documents per year with various embassies on a regular basis. We offer a comprehensive embassy legalisation service. We can arrange for your documents to be legalised and attested in just a few days. Legalising documents with most embassies is a time-consuming and confusing process. Researching the subject alone can take hours before you even begin stumbling through the various steps required.

Help is on hand. With vast experience legalising and attesting documents with many of the embassies, consulates and High Commissions in Pretoria, we have detailed knowledge of the process and operating procedure to rapidly complete embassy legalisations. Knowledge of each embassy document legalisation rules and regulations; submission procedures and payment requirements ensure that we avoid delays and the inconvenience and cost implications of rejected documents.

Comprehensive Embassy Legalisation Service!

We take care of the entire process. Send us your documents and save yourself a lot of trouble and time.

One simple to complete the order form to complete and post with your documents. Click for Quotation Form

On receipt, your documents are checked for suitability and to confirm the best way to process them. Click here for the list of commonly legalised documents.
We then attend the various governmental departments, translator, High Court, Department of Foreign Affairs and the relevant embassy. It can take up to 10 attendances at various institutions to have your documents legalised up to embassy level.
We add embassy fees onto our account. It is advisable to first get a quotation of costs especially if the documents are for corporate or business purposes. Some embassies charge substantial fees for these corporate legalisations.

We understand that legalising documents for use abroad can be complicated. We are here to make your life easier. Do not hesitate to contact us for help or advice. You are also welcome to visit our offices to discuss your options, costs involved and estimated time frames for completion.

ORDER AND GET A QUOTE ONLINE

Ordering and quoting online is simple and safe. Complete the secure online form to get a no-obligation quotation with a time estimate for completion. You can use the secure incorporated facility to upload any documents you would like us to check.

Before legalising your document we can simultaneously translate your documents into all mayor languages using our Court approved Sworn Translator network. If we do this at the same time as we legalise your document we can save you time.

Why do I need to translate my documents before legalisation?

Before legalising your document we can simultaneously translate your documents into all mayor languages using our Court approved Sworn Translator network. If we do this at hte same time as we legalise your document we can save you time. If you need a translation please contact us by email with copies of your documents so we can assess the charge and time required to translate the documents. We can provide a translation service even if we are not legalising any documents for you.

Translations are often requested additionally by authorities outside of South Africa when you are requested to deliver legalised documents.The translation assist the foreign authority or person to understand the English or Afrikaans wording in your source documents that have been legalised.We can arrange to translate just the documents or we can translate the apostille certificate as well. If you are not sure what is required please check with however is asking you to legalise the documents as it is them that must accept the final documentation from you.

Why choose our translation service?

Convenience – We can take care of your apostille legalisation and your translation at the same time
Fast Service – Most translations are completed within 24 hours but larger documents may take longer
Email Your Documents – To save time you can email documents for translation
Sworn Translations – Translations done by our network of Court Approved Sworn Translators
Most languages – Our translation team can convert your document into most languages
Document Legalisation Service – Once your document is translated we can legalise the document with for international use
Comprehensive Service – We can translate, apostille, attest and certify your documents

List of documents we frequently translate:

Birth Certificate (Abridged and Unabridged)
Marriage Certificate
Death Certificate
Divorce Order and Settlement Agreement
Letter of No Impediment to Marriage
Degrees and Diploma's with Transcripts
TEFL and TESOL Certificates
Foreign Degrees (Notarised)
School Transfer Transcripts
Copy of Passport
Copy of Driver’s License
Travel Consent Letter
Company Incorporation Documents
Certificate of Good Standing
Certification of Free Sale
Certification of Origin
Corporate Power of Attorney
Commercial Invoice
Commercial Contracts
International Litigation
Foreign Property Transfer Documentation
Affidavits and Declarations
Company Resolutions

Click this link for a no obligation quotation and to get started.

Delivery Options for your Legalised Documents. Or simply collect your documents from our offices in Pretoria.

We courier your document

We can courier your document abroad directly from our office to any worldwide destination!

Just provide us with the recipient address and we’ll handle the rest. We ship all documents abroad via secure courier, mainly DHL OR Courier Guy (SA), but we can use any other courier if requested. We will email over a tracking number so you can sit back and have peace of mind that your legalised document is on its way.

It is important that you choose the most suitable cost effective delivery method for the return of your documents.

We can deliver your documents anywhere in the world. Choose to have the document delivered to your home, your workplace, another business, your future employer, a family member or friend. If you are local to our office you can collect the documents in person.
We recommend customers choose either Overnight Express mail courier delivery or DHL for international shipments. Both of these services are supported by courier guarantees and in the unlikely event that a shipment is misplaced or lost we can assist with contacting the courier.
We do not have to return the document to your home address. Many customers choose return delivery to their work address to avoid missing a daytime courier delivery if selected. Alternatively we can ship your document anywhere in the world. This is popular for customers that want the document urgently sent to the authority overseas requesting the apostille from them.
If you would like to discuss the best delivery option for your documents please contact one our helpful advisers who will talk you through the services.
Delivery times quoted are estimates. Actual delivery times will vary depending on the location of the delivery, access to remote areas, regional differences in public holidays and unforeseen delays.

Louwrens Koen Attorneys offer a full range of Notarial Services, including taking declarations and affidavits, certification of original documents, verification of identity, corporate verification, obtaining of Authentications or Apostilles from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DIRCO) and the High Court and obtaining legalisation of documents from South African based Embassies or Consulates.We offer a full range of Notarial Services, including but not limited to the following:

Notarised copies
Notary public signature and attestation service
Notary public document drafting service
Travelling notary public service for Corporates
Notarising and taking declarations and affidavits,
Certification of original documents,
Verification of personal identity and signature.
Corporate, Company or Close Corporation verification,
Embassy Legalisation Services (obtaining legalisation of documents from South African-based Embassies or Consulates)
Administer oaths for the giving of evidence.
Witness execution of local and international documents such as Sale and Purchase Agreements, Transfers of land, Assignments of Intellectual Property, Powers of Attorney, Authorities, Deeds, Security Documentation, Mortgages, Company Resolutions, Cessions, Minutes and Reports.
Verification of Company documents
Taking Affidavits, Declarations & Depositions.
DIRCO Apostille Certificate Service
DIRCO Authentication Certificate Service
High Court Apostille Certificate Service
High Court Authentication Certificate Service
Walk-In Notary Public Service Pretoria
Drafting and registration of various documents in the office of the Registrar of Deeds

We want you to know that we aim to provide you with an efficient, professional and convenient service, and we look forward to helping you. We deliver a long-standing, highly regarded notarial service known for producing quality and accurate documentation.Please don’t hesitate to contact us – all enquiries are welcome.Louwrens Koen is a practising Attorney, Conveyancer and Notary Public in Pretoria, South Africa, with more than 25 years of experience. He was admitted as Attorney by the High Court in 1995 after completing the BLC and LLB degrees from the University of Pretoria. He is also a university guest lecturer in Conveyancing and Notarial practice and heads the Law firm Louwrens Koen Attorneys. He has vast commercial and legal experience, and this expertise compliments his activities as a Notary Public. As Notary Public, he has assisted thousands of Clients with their Notary, and Document Legalisation needs.Get a Quotation PricingNotary Appointment Checklist Unless you have discussed any different arrangements with us directly, all documents which require a Notary Stamp, an Apostille, a Translation, or Embassy legalisation should be sent to us at:

Louwrens Koen Attorneys,
Second Floor, Northern Pavilion, Loftus Versveld Stadium,
416 Kirkness Street, Arcadia, Pretoria, South Africa.
For Attention: Ms Zunè Naudè If you have any doubt, then please call us on 0736869078 or message us

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The notarisation process will depend on varied factors, such as what the document is, if it needs to sign in any particular way, or if it needs to be legalised for international use. The first step would be to submit our online form or call us on 0736869078. We will review your request, check the documents you need help with, and let you know the best course of action. We will send you a no-obligation quotation and schedule an appointment.

^{Documents we regularly notarise or legalise}

We notarise many documents and can provide different types of certification to meet your needs. The most popular documents we see regularly notarise or legalise. If your document needs to be listed and you are unsure if we can help, message us, and we will be happy to confirm.

Academic Transcripts
Affidavits
Birth Certificates
Company Incorporation Documentation
Death Certificate
College diploma
Declarations
Close Corporation Documentation
Divorce Order and Settlement Agreement
Doctor, Dentist applications for overseas appointments
Health Certificate
HPCSA applications in South-Africa
Land Transfer and Mortgage documents for transactions outside SA borders
Letters of No Impediment
Notarised copy of Passport, Drivers License and other identity documents
Marital status documents
Marriage Certificate
Matric Certificate
Notarised Copies of the Document
Permission for a minor child to travel with one parent or unattended
Police Clearance Certificate
Powers of Attorney
School certificate
Technicon Diploma
TEFL Certificates
University degrees

Still, have questions?

We know that everyone's situation is unique and may have different notary services or document legalisation needs. Our document legalisation specialists will work closely with you to ensure that all documents receive the proper certification required for the relevant country and situation. Please don't hesitate to message us if you want to clarify the process on your documents or have any exceptional requests Message Us.

ONLINE QUOTATION

Drop in at our offices. We are located within the Northern Pavilion of Loftus Versveld. Ample Safe Parking.

Pick up or drop of your documents at our offices.

You can pick up or drop off your documents at our offices during business hours Monday to Friday.

Louwrens Koen Attorneys

2nd Floor Northern Pavilion
Loftus Versveld Gate 12
416 Kirkness Street
Arcadia, Pretoria

Tel +27870010733

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HOW WE ASSIST YOU YO REMOVE OR EXPUNGE YOUR SOUTH-AFRICAN CRIMINAL RECORD?

How can we help?
If you meet the criteria you can choose to apply to have your record expunged, which is a free service offered by the Justice Department and the Constitutional Development department. However, we understand the process might be overwhelming, which is why we are here to help you.
With Louwrens Koen Attorneys you’re not alone

Louwrens Koen Attorneys is your legal companion. Our experts can help advise you on how follow the correct legal procedure and what legal steps you might be able to take to clear your criminal record.

Find out more

Get your South African Drivers Licence Authentiacted

South Africans may need to provide their driver's license confirmation letters for various reasons, such as when converting their South African license to an international driver's license. These certificates are issued by the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) after verifying that the applicant has a valid South African driver's license through the National Traffic Information System. The certificate serves as proof of a valid license and enables individuals to convert their license in their country of residence.

Importance of Driver's License Confirmation Letters
Driver's license verification certificates are necessary when converting a South African license into a foreign driver's license. Renting a car abroad may also be difficult as the South African driver's license card only indicates the issue date, not when the driver first qualified. Therefore, it is advisable to obtain a confirmation letter from the RTMC before travelling overseas, especially if planning to hire a vehicle. In some countries, South African driver's licenses may not be accepted, and an international driver's license from the Automobile Association may be required along with a verification certificate.

Applying for Driver's License Confirmation Letters
Obtaining a verification certificate can be complicated, and the waiting times can be significant. Applicants must request a confirmation or verification certificate from the RTMC. The RTMC will investigate and print a copy of the license required along with a verification certificate indicating the date the license was first issued. As of 2022, a Driver's License Confirmation Letter Application Form is now required.

Function of Driver's License Confirmation Certificate
The certificate confirms that the person holds a South African driver's license and provides details such as the type of license, where it was issued when it was earned, expiry date, restrictions, and driving license code.

Important Aspects of South African Driver's License
A South African driver's license does not expire, but the license card expires every five years. However, in some countries like Spain, converting a South African license is not possible. Obtaining a driver's license verification letter from South Africa is necessary to add years of driving experience to a new license card abroad, which can be beneficial for obtaining insurance or renting a vehicle.

Timeline for Obtaining Driver's License Confirmation Letters
Applying for Driver's License Confirmation Letters without assistance can take anywhere from two to six weeks. Apostille.africa can help you obtain the verification certificate within two to three weeks.

How to Obtain a Letter of No Impediment & Legalise it for use overseas.

Getting Married outside South-Africa? You will probably need a Letter of No Impediment. When planning to get married overseas it is common that the authorities in that country will request a Certificate of No Impediment. This document is a way of proving that there is no Impediment/Obstruction in allowing you to be married and shows that there has been no objection to your proposed marriage.

How can you apply for a Letter of No Impediment in South Africa?
We assist South African nationals to apply for and obtain their legal documents for use abroad.

When applying for a letter of no impediment, applications can be lodged with the Department of Home Affairs or a SA High Commission office (exceptionally long waiting period).
When applying for a letter of no impediment, there will be a form that you need to complete and an application fee that you will need to pay.

How long does it take to obtain a Letter of No Impediment?
Depending on how easily accessible your records are within the Department of Home Affairs’ archives, processing times for these certificates may vary. It can take up to six months for you to receive your Letter of No Impediment through a SA High Commission or consulate. We are able to assist you in either 4-6 weeks or 2-3 weeks (see pricing and timing here).

Why Letters of No Impediment are important
Letters of no impediment are official government documents that provide information indicating that a thorough search has been conducted on your personal credentials and that no record of marriage could be found on your name. Otherwise, people would be able to marry people in different countries without each country knowing about the other marriage!

Officially issued by the South African Department of Home Affairs, certificates of no impediment serve to confirm the marital status of a South African national. Once issued, these certificates are valid for a period of six months and may be used for legal processes both inside and outside of South Africa, including visa and residency applications, as well as marital procedures.

We can assist you to obtain a Letter of No Impediment
If you need to obtain a Letter of No Impediment, but do not wish to stand in queues at Home Affairs, or are unable to, we can take the stress out of the situation. Apostil.co.za is an agency in South Africa, specialising in legal document assistance.

You will need to send the following to us:
• Mandatory: Your ID document or passport in a clear PDF scan
• Mandatory: A completed form – filled in with black ink and PDF scanned to us. Download the DHA Letter of No Impediment DHA-1155 Form for us to assist you.

We can help you apply for and obtain your Letter of No Impediment if you wish to get married in a foreign country. We can help take the hassle out of the process for you. We have a range of pricing options available.

Feel free to contact us today for all your legal document requirements.
Zune Naude
0870010733
info@louwrens-koen.co.za

ORDER AND GET A QUOTE ONLINE

Ordering and quoting online is simple and safe. Complete the secure online form to get a no-obligation quotation with a time estimate for completion. You can use the secure incorporated facility to upload any documents you would like us to check.

Documents we frequently legalise with Notarise, Apostille, Authentication or Embassy Attestation.

Popular documents are frequently legalised with Authentication Certificate for use outside the borders of South-Africa

Virtually any South-African public document can be legalised by either an Apostille Certificate or Authentication process.

Here is a list of Popular South-African Public Documents that we legalise on a daily basis:

Permission letter for minor children to travel or visit overseas;
Powers of Attorney.
University degrees, University Academic Transcripts;
College diploma;
Technicon Diploma;
Matric Certificate;
School certificate;
Doctor, Dentist applications for overseas appointments;
HPCSA applications South-Africa;
Birth Certificates;
Death Certificate;
Marriage Certificate;
Divorce Certificates;
Company Incorporation Documentation;
Close Corporation Documentation;
Marital status documents;
Letters of No Impediment;
Land Transfer and Mortgage documents for transactions outside SA borders;
Notarised copy of Passport, Drivers License and other identity documents;
Police Clearance Certificate ("no criminal record") issued by South African Police Services;
Applications for employment overseas with supplementary documentation; Contracts.
Affidavits.
Declarations.
Permission for minor child to travel with one parent or unattended.
Notarised Copies of Document.
Applications for employment overseas.
Miscellaneous notarised documents for use overseas.

This list is not exhaustive. If you have a document not listed above which you require apostilled, contact us to make inquiries or get a quotation. Should you have any questions regarding our services, need a quotation or want to proceed with legalising your documents please contact us or visit our offices.

Click this link for a no obligation quotation.

Replace & Legalise Unabridged Birth Certificate for use outside South-Africa. If lost order a new one through us. Get free quotation.

South African birth certificates need to be legalised when presented for use in another country or proving your identity. Different document legalisation processes will be used depending on the country where the unabridged birth certificate will be used. (Apostille, Authentication, Embassy Attestation).

Take note that abridged birth certificates have been discontinued and that only unabridged birth certificates can be legalised for overseas use. You must always send us the original certificate. The apostille service for South African birth certificates takes about 3 -4 weeks. Some countries will accept a notarised and legalised copy of the birth certificate.

Replacement & Order Service for Unabridged Birth Certificates

Have you lost your birth certificate? We can order one on your behalf.

Click Here to get a no-obligation quotation to order an unabridged birth certificate & legalise for an overseas country.

What we will need:
Your ID Scan
Completed form - Filled in and scanned - Download the Form

Our Fee: R3500
Time estimate: 7 - 14 working days.

For overseas clients that need to validate the certificate's authenticity as having been produced in SA, we also offer an apostille/legalisation service, whereby an apostille is attached to the reverse of the certificate. We always recommend checking with whoever you present the certificate to identify if the apostille stamp is needed.

The Apostille Certificate (Apostille) is usually requested by foreign authorities and organisations so that the certificate can be used for official purposes outside of SA. This means the documents must be legalised correctly before travel and often within a specific period.

Company document legalisation made simple. Apostille, Authentications, Embassy Attestations, Document Legalisation & Notary Public Services for Company Documents in Pretoria

Company Documents issued by CIPC are often legalised for use outside the borders of South-Africa. This is done by either the Apostille, Authentication or Embassy Attestation Document Legalisation process. There is a range of documents issued by the CIPC registrar of companies that we legalise on a regular basis.

Company documents are usually required when Companies are looking to set up international branches, conduct business in another country or open company bank accounts overseas.

Starting the legalisation of Company documents is simple. We can also assist in downloading or replacement documents for you.

The most common types of company documents we legalise with the apostille certificate are -

Incorporation Documents - Including the Certificate of Incorporation, Memorandum and Articles
Annual Return
Appointment of a Director
Change of a Director’s
Termination of Appointment of a Director
Company Accounts Company Change of Name Documents
Resolutions
Share Certificates and Shareholding Changes

Please ascertain from the destination country precisely what documents are required. Some embassies ask substantial amounts for embassy legalisation of the business documents. or this reason it is important to only legalise the essential needed documents. When you are clear which documents need the apostille start the process by completing our No Obligation Online Quotation and Order Form. We will get right back to you with a cost quotation and the estimated time frame to completion.

The legalisation of the company documentation will be different depending on the destination country where the documents will be used. If the destination country is not an member of the Hague Apostille Convention the documents will have to be legalised by means of the Document Authentication Process and probably Embassy Attestation at the Embassy of the destination Country in Pretoria. See our informative articles regarding Apostille Certificate Services and Embassy Attestation Services.

It is essential that your company documents are legalised correctly. Our expert and professional service ensures your documents are checked, certified by a Notary Public when required and issued using the correct document legalisation process. For guidance and advice on obtaining an apostille for your documents do not hesitate to contact one of our legalisation office experts.

Apostille or Authenticate Death Certificate

Death Certificates may need an apostille when an overseas authority has requested a copy of the document.

Following a death you may find overseas organisations including government bodies, courts and solicitors request a copy of the death certificate. This may be to register the death, make a claim on a pension, to resolve the deceased’s estate or to sell a property.

Without an apostille the death certificate may not be accepted. In addition you may need to get a copy of the will or the probate documents legalised by apostille.

Preferably death certificates must have the apostille certificate attached to the original document. Do not hesitate to contact one of the team by telephone or email for guidance with your document legalisation.

Order your apostille.

Order an apostille for a death certificate you will post to us here apostille only. Post the death certificate to our office quoting your online order number and we will start processing your order straight away.

Legalise or Apostille South-African Degrees, Diplomas, Trade Certificates, Matric Certificates. We can assist you to Legalise or Apostille your Academic Qualifications.

Degree certificates are legalised when you need to provide evidence of your qualifications to a person or organisation in another country. Applying for a job in another country often requires the legalisation of your degree certificate or other qualifications.

We can legalise all academic documents from Diploma's, Degrees to a PHD. We can also legalise professional or vocational training documents. Our fully inclusive service will ensure your document is legalised quickly and correctly.

In many circumstances, we can include your transcript and other certificates by collating documents into sets. This can save you money if you have many documents that need to be used in one country. It is widespread practice to legalise a copy of a degree certificate (please see the below notes regarding how we make a certified copy).

Legalising a qualification document with an apostille permanently marks the document so where possible we recommend, we produce a certified copy. If you are not sure if a certified copy of your document can be issued with the apostille, we recommend that you contact the authority requesting the apostille from you. In some countries they ask for all academic documents to be processed as originals.

For us to make a certified copy of a degree certificate we must either see the original degree certificate in our office or we must contact the issuing university to verify the copy is legitimate. Verifying a degree certificate, we have not seen the original of adds additional time and cost to the processing of the document.

For advice on getting your university or college documents issued with the apostille do not hesitate to contact us. We can legalise many diverse types of academic and training certificates just so long as they have been legitimately issued in the South-Africa by a recognised source or organization.

ORDER AND GET A QUOTE ONLINE

Ordering and quoting online is simple and safe. Complete the secure online form to get a no-obligation quotation with a time estimate for completion. You can use the secure incorporated facility to upload any documents you would like us to check.

When the deceased held assets overseas there are several documents that may require legalisation. This could include the Last Will and Testament, the Grant of Probate and the Death Certificate. In the event of a death an executor will manage how these assets are distributed and, when this involves assets based overseas, the executor will need to provide certain documentation to the authorities in the jurisdiction where the assets are held.

Usually, the executor will need to provide the death certificate, a grant of probate and the last will and testament. The last will and testament will commonly be annexed to the grant of probate and this can be classed as one document for the Apostille process. However, certain authorities overseas will insist on the will also being legalised with the apostille as an individual document.
There may be additional documents required but this would be determined the requirements of the local authorities in the country in which the assets are held.

If you require assistance with legalising a last will and testament or any of the associated documents please get in touch.

Order your apostille.
Order an apostille for Last Will and Testament apostille only.

Marriage certificates often need to be legalised for international use. Many authorities abroad request a marriage certificate be provided with the apostille as proof of marriage. If you are travelling with a spouse to another country you may need to provide a copy of your marriage certificate. This is common when one partner has been offered a job and the spouse needs a visa to enter the country. You should also check if the certificate needs to be attested at the embassy.

You may also need an apostille on a marriage certificate for a previously dissolved marriage. Even though you are now divorced they may need to see documents to confirm your status. Authorities outside of South-Africa may also request a legalised marriage certificate when dealing with the estate of a now deceased person. There may be assets or property in their name or held jointly that needs to be legally transferred.

We can also arrange for replacement South-Africa marriage certificates to be issued if the original is not available or you prefer to keep the original in your safe possession. If this is required please contact us for further information. Our apostille service simplifies the legalisation of documents. Contact one of our advisors for advice on getting your documents legalised quickly.

Order your apostille.
Order an apostille for Marriage Certificate apostille only. Post the Marriage Certificate to our office quoting your online order number and we will start processing your order straight away.

If you need to prove you are a South-African citizen for identification purposes, you may be asked to get an Apostille for your passport. The Apostille will always be issued to a photocopy of the passport and the original remains untouched.

As part of the process a copy of the passport will be certified by a Notary Public in South-Africa. If you have already arranged for the certification of the document you can simply send this certified copy to us with a completed order form. Alternatively, if you send the original document to us we can arrange for a copy to be solicitor certified and issued with the apostille.

More information on the passport legalisation service can be found here.

Order your apostille.
Order an apostille for a Passport apostille with solicitor certification. Post the Passport to our office quoting your online order number and we will start processing your order straight away.

Sign Power of Attorney before Notary. Legalise for use anywhere in the world.

Situations may arise in which you need someone to act on your behalf in a legal capacity. This can often necessitate the use of a power of attorney. When issuing a power of attorney to an overseas agent you may be asked to get an apostille to ensure the document is legally recognised in the country it is being presented. The Power of Attorney is signed in the presence of a Notary Public who will attest to your signature on the document and identity.

The notary should witness your signature, add a statement confirming why they are certifying this and also date the certification.

Documents of this nature are often used when dealing with the purchase or sale of an overseas property, managing the estate, acting on behalf of a company internationally and for many other general purposes. For guidance on the legalisation or apostille of a power of attorney please contact us.

Submit Online Quotation Form to get quotation for the Notarisation and Legalisation of your Power of Attorney.

Legalise the document for use anywhere in the world. Document Legalisation and Notary Public Services Pretoria. Louwrens Koen Attorneys

A statutory declaration is a legal statement made by one person in the presence of a lawyer, solicitor or notary public. This statement of fact is recorded in a written document and signed by both the person making the statement and the solicitor witnessing the process. They are very similar to affidavits and the two terms are often used by overseas authorities requesting you make a sworn statement.

Statutory declarations are made for many reasons. You can legally declare a statement of fact on a wide range of subjects.

Common reasons people make a statutory declaration include-

Changing their name
Confirming they are free to marry
Confirming a previous marriage is now dissolved
Confirming their own identity with passport information
Confirming a document is an exact copy of the original
Confirming a legal document has been lost

Get Quotation & Order your apostille.

Get no obligation quotation for notary attestation of your signature and legalising the document. Most customers order and quote online. Submit online form and we will get right back to you. If you are not sure how to complete the order form or need any advice on additional service do not hesitate to message us for professional free advice. Tel: 0870010733.

How to Legalise Your TEFL Certificate South-Africa

Step 1: Check where to legalise your documents
In general, you need to legalise documents in the country in which they were issued. The steps for legalisation differs depending on the destination country where the document will be used. You will either follow an Authentication, Apostille or Authentication and Embassy Legislation Process. Its usually best to esquire with the foreign entity what legalisation steps they require.

Step 2: Get your documents Notarised
Before you can get your TEFL certificate legalised, you need a notary public to notarise it. There are notaries all over the world, so search for “notary public + your local town” to find one close to you. The notary will advise you which documents are required to certify your qualification.

Step 3: Legalise your TEFL certificate
Attend the High Court, DIRCO and Foreign Embassy. While the High Court is a walk in service DIRCO and the Embassy will require you to drop of and pick up document at a date in the future.It usually takes between 7-10 working days for DIRCO to process your documents – so you should receive your legalised TEFL certificate back within a couple of weeks. Various certificates and stamps would be added to the document. Check our example page in this regard.

Step 4: Use your legalised TEFL certificate
The apostille certificate means that your TEFL certificate will be accepted as a legal document in any country or state that has signed up to an international agreement known as Convention 12 of the Hague Conference. If you want to work in a country that isn’t a signatory of this agreement, they will usually request that you firstly get the apostille and then take your documents to the relevant embassy for further authentication. Always make sure you check visa requirements in advance.
Other Documents.

Wait there is more?
Remember that simultaneously to the above process you will also be required to supply further legalised documents:
Police Clearance Certificate
Notarised passport copy
Health certificates
Academic qualification certificates such as degrees or diplomas

Although you can do the process yourself be aware that getting the process wrong may be costly. It will also take considerable time and multiple attendances. Rather let us handle the process on your behalf.

Discounted Attestation Service for TEFL PACK Customers
Legalising TEFL PACK of documents

We are pleased to offer exclusive, discounted rates for legalising documents for TEFL customers. We aim to make the process of document attestation as simple as possible. Simply order online, send your documents to us and we will ensure they are correctly attested!

This refers to the 3 documents needed to be legalised to be able to teach english overseas. (Degree or Diploma, Police Clearance and TEFL Certificate)

Service includes all attendances - Notarisation by our Notary Public, Apostille and Embassy Attestation!

Letter of Consent for a Child To Travel Without Parents from South-Africa. Sign travel consent for minor before Notary Public. Legalise consent for any country in the world.

What is an Consent to Travel?

Child abduction has become a growing concern for governments around the world. For this reason, “Consent to Travel” letters are required by an increasing number of governments. When a child travels without one parent, the remaining parent gives written permission for the child/children to leave the country. It is often required that the document be notarised and legalised to verify the signature and identity of the parties involved. This document would be presented to various authorities in South-Africa and abroad as evidence that the child/children travelling abroad have not been abducted by their accompanying adult.

Some documents, such as Child Travel Consent forms, are not only necessary but also helpful in keeping children protected. Child Travel Consent forms reduce the risk of abduction or child trafficking. This keeps children safe and prevents missing children from leaving the country.

How do you know if it is needed?

It is best to check with South African Foreign Affairs, your airline, travel agent, or government officials in the country you are visiting to see if it is required. Travelling without a consent to travel can lead to travel delays or even denial of exit/entry by one or more of your group.

Regulations may not require you to provide a Child Travel Consent form if you are flying with children, but be sure to check the airline or country border control requirements. Even if a form isn’t legally required, a Child Travel Consent form is highly recommended. Without the proper documents, officers or attendants may not allow you or your child to travel in or out of the country.

Having your Child Travel Consent witnessed or notarised decreases the chance of travel authorities questioning its validity. The country you are travelling to and the airline you are using will affect the legalisation process.

Children Traveling with One Parent

If your child is traveling with only one parent, that parent will need a Child Travel Consent letter that has the other, non-traveling parent’s name, signature, and a short statement authorizing the travel arrangements.

A common scenario for a child traveling with one parent is when the parents are separated or divorced. Custody arrangements can be complex and modify the rules for travel in different ways, but in general it’s important that the child has a travel consent form signed by the non-traveling parent.

With separated parents, it’s also recommended that the parent traveling with the child carry extra documents that demonstrate proof of guardianship, like custody papers, adoption papers, and the child’s birth certificate,

Similar rules apply for a child traveling with adult relatives, like a brother, sister, aunt, uncle, or grandparents, but in this case the travel consent letter must contain the name and signature of both parents instead of just one.

For international travel, some countries may require specific or additional documentation. You can check requirements with the the embassy of the country your child is traveling to for more information.

What should the Consent to Travel contain:

We are happy to notarise and authenticate your consent to travel letter for use in any countrys in the world. It is a quick and easy process for you. Not sure where to find one? For a small additional fee we can draft your consent to travel on the spot – without an appointment. message us for more information.

The child’s contact information
Both parents’ contact information
The child’s travel arrangement (one parent, no parents, chaperone, group travel etc.)
The child’s destination and dates of travel
Proof of their relationship to their child

If you need to prove you are a South-African citizen for identification purposes, you may be asked to get an Apostille for your passport or identity document. The Apostille will always be issued to a notarised photocopy of the passport and the original remains untouched. As part of the process a copy of the passport will be certified by a Notary Public in South-Africa. An Apostille or Authentication Certificate will be attached to the notary certification.

For more information please complete our no obligation quotation form.

Notary Signature Service Pretoria South-Africa. Louwrens Koen Attorneys.

In many instance a document, contract, affidavit, declaration, application, power of attorney or form needs to be signed in front of a Notary Public, who will attest to your identity and the fact that you have signed the document in front of him/her. In turn the notarised document can be legalised for use outside the borders of South-Africa by means of an Apostille certificate or in the case of a non-Hague member destination country an authentication and possibly embassy legalisation process.We charge a fee of R850 per attestation which includes the consultation with the notary. Legalisation and the courier of the document can be done at an additional fee.• What are the requirements as to the form and wording of the document?• What are the witnessing requirements? For the document or form to be legally binding, it will need to be drafted in accordance with the local laws of the country where the transaction is to take place. As an example, if you live in South-Africa but own an apartment in Spain and would like to appoint a person in that country to manage it, your document would need to be worded so as to reflect the laws of Spain rather than South-Africa. Usually the documents are prepared by lawyers in the country where the document is intended to be used. Once it is prepared, it is sent to South-Africa in order for it to be signed before a Notary Public.

What about signing requirements for the document?The requirement as to how the document is to be signed may vary from country to country. It may need to be signed only in front of a Public Notary or alternatively one or more witnesses may be required to be present in addition to the Notary. After being notarised by the Notary Public, the document may need to be apostilled, authenticated or legalised by the High Court, Department of Foreign Affairs and possibly the applicable Embassy or Consulate depending on the destination Country of the document.This means that along with how the document should be notarised, instructions should be sought whether the document requires an Apostille, Authentication and/or legalisation in order of it to be legally recognised in the country of intended use. Our firm is experienced in notarising and legalising document documents for ultimate use in most countries in the world.We deliver a comprehensive document attestation and legalisation service, which service inter alia includes:

Consultation and appearance before a Notary Public for signature;
Notarial Attestation Certificate;
Notarial Copy of Identity document/Passport;
Legalising the document for international use through an Apostille certificate or authentication process depending on the country of intended use;
Courier the completed legalised documents to your chosen destination country.

For further information, to schedule an appointment or should you have questions please contact with us.

Get Quotation - Get Started
Most customers order and quote online. Submit online form and we will get right back to you. If you are not sure how to complete the order form or need any advice on additional service do not hesitate to message us for professional free advice. Tel: 0870010733.

Document Legalisation - We check and prepare your documents before submission.

Document preparation is the first step of the document authentication and legalisation process.

If you make a mistake in this first step you will need to restart the process from the beginning, losing time and money. Read on for information on this crucial step or contact our friendly experts directly to get your questions answered.

How to Prepare Your Documents

Preparing your documents for the authentication and legalization process can involve any of the following:

having your documents notarised
having a notary make certified true copies of your documents
having certified translations made of your documents
Provide required supporting documents

Click on the buttons below for more info or contact our friendly specialists to discuss the document preparation requirements that apply to your specific situation!

How can you help me?

When submitting the online quotation form you can use the safe incorporated facility to upload your documents for a free check. If necessary, we will discuss your situation with you to determine the specific document processing requirements that apply. We’ll then help you with these preparations, ensuring your documents are ready for the authentication and legalisation process. Submit our online quotation form to get GET STARTED and we’ll get right back to you.

Apostille & Notarisation for business & personal documents to use abroad

A Notary Public fulfils an important position as a public officer, providing a range of legal services relating to Powers of Attorney, foreign and international business, deeds and estates.

The powers of a Notary Public include dealing with non-contentious legal matters of all kinds, which include preparing and witnessing legal documents for overseas use.

There can be many reasons why you may need to enlist the services of a Notary Public, and Louwrens Koen offers extensive experience dealing with a variety of notary matters. Having been active in the legal sector for more than three decades, his expertise has helped thousands of clients with their notarial matters.

To find out more about our notary services, feel free to contact our team today.

WHAT IS A NOTARY PUBLIC?

A Notary Public is a practising attorney with a specialised further qualification who can authenticate and witness a wide range of legal documents. Notaries may act on behalf of both private individuals and businesses, offering legal services relating to all manner of transactions, documents and events.

As it is such a specialised field there are few qualified and experienced notaries in South Africa.

WHAT SERVICES DOES A NOTARY PUBLIC PROVIDE?

A Notary can authenticate and witness most legal documents as well as being able to obtain Apostilles and arrange Legalisation where needed.

One of the most common scenarios where you may require a Notary’s services is when you possess documentation that needs to be fit for use abroad. The authorities of the relevant country can reference a Notary’s signature and seal for the purposes of verification, ensuring that the documents in question meet legal requirements.

The specific legal services provided by a Notary may vary depending on whether the client is an individual or a business. Let’s take a look at each of the services in turn.

NOTARY SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS

Notaries offer individuals a wide range of services to meet their legal needs, which may relate to:

Setting up a Power of Attorney, apostille and legalisations
The transfer of land, houses, or shares
Providing certified copies of documents such as exam certificates
Statutory declarations, oaths
Declarations of single status upon marriage or permission to let one parent travel with children
Copies of passports, for example for the purposes of opening a bank account
Lost passports, share certificates or any other type of document
Preparing any other documentation which requires a Notary Public stamp for foreign use

NOTARY PUBLIC SERVICES FOR BUSINESSES

In turn, Notaries are also able to provide legal assistance to businesses, which could include:

Assignments or registration of trademarks
Apostille and legalisation services
Notarising business documentation
Affidavits, statutory declarations and sworn statements
Share issues certified by a Notary Public
The transaction, transfer, purchase and sale of property
Witnessing a Power of Attorney
Preparing any other documentation which requires a Notary Public stamp for foreign use

DOCUMENT LEGALISATION AND APOSTILLE: WHAT DO THEY MEAN?

Legal documents may need to be notarised for them to be considered legal in foreign countries. The term ‘legalisation’ refers to the process of authentication conducted by the Foreign Office, embassy, or consulate, during which authorities check whether the Notary’s signature is genuine.

The specific requirements for legalisation vary from country to country. In some cases, foreign authorities may also perform checks to ensure the signature matches the one held in their records. Documents that are considered satisfactory are attached with a certificate known as an ‘apostille’, confirming their authenticity.

HOW IS A NOTARY PUBLIC DIFFERENT FROM AN ATTORNEY?

Although a Notary Public shares a number of similarities with a solicitor, Notary Publics are much less common within the legal sector. This is due to the fact that Notaries often focus on a more specialised area, which is often concerned with preparing and witnessing legal documentation for foreign use. Due to their international focus, documents completed by a Notary are accepted and recognised around the world.

Attorneys make up a significant portion of professionals working in the legal sector. Generally speaking, attorneys focus on delivering a broader range of legal services. Having said that, all Notary Publics are also practising attorneys.

HOW WE CAN HELP

The team at Louwrens Koen prides itself on offering practical and jargon-free legal advice.

Enjoying a reputation as a leading Notary Public Legal Firm in Pretoria and further afield, our in-house Notary Louwrens Koen draws on a wealth of expertise to meet your legal needs. We recognise the importance of addressing notarial matters quickly and effectively, and our team is on hand to offer you a first-class service whenever you need it.

As one of the most prominent notarial law firms in Pretoria, our Notary regularly advises clients either face-to-face, online or via telephone. As a result, we can help you get expert notarial and document legalisation advice from a Notary Public throughout South Africa.

CONTACT OUR TEAM TODAY

To find out how our expert team of solicitors can help you, contact us today at 0870010733, or send us an email via law@louwrenskoen.co.za or via our contact form.

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Notary Public & Document Legalisation Services Pretoria. Tel 0870010733 E-mail: in@apostille.co.za

Notary Signing & Witnessing (Attestation)

If you are required to sign the document, you need it Notarised then the document must be signed in the presence of the Notary, do not sign the document and then send it to us. We will not be able to assist. If you need a signature, then for our notary to help you, you must bring along your ID or Passport.

Message Us for further details or to discuss your specific document legalisation requirements.

Notarising a Document

To Notarise a document, a Notary Public will generally attach a Notary certificate which is then bound and sealed with a ribbon to confirm the document has been notarised. If not attending our Notary’s office, to Notarise a copy, the document must be sent to us by courier; we recommend you upload us a scan of the document first using the facility incorporated in the online form so that we may advise you on the exact requirements. If you have any doubt about the level of service and what you need for us to arrange a Notary stamp, don’t hesitate to call us.

Notary Fees

Notarial Fees do vary and depend on the service level required. Some documents need urgent attention others may need to be additionally legalised by DIRCO, High Court or an Embassy. As with our Notary, many of the Embassies are based in or around Arcadia, Pretoria. As such, we are able to arrange for embassy certification if required additionally.

Notarised Documents

There are many different types of documents that can be notarised. We recommend all original documentation be sent to us by either a tracked Courier Service or via Postnet. When we return your fully notarised documents we will also adhere to this policy. We always obtain a tracking reference but we cannot be held responsible if a tracked document goes astray. We do charge small fee for arranging Couriers. Should you wish to us arrange a Courier for the return of Notarised documentation and legalised documents please advise us accordingly.

On prior request, we scan documents before sending as proof that the process of Notarisation has completed. Unless you have discussed any different arrangements with us directly, all documents which require a Notary Stamp, an Apostille, a Translation or Embassy legalisation should be sent to us at Louwrens Koen Attorneys, Second Floor, Northern Pavilion, Loftus Versveld Stadium, 416 Kirkness Street, Arcadia, Pretoria, South Africa. For Attention: Ms Hanelie De Beer. If you have any doubt then please call us on 087 0010 733 or message us.

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Need one or more documents legalised Internationally?

Our expertise within the legalisation of different documentation across a wide range of countries, we can offer international legalisation services.

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The process

The notarisation process will depend on different factors such as what the document is and if it needs to signed in any particular way or if it needs to be legalised for international use. The first step would be to call us on 087 0010 733, message us using the online form or pop in to our office. We will review your request, scrutinize the documents you need help with, and advise on the best course of action. Once finalised we will provide you with a quote and schedule an appointment if needed or immediately assist.

At the appointment, we will ask you to complete our Client Registration Form, and we will conduct any necessary ID requirement checks. Our ID requirements page has more information on what you may need to bring.

Next we will notarise your documents whilst you wait.

Appointments typically take between 15-30 minutes. Finally, we will take payment, provide you with your notarised documents, and email you a scan for your records of needed. If you are using our Apostille or Consular legalisation services, you will leave your documents with us and we will notify you once those services has been completed.

Documents we regularly notarise or legalise

We notarise many types of documents and can provide different types of certification to meet your needs. The most popular documents we see regularly notarise or legalise. If your document is not listed and you are unsure if we can help, message us and we will be happy to confirm.

Academic Transcripts
Affidavits
Birth Certificates
Company Incorporation Documentation
Death Certificate
College diploma
Declarations
Close Corporation Documentation
Divorce Order and Settlement Agreement
Doctor, Dentist applications for overseas appointments
Health Certificate
HPCSA applications South-Africa
Land Transfer and Mortgage documents for transactions outside SA borders
Letters of No Impediment
Notarised copy of Passport, Drivers License and other identity documents
Marital status documents
Marriage Certificate
Matric Certificate
Notarised Copies of Document
Permission for minor child to travel with one parent or unattended
Police Clearance Certificate
Powers of Attorney
School certificate
Technicon Diploma
University degrees

Still have questions?

We know that everyone's situation is unique and may have different notary services or document legalisation needs. Our document legalisation specialists will work closely with you to ensure that all documents receive the proper certification that is required for the relevant country and situation. If you would like to clarify the process on your documents or have any special requests, please Message Us Get Quotation

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We draft and prepare all kinds of documents. Some examples include:

Statutory Declarations
Affidavits of all kinds
Child Travel Consent Letters
Same Name Affidavits
Power of Attorney (for property & personal care)
Wills & Estate Documents
Legal Agreements
Antenuptial Contracts
Cohabitation Notarial Agreements
Notarial Bonds
Ships Protests
Cessions

Please contact us at 0736869078 or email law@louwrenskoen.co.za to discuss your requirements.

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Our Notary will come to your Boardroom

Travelling Notary Public Service

TRAVELING NOTARY PUBLIC SERVICE FOR OUR CORPORATE CLIENTS AND INDIVIDUALS THATS UNABLE OR TO SICK TO TRAVEL TO TRAVEL.

If you can’t get to us, we can travel to you. Submit the online form with your request. Use the incorporated facility in the form to safely upload a scan of the document for us to check. We will get back to you with a quote. We do charge a reasonable call out fee and will advise on the cost during our response. We can travel to office address or any safe destination of your choosing. We can legalise the signed and notarially attested document for use in any country in the world in which case the Notary will take the document with. The legalised document is delivered back at your office or couriered to any international destination.

REQUEST TRAVELLING NOTARY PUBLIC SERVICE
Complete the online form and use the integrated facility to safely upload documents you want us to check. We will get right back to you with a confirmation and quotation. Message Us Get Quotation

Walk-in service. Notary Certified True Copy Original - From R160

True Copy or Notarized copy. What is it?
This is a photocopy of an original document which is verified by a notary public to be an accurate copy of the original. This is done when an official document (such as an ID, government papers, educational credentials etc.) needs to be provided/submitted to a third party. Often the original document is one of kind and it becomes impractical to give it away. Normal photocopies could be doctored or altered. The notarised copy of the original document is objective evidence of the accuracy of the image. We will need to inspect the original document.

Legalisation of Notarised Copy - Apostille, Authentication or Embassy Legalisation

The notarised copy of the document can be legalised for use in any country of the world. Depending on the destination country the process will differ.

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Complete the online form and we will get right back to you with a no obligation cost quotation and time frame estimate. Use the integrated encrypted facility to upload your document you want us to check.
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We Accept Walk in Notary & Document Legalisation Clients. Louwrens Koen Attorneys. Notarisation for business & personal documents to use abroad. If you’re sending South-African documents overseas, they may need notarisation first. An experienced notary can witness signatures and authenticate on a wide range of legal and company documents, certificates, and declarations. Whether you’re setting up a business abroad, need to send an attested degree certificate to China. We can assist.

We accept Walk-In Clients.
We have a Notary Public in attendance at our Pretoria office from 8.00 am to 16h00 pm Monday to Friday on most days to notarise documents and to personally discuss your document legalisation needs.

We are located within the Northern Pavilion of Loftus Versveld:
Louwrens Koen Attorneys
Office 4, Second Floor Northern Pavilion, Loftus Versveld, 416 Kirkness Street, Pretoria
Map to our Offices

We suggest calling +27870010733 first to check the schedule and availability of the notary.

There is ample safe and free parking available.
You can also use the following Link to book an appointment
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Apostille Certificate Services

Document Legalisation Services South Africa000073Tel : 0870010733E-mail: info@apostille.co.za

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APOSTILLE FOR HEALTH CERTIFICATE

HIGH COURT APOSTILLE SERVICE - 24 HOUR SERVICE

Apostille, Authentications, Embassy Attestations, Document Legalisation & Notary Public Services Pretoria

APOSTILLE ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS & TRANSCRIPTS SOUTH-AFRICA

SAQA VERIFICATION LETTERS - DIRCO APOSTILLE